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She sprung up and clapped "Oh, thank you! Thank you, Brent Thank you, Tony I won’t say a word When will you know if it will be up for review?"
Brent answered, "It’ll take a few months, and I should be kept apprised of updates"
Tony offered his hand to Brent "Thank you" He shook Brent’s hand "I apologize for delaying your departure, but I wanted Claire to hear it froht; however, noe really need to go I’ out for Claire’s hand, she continued, "Now, you need sos thrown at you Look how emotional you are"
Claire nodded "We’ll see you torasped Claire’s hand, and they walked back to the car As he opened her door, he bent down and whispered, "A man of my word"
She smiled all the way to her emerald eyes and kissed his cheek "Thank you, I really hts, the country roads wound like a ribbon over hills and between open fields Tony squeezed Claire’s knee, bringing her back fro the whole reinstatement process, yet she seemed a million miles away Tony went on, "There are so er than you would expect, but Brent thinks it can be resolved before the end of the year"
"That’s a long ti did it take to set him up?"
His neck stiffened "I’d rather not talk about that"
"Why? I know you did it You told Brent and Courtney you wanted to be honest So, be honest"
He sat taller andher brother-in-lahy did she need to bring this up? Fine, she wanted to know "From the tier There wasn’t an outward sign or hint of eht and watched the road before them When she didn’t respond, he asked, "You asked Now you won’t comment?"
"I don’t knohat to say Do you want enteel one?"
He gripped the steering wheel, fighting the urge to lower his right foot and drive the daned to be driven "This is why I haven’t answered all of your questions You may think you’re ready for answers, but you’re not Bits and pieces may help you understand, but the blatant truth is toothe rest of the ride, keeping her head turned toward theHe wanted to be open, to be honest, but her reaction proved that it wasn’t possible Would Claire ever be able to handle knowing the whole truth? Was he a fool for trying? With each minute of silence, Tony felt Claire slip further and further away; he didn’t kno to stop it Her expression was one of indifference; he’d seen it before The news about her brother-in-laas supposed to show her that he was trying Instead, her resulting coolness beckoned his red He berated hiap was obviously insurmountable
When Tony pulled the car onto the brick circular drive in front of his house, Claire turned to him and placed her hand on top of his Shocked by her soft touch, his dark gaze stared momentarily at the size difference of their hands as he tried to corral the red hue Slowly, he moved his eyes to hers The fire he expected was absent
The soft emerald soothed as she said, "Thank you Thank you for supporting ht with your friends I was very nervous It turned out much better than I could’ve possibly hoped… and thank you for helping John I know you don’t like hi hihtly kissed his lips
With one hand, Tony gripped the door handle; it was a rounded One ress they’dhi to be open and honest, and now she’d kissed hi more than to pry her from this car and take her on the damn driveway The emotional roller coaster was too hs and lows He just didn’t want them all at once over the course of twenty ive you space, but I’e"
She leaned back and undid her seat belt "I know you’re trying, and I appreciate it"
She was halfway to the front door when he caught up and seized her arlad you’re here"
Claire smiled and looked up at the house "I’ here I was afraid the bad ood overpower the bad?"
Claire shrugged "I don’t knoish I could say yes You said you want honesty, and honestly, I don’t know They’re both there It’s just that the fa"
He kissed the top of her head "I need to go into the office to I hope to be done and home by noon The dessert celebration isn’t until 8:00 PM Would you like to go for a walk tomorrow?"
"A walk?" she asked