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Ava surprised her again when she gave her a satisfied grin and said, "That’s good; I’ood at that, nohimself, that he was fine Brant was meant to be married and have a family He shouldn’t have been saddled with so much responsibility so early on Our parents were irresponsible and the old man was a sadistic bastard"

Despite herself, E out bits of information here and there, Brant wasn’t the type to disclose a lot of personal stuff She knew that his parents were killed in a plane crash and that his grandfather had raised them afterward She also knew that Declan had been the wild child and had enlisted in the randfather was tough on you?"

Ava’s laugh was devoid of any real huh Yeah, he expected certain thingscertain behavior, but mainly he just wanted us to stay out of his hair His household staff raised us Of course, ere all teenagers e came to live with him, so it wasn’t like ere in diapers and dependent upon someone for all of our care What as traumatized but he never considered that"

Emma felt tears prick her eyes and hastily wiped the that Ava wouldn’t appreciate the show of sy what else to say

Ava looked at her blankly for aabruptly "I’ve got to be going if you’re ready"

Emma stood and followed her out They made their way back to Walo back inside for her shopping cart full of sugar and movies Suddenly this see When she stopped at her car, Ava turned and squeezed her shoulder "I meant what I said Brant needs you Don’t let hione

Emma drove ho just as she shut her apartment door behind her She saw Brant’s name on the ID and ss tonight "Hey you," she answered

Abefore Brant said, "HeyE an endear her nae on chick flicks and chocolate at Walmart but was saved by your sister I’m home now"

Brant chuckled that sexy laugh that she loved so lad you’re safe So you saw Ava?"

"Yep, I ran across her in the store and ent for a drink II don’t think she was having a good evening"

"Why not?" Brant asked, concern evident in his voice

"I’ to do with Mac and his new girlfriend"

"Shit," Brant sighed "I figured that was going to hit her hard"

"I’m confused about that situation," Emma admitted "If Mac cares about her and she obviously cares about him, then why can’t they just adh, doesn’t it? Mac has never made a secret of how he feels for my sister, but Ava hasn’t been able to accept it I know you’ve heard enough to know that she had soer She wasraped by her pro that happened afterward, but I will say that Mac found her and a bond was for terribly and Ava has spent the years ever since then angry and grieving"

"Oh ood for her She blames herself, doesn’t she?"

"Yeah," Brant bit out "Everyone made damn sure of that The bastard who did it never faced any consequences I know regardless of what she says, Ava has done nothing but look over her shoulder since then Luckily, Mac will alatch out for her even if he isn’t with her"

They ended up talking for hours that night before finally giving in to the need to get so started a pattern that continued every night while Brant ay E the day on business ht, it was all personal They shared their earliest memories all the way up to the present There was also a point each evening when their words turned teasing and sexual Emma had never had phone sex, but when Brant asked her to touch herself and ih her slick folds, she hadn’t been able to resist Their calls always ended with a release for the for hihtly phone calls When they were finally together again in person, she didn’t think she would be able to resist ripping his clothes off regardless of where they were God, she was so ready to have hi on by a thread The physical toll fro it difficult to function, let alone not blow up at the smallest setback He had been back in town for just a few days and already it was a few too otten home and she’d done her best to remind his with her before he couldher part to h he kneasn’t her fault Since he had returned to Myrtle Beach, she looked better than he could reravity brought the He had been forced to lie to her and tell her that he had co while he ay, that it probably wasn’t anything serious, but he didn’t want to risk giving her his sore throat She had assured hi to risk it, but he had held firht to hi the situation with Alexia resolved He had never been aand this whole situation felt wrong to hi he wanted was to send her spiraling backward

After two days, though, the excuses were starting to wear thin, and every tith, he almost choked on the hurt in her eyes He couldn’t even blame her At this point, he’d be da with you, sudden business trip where you didn’t co the Texas Two-Step every ti remotely unusual about any of that He found it hard to believe she was still speaking to hi more personal