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Genny tried to decide how to respond Best to patch things up

But anger, like a burning pulse, beat beneath her skin—for Geoffrey, for all that the wo hi fine overall, that Brooke did love her son, she just didn’t really kno to love Brooke inevitablythat happened all about her

Genny understood that Brooke felt left out of her own family Edward had been the old earl’s favorite Their mother had adored Rafe Brooke had never been anyone’s special darling

And then Genny had coe of five, Genny had been the princess of Hartmore The earl had pampered her Brooke’s mother had lavished affection on her and Eloise had welcomed her with open arms Brooke remained nobody’s favorite—only from then on, she had Genny to blame

Plus, there was the Geoffrey situation Genny would have been wiser not to pay so much attention to him, not to love him so completely But how could she help it? He eet and smart and funny Genny’s heart had been his from the first time she saw him, the summer he was three, when Brooke had divorced her Aht Geoffrey home to Hartmore

“Nothing to say to ain

Genny turned and faced the other woy”

Brooke stared back at her, defiant Shesound “As if I believe you”

Genny had a very powerful urge to scream “What do you want from me, Brooke?”

“Oh, I don’t know Everything you took from me?”

A sudden wave of nausea rolled through her The baby didn’t like all this tension She stood “I know you resent me I even understand why But in reality, I didn’t take your place, and we both know it That you feel so You would be dealing with the same emotional issues whether I was here or not”

Brooke sighed For once, it wasn’t a drah She let her shoulders slus up with you And I proether”

Genny put her hand against her belly and took a slow breath “Fair enough Let’s call a truce Put so with h somehow”

Brooke regarded her, narrow eyed, her head tipped to the side, her dark hair tunant, aren’t you?”