FBI Agent's Reluctant Lover
smiled, “I’m twenty-seven. Your turn.”
    “Twenty-nine. Does it bother you to be hanging out with an older man?”
    Rachel grinned, “Definitely. Why, you’re almost old enough to be my brother!”
    “I can assure you that what I feel for you doesn’t fit in the brotherly affection department.”
    The tension inside the vehicle thickened and grew intense. Rachel blushed and hurriedly looked out the window. Swallowing, she attempted to lighten the mood once again, “So, I just wanted to thank you for your help earlier.”
    “If this is your attempt to run me off, forget it. I’m not going anywhere for the next several days.” Chance didn’t try to sugar coat the truth or sweet talk her into letting him stay. He was staying and there wasn’t anything she could do about it!
    “That’s very nice of you to offer…”
    “I’m not offering. It’s a fact. When Chelsea and Seth get back we’ll figure something else out.”
    “But, what about your job?” Rachel asked, anxious to find a reason for him to leave. She couldn’t have him around twenty-four seven. Her hormones couldn’t handle that. She’d end up attacking him in his sleep!
    “Shawn knows where to find me and you need my help. End of story. So, what would you like to do tomorrow? I was thinking we could take the boys to the zoo.” Chance met her eyes, daring her to continue arguing with him, not that it would do her any good.
    Rachel tried to find another tact that would require him to leave but came up with nothing. “Aren’t they too young for the zoo?”
    “You’re never too young for the zoo. Besides, the outing will be more for you than for them. Some fresh air will do you all some good.”
    Rachel tried to think up any excuse, but admitted that getting out of the house sounded really nice. In the last five months, the only time she and the twins had left the house was for a doctor’s appointment. She hadn’t even been to the grocery store. Chelsea had been taking care of everything. Making up her mind, she took a breath and looked Chance in the eye, “A trip to the zoo tomorrow sounds fun.”
    “Good girl,” he murmured, glad to see her backbone kick in. She could makeup excuses all day long, but life was there and just waiting for her to jump back in. He was going to be her self-appointed guide on the journey and just maybe, he would end up being her partner as well.
    Pulling into the driveway, Rachel exited the car and headed for the front door. She was greeted by both Shawn and his wife Janet, their arms around each other and if she wasn’t mistaken, Janet had the look of a thoroughly kissed woman. She gave Rachel a secret smile as she snuggled into her husband’s arms, “Welcome back. The boys went right to sleep and have been sleeping ever since.”
    “Thank you so much for watching them,” Rachel offered, trying to sound sincere and realizing that she was. Chance had been right to force her to get out of the house and she would find some way to thank him later.
    “I’m just going to go peek in on them.” Rachel hurried down the hallway as the three other adults softly discussed the upcoming welcome home party for Faith Coldwell.
    “She seems really nice. And the babies are adorable,” Janet told Chance.
    He smiled at her in agreement, “Yeah. They’re something else.”
    “So, are you going to bring her to Trent and Brianna’s?” Shawn wanted to know.
    Chance nodded, “I’m thinking about it. We’re going to take the boys to the zoo tomorrow, so I’ll wait and see how that goes. She’s only taken them to doctor’s appointments. She’s been holed up here in this house since the boys came home from the hospital.”
    Janet looked for Rachel’s return, compassion in her voice when she said, “It sounds like she could use some good friends. Please bring her. I would love to get to know her more and I’m sure she’ll be a hit with both Brianna and Maria.”
    Chance nodded, his thoughts having taken the

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