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"Don’t kid yourself, Lauren I’uy"

Confusion flashed in her eyes, but only for a moment "I’ll decide that on my own, but thank you anyway"

"I’uilty"

And he would be He’d be guilty in the end of deceiving her There was no way around it The words were like ice water, dousing him with hard reality, and he pulled her to her feet "I better get you to that lunch before you find the picture of hed "You’re not serious"

He sighed "There’s a reason I wasn’t allowed into the canine unit"

And when she s to keep those s’ would be enough

Lauren stepped into her father’s house feeling , whatever it was, between her and Royce, was confusing Of course visiting her father’s place alwaysroom where she found not only her father and stepmother, but to her surprise and discomfort, her stepbrother, Brad Foster She wouldn’t have co with her frolasses, and standard uniform of a pressed button-down shirt and a blazer Brad looked up and sy for her to sht you were out of town, Brad" Lauren entered the rooe to her voice she couldn’t seeht," he said, his eyes following her movements

She hated the way Brad watched her all the time "It was too bad you couldn’t , Lauren," her father said, settling his napkin in his lap and reaching for a crystal glass filled with iced tea

"Morning, Daddy," she said, and then forced her attention to her stepmother, "Hello, Sharon"

Lauren sat down at her place setting, directly across fro her napkin open The table was filled with an array of brunch items Lean cuts of roast beef, croissants, fresh fruit, and potato salad "I’ood" Despite the rather nauseating co better, as was her head

With a wink, her father smiled "Well then, by allus about histo take soenda

Brad leaned back in his chair, arrogance etched in his chiseled features Lauren couldn’t help h Royce was arrogant, he wasn’t a snob Royce was confident Brad oozed an "I’m better than you" cockiness that drove her bonkers "Just a little corporate tradeloated with fake hu as thefor her glass when Brad’s words hit her Her hand froze around the chilled drink Slowly, she withdrew her hand, fixing Brad with a frosty stare