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Instead, I agreed "It is nice A little pa now and then doesn’t hurt"

"Well, if you soo"

I merely smiled It had never been about Hunter’s money It was him His family How perfect they all were I wanted that

I needed it

And yet I couldn’t forget one steamy kiss frohtened ht be a little bit of my mother in me after all She always did like the bad boys Men that led her into trouble That had been ht and joined the Marines After Daddy, there was no saving her

But I wasn’t my mother I would not follow in her footsteps I would not repeat her htmares to live with already I refused to add to the my mother, but I would save ia breathed two hours later when she returned to our suite to find E--collectively--our closets for the perfect enseh ia’s after Em announced ia dropped down on her bed, tossing her backpack to the floor Her velvety brown eyes scanned !"

"Right?" E like a proud me to the salon in the first place She had made the appointments and wouldn’t take no for an answer until I agreed to go "Noe need the right outfit"

I held up a blue and yellow checkered skirt that Eie Even if I could fit into Em’s clothes, they’re not me I can’t pull it off" I looked back at Ee tank top from her drawer My eyes widened helplessly "Please Just letfroe at me

"I’ll freeze in that! It’ssea siren worthy just so you can wear soiven day!"

Georgia held up a hand, staying the battle that was about to be waged if the Together, atched as Georgia ers "I have the perfect thing"

Hope haia’s wardrobe screa looked expensive and sexy without appearing over the top

Turning, she brandished a gray cashmere sweater that was for in the lush softness against ertips "Oh," I breathed "Are you sure? It will probably reek of bar afterward And what if so on it?" I was sure it cost more than I could ever afford to spend

"Try it on," she insisted, pushing it towardher head, dis my protests

"With a decent bra," Emerson inserted

I looked at her blankly

"Soives you a little push" She motioned to her own perky B cups

I shook ia opened a drawer, pulling out a pink bra Sla the drawer shut, she waved it at , I turned my back and pulledit behind ainstforward, I stared at ing on the closet door The bra did wondrous things to what I had always considered fairly unremarkable breasts Not that I had ever considered them much at all

"Oh, my" Emerson assessedin approval I resisted the urge to cover myself with both hands "Good thing I’ in self-confidence ’cause those cupcakes are enough to give hed weakly "As if"

"Now try it on with the sweater," Georgia encouraged

I slipped the incredibly soft cashmere over my head and slove

"Yes!" Emerson clapped her hands once "He won’t resist you in that And you can borrow my black boots At least we’re the same shoe size"

"Those knee-high leather ones?"

"Yes" She nodded sagely, the light catching in her fresh hts "Also known as fuck-me boots"

I smiled wryly "Well There won’t be any of that going on"