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“You said you went into the arhteen” She decided on a different approach “Didn’t you come back to visit your family between then and now?”

He hunched a shoulder “There was no one to visit I’m an only child My father died when I elve, and cancer took my mom just before I enlisted”

Bree sensed a whole world of pain behind those words Reaching across the table, she took his hand “I’m sorry”

He responded with a slight s on my own is what I do best”

“Coine how that would feel”

Rylan looked around the spacious, elegantly furnished loft apartes” It was the same assu frohtened his grip “Hey” His gaze scanned her face “What did I say?”

Usually, she avoided explanations, but his opinion nosed early I went to a public school for pupils with learning disabilities, not a private school Our parents wanted to keep us grounded, so they rew up loved and cherished, but I was taught that working hard, not money, is the key to success” She cleared her throat “So when I wanted to pursue art as a career,the acadee course To show theh art school with a series of side jobs”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I came into my inheritance on my twenty-fifth birthday I’m noenty-seven” She waved a hand to indicate her surroundings “The gallery, my business, my reputation, this apartment You think I achieved all that in just over two years?”

“Bree, I’ it fro, warm clasp “I jumped to an incorrect conclusion, and I’ve offended you”

She exhaled slowly “No, I’ize I overreacted Sometimes the name Colton can be a burden”