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I closehe’s there, right beside me

"I’m sorry," I whisper, helpless "I didn’t ured I could just pack up the house and be gone, and you wouldn’t even knoas there"

"I would know"

The rasp of his words shudders through me Possessive Erotic They wrap aroundover my tender skin…

A door slams down the hall, and my eyes fly open I’ past Suddenly, the rest of the world floods back in: bright sunshine through the s, and a loud chatter of conversations passing ain,up before he can argue I’h to think that a ill e hold he has over ot, I’ to use them

CHAPTER SEVEN

My sister, Carina, lives on the outskirts of the city in a posh suburb that couldn’t be further away frorew up in It’s full of mock-Tudor, andto be soest on the street, of course: flanked with coluarden out front that I know she’s never so lanced at since she s to her new fiancé, Alexander: he bought it last year after he proposed, but he keeps an apartood money he’s spent maybe every other weekend here at the most

"You OK, babe?" Daniel asks, as we pull into the driveway

"Fine" I reply quickly

He mistakes my reluctance "Look, I know you and your sister have never been close, but she’s the one who invited you Give her a chance Maybe she’s ready to reach out and build bridges"

I look at his expression, so full of hope and opties are burned for a reason Better to let theht," I lie "Maybe"

Carina greets us at the door in a spotless pastel blue fitted dress and gold jewelry that probably costs more than my entire academic scholarship Her dyed blonde hair is perfectly blown out, and she’s wearing strappy designer sandals "Hi!" She coos atto Daniel "Don’t you look handso us over," Daniel presents her with the wine and floe picked up on our way

"Aren’t you sweet?" Carina replies, turning the bottle to check the label It must meet with her approval, because her smile widens "Come on in! Alexander’s just on a call in the study, but he’ll be down soon"

We step inside Although I saw Carina at Christmas, that was in a restaurant in the city I’ve never actually been inside her house before I follow the around to take in the azine-perfect décor The place has been done in a modern, minimalist style--all lohite couches and weird chrome end-tables It looks sterile and spotless, like nobody actually lives here, but I’m not surprised Carina has always caredon underneath