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"After e and even with my fancy new job, there’s no way I could afford to buy there now Most of the hoht our house back before the revitalization, so prices were cheap and the hood was bleak But now… it’s out of reach for ot a solemn expression I knoell Pity When people hear that et that look often I like to get past it, so that’s why I opt for telling instead of evasion And then I always turn the conversation back around "Is your family close? I mean, I knew you had a sister and a brother, and I’ve seen your brother in a few indie films, but I’ve never seen your sister before"

He nods as I talk "Yeah, we’re close" And his smile when he looks at me tells ood fun We’re very close Even uy at heart But I don’t see Saht She hates the paparazzi They wrote a story on her when she was a teenager, a real nasty one, and it about killed her My father sued the ave in and pulled the story before it ran So all turned out OK But Saround-checked"

That whole story makes me shiver "Why let anyone come to the resort at all? Why not just buy up all the rooms?"

He stops and waves his hand at the expansive back lawn of a sprawling beachside estate There’s a line ofa center ay paved with pea stones that leads up to the Spanish-style house "We own this place The beach, the resort, the house So we can do whatever ith it But--"

He looks down at me and this is the first tiht, six foot two, because I know all those trivial facts about hi him in person is quite different I have to look up to pay attention to what he’s saying and it makes me feel vulnerable

"But some people," he stresses these words, "are on their honeyh a little "We lied"

"Obviously," he says back with a smile "I wasn’t sure at first, no offense," he adds with a chuckle "You and your friend together are a fantasy co himself as her boyfriend sorta blew your cover"

"It wasn’t cover," I explain "We just never thought about it, I guess The rules never said you actually had to be newly married And Bebe’s current boyfriend is ht ht’ve backfired for her" Vaughn’s genuine sned atteotten about you"

"I know," I sigh "I’m not usually a jealous bitch, but I was a little annoyed when the call caht on some island"

"Well, I’hts while you wait for her to come home Want a tour of the house?" He waves me forward and onto the little pea-pebbled pathway

"Wow, these stones feel so good on my feet"