Page 35 (2/2)

True to his word, he pulled off at the next rest stop and drove up to the entrance of a small mini-mart with bathrooms around the side

Sa out of the car

"Coht back," he called after her

She saluted andthe door behind her

Zoe rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat "I hope you don't think you've won this round"

"What does thatyou to pull over now that you promised her that her delasses "And wasn't that the point?" he asked with all the confusion of a man unfa, showing her yet another side of this hed "Ryan, you have a lot to learn when it co up because you put one over on her or because she's found soame She'll find another way to torture you instead"

He turned in his seat "Well I'll call it a draw, then"

She inclined her head, giving hie him in the days ahead But without the frequent pit stops now, Zoe knew they ht not have another chance to talk alone

"Ryan, so you just said bothers me," she stated bluntly She bent one knee beneath her, accidentally brushing her leg against his thigh She sucked in a deep breath and tried to focus

He whipped off his eyeglasses, placing theaze bored into hers— so warht then and there She flipped the vents again so the cool air blew directly onto her skin

"What's wrong?" he asked, sounding as if he truly cared

She badly wanted to believe that he did "We already talked about you not trying to mold Sam into some perfect child your family will accept"

He opened hishie is appropriate or even acceptable She needs discipline and I agree with how you're handling her"

"Thank you for that" He tipped his head to one side "Then I don't see what the problehed How to explain and not insult him at the same time? "The problem is you need to accept her for the free spirit she is So does your fa fro away and subsequent death, but you'll end up running Sam off, too"

Despite Sam's frequent over-the-top behavior, Zoe had seen firsthand the fun and joy he experienced watching her just be herself That was the man Zoe enjoyed, too, and she didn't want to lose hiers twitched with the desire to reach out to hi with her mind Her ehened one "Aers wrapped around his hand and the heat shot straight through to his heart This woman affected hiht or cared about with any wo to her concerns and honestly trying to keep an openhome would mean a reversion of sorts and that included a stricter code of behavior Especially if he was going to convince his parents to accept Sahter