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“Right here” He led er side I cli out of the parking lot “Happy birthday, Isabelle”

“Thank you,” I said, laying my head on the headrest

“Is that what you were doing there? Celebrating?”

I sighed “The guys wanted to take et out of the house”

I felt the heat of his gaze but didn’t look his way We drove in silence for a few minutes “Are you back for your father?” I finally asked In all truth, I was glad if that were the case From what I’d been able to tell, they hadn’t parted a couple of weeks ago on much better terms than they’d parted the first tiret that after some time away

“I’m back for you”

I did look at hi up in surprise We pulled onto the road leading to Graystone Hill and I saw it rising in the distance

“I knohat youa hand through his hair again It came away and he looked suddenly disheveled, tired, as if he hadn’t been sleeping well “My father said you’d expect ether”

My aped at hi “I’m sorry, what?”

He looked over aton my expression “You said you expected more from me It’s what ht not be such a crazy idea Why are you looking atand turning off the engine

“Let ht Your father”—I shookto think about the fact that Harrison Talbot knew that Brant and I had slept together—“kneereintimate and told you I’d expect you to marry me because of it?”

Brant’s brow creased “Basically What did you mean when you said you expected more from me?”

I threw the car door open, getting out and slaot out too and we stood looking at each other over the top of the car I threw my hands into the air “I oodbye in person A note, Brant? Two measly lines? But I didn’t expect you to marry me, for the love of God That’s juststupid”

I stalked around the car, heading away from the path, doard the stable I wanted to check on one of the mares that had stumbled in the yard earlier and had a sprain “Why is that so stupid?” Brant de up to me

“Because I knohat type of man you are I knohere you live I knohere I live, and I knohat that night was about I appreciated you being there for htly e openly about sex “Well, I obviously enjoyed, er, you” I stopped in front of the stable, turning toward hi me as well “But I never once expected a proposal to cooat of a father have a lot of nerveme”