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I stared at my reflection in the ht blue silk dress and flowing locks I had brushedluster and my eyes sparkled as I took in my appearance I stared at the blatant red on my lips and sed hard I looked like a seductress or vixen, and I wasn’t sure what an would be bloay by my appearance That he would stare at me and think I was the uests are starting to arrive" My mother stopped by "

"Thank you, Moratefully

She kissed ht" She ran her fingers acrossDon’t ever let anyone e, you hear me?"

"Yes, Mohed

"I’an" Her eyes saddened "I heard he has eous, Mom," I paused "I think I love him I mean I know I love him He’s the most wonderful man"

"Just remember e decided" She smiled at me widely "I think tomorroill be a lot better, it will just be the four of us, and it will mean a lot more"

"I know, Moan’s invite so he knows as well"

"Good" She pulled uests"

"Yes, Mohed at an wasn’t one of the first to arrive I walked over to Lucy and sorinned to irls had no idea that I was dating Logan and that he was hands-down the best lover I had ever had in my life Add to that, he was the nicest, enerous man I had ever met

"Hey, Maddison" Lucy looked up atto show up--Bradley Cooper? Ha, ha, ha"

"No, silly I just wanted to dress up"

"Celebrate your last weeks of freedoroaned "Don’t re to be killer"

"I’ve got to take the GREs," she whined "I really need to take a refresher course in math because I have no clue how to do half of those problehtly distracted I couldn’t keephed "If it’s slightly related to hed at otten admitted to Dartmouth with her intellect, but I supposed it didn’t hurt that her father had connections and a lot of ain, and I froze as the hairs on an had arrived and et that" I walked away froroaned as I sawto the front door froood I didn’t want an saw as he walked into , you look beautiful" My father walked over and gave hter" He sighed and shook his head "Where did the tio?"

"Well, I’m a woman now, Dad" I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath as he opened the door It was like I atching aas he saas on the other side of the door

"May I help you?" His voice was polite, but I could hear the hint of a threat in his tone

"I’an’s tone was smooth as silk, and my heart skipped a beat as I heard his voice

"And you are?" My dad’s voice was slow, but we all knew his question was a farce I could tell from the arch of his back that he was very an Martelli at his front door

"Dad, don’t be silly" I pushed past hilad you were able to htly confused as he looked at an away froan Logan, this is my dad" I introduced them to each other, and they stared at each other for a an" I ushered hiry look in his eyes

"Logan, is it?" Dad looked him up and down and paused "Are you new to town?"

"No" He shook his head "My brothers and I were born and raised in River Valley"

"Oh?" My dad raised his eyebrow "Do I know your parents?"

"I think so" Logan sood friends with my dad"

"What’s the name?" My dad pretended to be interested, but I saw his eyes narrow as he controlled his breathing I was glad that I had told hian was my friend and not my boyfriend I wasn’t sure ould have happened

"Martelli" Logan’s tone was deadly as he stared at an, let me introduce you to some of my other friends"

"Yes, you should do that, Maddie" My dad s to your new friend"

"Yeah" I nodded and gave hirab my hand, and I walked away from him quickly I didn’t want an, have you met Lucy, Marie, and Joanna?" I turned to him with a s stiffly, and I frowned at hiave them all a sexy smile and kissed each of their hands "I haven’t seen wo ti, and I tried to s so friendly to thean, let rab his arm, and he flinched at my touch

"It’s okay I’d love to spend so women" He avoided eye contact withwhat I had done for him to treat me this way

"So, Lucy" He walked over to her and put his arht? You’re even more beautiful than my brother Jared told me"