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Brontë blinked and focused on him, then smiled, her expression sleepy "You’re home early, aren’t you?"

"I as" He didn’t tell her that it was because he’d been unable to concentrate on anything but her that day They’d ht before, but when she’d come, she’d been utterly silent She didn’t whisper words of love anymore when they had sex

And for soan smoothed a lock of hair off of her cheek "I have a present for you"

She sat up on the couch, frowning, one leg tucked under her, and ran a hand through her hair "Present? Why?"

He forced himself to be indifferent and held the envelope out to her "No reason I just wanted to give you soh stuff, Logan" But she obediently took the envelope and opened the clasp, pulling out the contract inside She stared at it, puzzled, then looked back at him "What’s this?"

"It’s the paperwork for the diner There’s three of them, actually One in Kansas City, and the other two are in Dallas and Atlanta They’re yours"

Brontë looked down at the paperwork in her lap, then back to hi "What do you ive ift Income You can live off of the profits, if you want, or you can work on i with the consultant so he can go over what he’s learned so far and suggest i a san, I don’t understand"

"It’s an expensive gift," he pointed out, frustrated by her mulish responses "Most people would say thank you"

"I guess I’m confused Why do you think I’d want the diner?"

"So you canof yourself"

She stiffened "Youother than a waitress?"

"Soan said

The papers smacked his chest Brontë leapt to her feet "Keep the diner"

She didn’t want it Didn’t want his et up and cross the room "You don’t want it?"

She didn’t answer hiot to his feet and followed her down the hall She storuest roo one of the closets He noted her stiff shoulders, her furious movements

And that she had a suitcase open

"Where are you going?" he asked, frowning

"You said I could stay as long as I wanted," Bront&eu as I want I’er rocketed through him This was coive you a gift?"

"No," she cried, turning to face hih for you Are you e to turn me into some sort of diner tycoon?"

"What? No Don’t be ridiculous"

"Then ould you do such a hurtful thing?" Her eyes shimmered with tears

"Brontë," he said, his voice soft He moved to draw her into his arms, but she stiffened and pulled away He’d s I’ive me the diner? I never said I wanted it"

"It was a test," he confessed

"A test?" Her voice rose an octave in response "A test? What sort of test?"

He remained silent at that

Her eyes widened "Oh, my God You think I’ htened "It’s not like that"

"It’s exactly like that," she said bitterly

"I love you, Brontë"

"You do now," she bit out "Now that you realize I don’t want your an You can’t withhold love as a reward You either love someone or you don’t Money plays no part in this"

"Money always plays into things, Bront&eu fair," she said, viciously sla her suitcase shut "And I hate to say it, but Danica was right"

"Danica doesn’t have anything to do with this--"

"No? She toldlike a business transaction And silly " Tears spilled down her cheeks, driving a knife into his gut "It turns out she was right after all"

She moved to the dresser and pulled out a blue velvet case--the necklace case She looked at it and her lip curled, alust, and she held it out to him "Take this"