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Patrick’s eyes go ith my insults but then realization dawns on his face

“You think that ht?” he asks in a low voice

“Yes,” I hiss again, still spitting nails “In fact, I did her hair myself this afternoon when she walked into my beauty salon And you knohat she said? She said in no uncertain ter married to a Patrick Lancaster Now that wouldn’t be you, would it?”

To my surprise, the handsome man looks relieved and then even s up at the corners

“Penny, don’t lose your cool because she’s not getting married to me Marina Alpert is not my fiancée, no matter what she said”

“Then whose fiancée is she?” I question angrily “Is there some Patrick Lancaster who just materialized out of nowhere in Gainesville, Ohio? Do you have a secret twin?”

He has the te his head back to reveal flashing white teeth and the strong, bronzed column of his throat I simultaneously love and hate how attractive he is at once My brain says no, and yetme towards this man But he still has to answer for his deceptive actions because I’er

“Calm doeetheart because there’s no need to lose it Marina is getting married to rin “I bet she didn’t room-t0-be is near seventy, did she? Trophy wives usually don’t”

I stare at hi open with shock

“I’m sorry?”

He actually smirks a little

“Oh yeah Marina’s going to be e, and actually his only child But yes, Patrick Lancaster Senior is tying the knot again, and Marina is his beautiful bride She’s sniffed his money, and that’s what she really wants But it doesn’t really matter because all of our faet et a red cent”

I stare at him

“But does your dad live here, in Gainesville?” I ask,with confusion “When did this happen?”