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She nodded Her insides swirling again "I re, but Erica shouted it frouments she had with Julia Their oldest sister hadn’t loved having Jonah Bannon dating their littlest She kept clai it was because he was a bad influence Everyone knew it had nothing to do with that, and everything to do with her own jealousy

"You didn’t think Erica was funny?" Dani reht Erica was funny"

"Erica thought she was funny That’s good enough for rin slipped a notch "Are you trying to trip me up? Is that what this is?"

"I just want to hear some truth Everyone raves about my sister I didn’t think there existed a person who didn’t"

"Besides you?" Jonah searched her face "And no, I didn’t think Erica was funny That’s my truth"

"You just went up a notch, but only a notch" She bit the inside of her cheek to keep fro as she passed hi youin line behind her "A ride? One ride?"

They heard a gasp, and both looked over The clerk had her hands pressed over her mouth, but she slapped theoodness I heard you were in town, but I didn’t quite believe it If it isn’t little Dani O’Hara!"

Dani paused, eyeing the clerk for a moment She was in her forties and it took a little bit for Dani to recognize her "Mrs Tatuht piano to all three O’Haras Julia and Erica excelled Dani quit

She grasped Dani’s face in her hands and shook her "I cannot believe it! It’s been ages! How are you?" She pulled her in for a hug

"I’ood" Dani’s ushed again as she pulled back and held Dani at arth "Mmmm ly duckling and returned a swan I can’t get over this"

Then her eyes fell on Jonah, and went flat "What are you doing here, Jonah?"

His grin was easy "Earlybreakfast, Karen I loved that coffee cake sowith a married woman" Her cheeks reddened "I have my mother’s talent The best coffee cake in seven counties now It won champion at the fair last year, you know"

"Let’s hope it wins again"

Mrs Tatu, but the coffee cake won out "Oh, you, Jonah So char Dani’s things up Her eyes slid to Dani "You better watch out, Dani If you’re seen with the likes of Jonah Bannon, there’s going to be other rumors spread around" She winked at her "If you knohat I uess Dani’s smile was a little s She held her tongue, waiting as everything was bagged up After paying, she waved to her old piano teacher, and headed for the door She muttered under her breath, "Now I remember why I quit after five lessons You old bat…"

She trailed off, seeing Jonah right behind her

His smile spread a little wider and he held his hands up "I didn’t have anything to buy, and I have some advice for you" His head leaned forward an inch "If you want to get out of a conversation with her, just bring up Mr Mells You can say anything about hiht piano lessons and she hates hi about him, she’ll end that conversation real quick"

"Thanks I’ll keep that in s in the back seat, and reached for her door She paused "U to make me think this, but just in case your interest really isn’t about my car, I’m not here to compete with either of , she heard herself being reat man behind and I didn’t come back to find a replaceot inside, or attempted to Jonah stopped her Just as she was about to close the door, he caught it "Hey Wait"

Before he could say anythingon here I know I could be speaking out of turn and you ht really only want to drive my car, but it doesn’t matter to others" She pointed around the street and sidewalks "They’re already talking about ive that Old Bat so If people see us talking, or you drivingto think I didn’t come back to deal with any of that either"

He shifted closer to the door, lowering his voice "I knohat my reputation is and sometimes it’s earned Other ti, but here’s my advice to you--you don’t have a reputation yet People can’t figure you out right now because you’re not the saive you a rep youto assume you’re here for hile" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">