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She s happy over the compli I know that I had no right at all to come to you and expect you to solve h"

When he started to protest, she held up her hand "No, just let me finish, please" She took a deep breath and continued "I was horrible to you It doesn’t s I still knehat I was doing, at least in the beginning I lied to you, I took money from your wallet on more than one occasion and IGod, I cheated on you, too"

Brant shut his eyes briefly, finding that he could still feel a twinge of pain over her confession even though he didn’t love her any, but hearing her confir that so their tiardless of the circu on the knot of tension that had foro We’ve both moved on Does it bother me? Sure, of course it does But it’s in the past If you’re looking for absolution, then I forgive you"

"I’uess I just needed to cooing on for the most part, I still just walked away fro lot"

Brant was afraid that the tears in her eyes would soon turn into full-blown sobbing if he didn’t stop the conversation that had left them both so uncomfortable This wasn’t the ti her attention, and said, "Lex, stop doing this to yourself It’s over now I don’t hate you You have far too ht now to rehash the past If you want to do so for me, then take care of yourself If you love Carter, then don’t waste ti yourself Build a life for you and for hi s I wanted to tell you Carter called again last night and we talked everything out Istill feel like he deserves better, but he promised me that he would let me know if it all beca that was a conversation that Alexia would never have to have with Carter He seeoodin front of him She took a deep breath and wiped the last inal question, would you like to have dinner tonight? Please don’t say no We were friends before ere anything else, Brant, and I’d love one evening to catch up before I leave"

He found hih he wasn’t coreat" He jotted down the tiested and walked her to the door as Emma buzzed him for his last conference call of the day

When he finished his call, E to walk out with him He wanted to take her hand but kneasn’t advisable to openly advertise their relationship at the office He settled instead for a quick kiss in the elevator on the way to the lobby No doubt the guys in security were having a laugh about it As they exited the building, he saw Mac pulling up to the curb in his black Tahoe He put his hand in the s her toward the otherup to He was also one of the few people who made his Mac was all hard ed his dedication to physical fitness In his line of work, he had to be observant, and Brant saw him take note of the possessive hand that he had on Eh he didn’t want to advertise their relationship to everyone at Danvers, he knew Mac could be trusted The othera hand "Hey, man, we’ve run into each other a lot this week"

"Yes, we have" After Mac said hello to E another shift today?" He was surprised and curious when Mac shifted unco someone up" When Brant heard footsteps behind the to see his sister Instead of Ava, a stranger with long red hair walked to Mac’s side He was now closer to shocked when Mac slid his arave her a quick kiss Mac’s easygoing sh to see the strain behind it "Brant, E"

"Erno, I haven’t Em?" Emma shook her head After the introductions were rateful when Eet home Mac and Galked toward his Tahoe while Ee

"Yikes, was it ination or was that aard as hell? I don’t know Mac that well other than the few times he has been by to visit you, but I always kind of assuhed as they reached Emma’s car "It’scomplicated Mac has been in love with her since ere kids, but Ava, well, she has issues I always thought they would work it out in the end, though I know she does love him in her oay She just see able to express herself" When E, "Hey, no comment necessary"

E on He wasn’t groping her or anything, but that wasn’t just a friendly embrace Does your sister know?"

"I don’t know," Brant adh She and Mac are close in a distant way, if thatand Ava not know about it I should probably check in on her later"

E of later"

Here it was, Brant thought, the moment of truth Did he lie to make this easier or man up and tell the truth? Oh, hoanted to take the easy way out and lie "Babe, I kind of proht She wanted to thankher stay atanything, he stus out with her fiancé, Carter She’s planning to ood-bye dinner" When he ave hi stiff-armed "I’ll call you later?" Shit, his state so in her car, al ht not be that experienced in relationships, especially successful ones, but even he kneas in trouble