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Ryan reclined in his chair and crossed his arms “That’s not how I heard it Harry Evans said he expected some blows Said he heard McDonald warn you to stay away from Lauren”

Harry Evans had always acted like an eighty-year-old busybody It looked like so what he learned that night with anyone

Ryan shrugged one shoulder “Never said he wasn’t, but he usually knohat he’s talking about when it comes to rumors”

Had others heard Matt’s outburst? They’d raised their voices but not until later in the conversation, after Matt dropped the news on him

“Yeah, Matt told me to leave her alone He made sure he reminded me she ith someone”

“Yeah, I heard she’d been dating some wealthy business executive from Rhode Island So what’s your plan?”

“She asked for ti her that” He left out the particulars of why and when she’d made the request

Ryan stood and clapped hi I can do to help Say the word”

His brother could not do anything, no one could Still, he appreciated the offer It helped to know his fa to tell his brother that, either

“Yeah, you can get those steaks off the grill before we need a sledgehae of topic Especially before his sister-in-law ca around

Chapter 8

“You’re quiet tonight” Kevin took the seat next to her, a glass of white wine in each hand She’d driven to his estate in East Greenwich and they’d driven into Providence for dinner and a play Now they were back at his house for the night Or at least that had been the original plan

Unease about spending the night nagged Lauren In the ht at each other’s hoave the impression she wanted to take their relationship to the next level, to so more serious Before Nate walked back into town, she’d wanted that with Kevin Or at least she’d thought she had Now, she had her doubts

Lauren accepted a glass, a forced smile on her face “Just tired I’ve had a lot on ht” She spoke only the truth She just left out some key information

Kevin’s hand settled on her shoulder, his skin sht you can relax” He pulled her closer and kissed her

She held her breath and waited, hoping for a rush of heat or excitele ounce of emotion sparked with him so close—unlike with someone else Nate merely entered a room and her body reacted

Stop colad you invited me for the weekend” His invitation had come out of the blue Before his phone call, she hadn’t expected to see hi week

“I hated not ht we could spend this weekend together I’ve missed you”

Heher by surprise Lauren responded, hoping that at any , but she got nothing Not even a pigeon chirped

She ith the flohen he coaxed her lips apart When he shifted his position so he could wrap both arms around her, she moved and looped her arely detached Her body went through thethe time until the kiss ended

The cool ainst her back when he slipped a hand under her top Still, her body remained unaffected And when Kevin pulled back, her eyes popped open, and she found hi back at her His eyes searched her face Exactly what did he see? Could he tell the kiss had no effect on her? Did he soes of Nate?