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She watched him out of the corners of her eyes "Why wouldn’t they?"

A wry shter for a few years When ere in college and then off and on a couple of years after that"

"Did things not end well?"

He snorted "That would be an understateood tiave her whiplash "I did It was a lot of fun"

"We’ll have to do it again when I get back" His gaze slid over to hers "Of course, we’ll invite Lucian" He winked "Wouldn’t want him to feel left out"

She shot hi about"

"Hell you don’t My brother is so wrapped up in you, if I call your na You damn well know that"

Her eyes widened

He tipped his head back and laughed "You know, you probably don’t want to hear this, but I’ve never seen my brother act the way he does when it comes to you"

Her brows lifted "I’m not sure what that means"

"It’s probably best that you don’t"

She twisted toward him "II don’t knohat to say I didn’t co like that with anyone I--"

"You wouldn’t mix business with pleasure I know You’re kind of straitlaced" Those lashes lowered, shielding his eyes "Not completely There’s a bit of wild in you I can sense that"

Thinking of the elevator, Julie flushed There wasn’t that kind of wild in her

Moving his hands to the arh? I don’t expect you to get personal withlike that, but I just want to let you know that you’re different to hiood thing"

"Me neither"

So not expecting that response, she had no idea how to respond

Gabe started to turn, but stopped "Maybe it’ll be a good thing," he said, pausing "You’re a good thing, though Anyway, I’ll see you soon" He bent down, kissing her cheek before she even had a chance to realize what he was doing "Make sure Lucian behaves himself and doesn’t kill Daniel today"

And then he alking away, disappearing around the corner of the porch, and Julia was left sitting there, wondering if he was joking about

Sighing, Julia collapsed back and closed her eyes The de Vincent brothers were sothey were so weird and yet so attractive, almost so much so that it nearly canceled out the weirdness

But yeah, it didn’t

You’re going to coain

Could she do it?

Could she throay all her reservations and concerns? Could she go to Lucian simply because she wanted to--wanted hio and live--live in the moment? She wasn’t sure, because all of that still terrified her, because what if it blew up in her face?

Could she make that choice?

Chapter 23

Lucian met his cousin Daniel at the door "I don’t want you here"

Daniel stood just outside, sunglasses perched on his head He brieflyover his shoulder "I know and I appreciate you lettingyou stopped you when you showed up here unannounced"

"I’m sorry about that, but I had to see--"

"You don’t have to see anything" Stepping forward, he gripped Daniel by the collar of his pale blue polo and dragged hih the open front door "If you ever show up here unannounced again or even cause Ms Hughes’s heart to jump in her chest, I will put you down"