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“Can you wait until later to leave so we can talk tonight? I’ll coht now his voice bordered on it

Soer faded He really didn’t realize he’d been in the wrong “It’s not about talking” She let her arms fall by her sides “It’s about what I need, Nate”

“Lauren“ His voice trailed off as he nodded and walked into the roo on her bureau “Have a safe trip” He placed a kiss on her cheek “I love you”

Lauren’s heart cracked open, and words failed her as he walked back out of the bedroom Then she heard the kitchen door open Alone at last, she sank onto the bed Dropping her head into her hands, she let the tears co her dreaance, it was in jeopardy Maybe Kevin and his fae after all Maybe it shouldn’t be about love A e formed like a business kept your heart safe

“Enough crying for now” She raised her head and wiped the tears fro a call to Callie to tell her the wedding was off

Chapter 14

Cliff House sprawled out before her Designed to rese the late 19th century, the mansion amazed her every time she saw it The a and led the mind Just a few years earlier, she and Callie toured mansions like this one, awestruck by their beauty and the people who had once owned theular basis, and her best friend and her faed Too bad it didn’t always change for the better, as it had in Callie’s case She’d gone fro a fa the love of her life Now she and Dylan were starting a family of their own

Lauren parked in front of the er than her house Time to put on a happy face Tomorrohen Callie arrived, she could spill her heart, but for now she needed to keep it together

The Sherbrookes’ butler opened the door and, as usual, greeted her in his ry He always appeared so cal bored

“Great You’re here” Sara appeared behind the butler “Charlie and Allison are here, too”

Sara gave her a welcos had changed Not that long ago Sara would have said hello and kept on walking Now, though, she treated Lauren as a friend

“Allison calledto Allison Sherbrooke, her and Callie’s cousin “They’re outside”

Sara led her out onto the veranda where Charlie and Allison sat, the remnants of lunch still on the table Immediately, Lauren took a deep breath and enjoyed the smell of the ocean Off in the distance she saw the sailboat Jake keptup and down as the waves crashed against its side

“Are you hungry? We just finished lunch, but I can have so prepared for you” Sara took a seat next to her cousin The tomen looked so much alike they could be sisters

“I’ht before, but even still she had no appetite

With a nod, Sara pulled the tablet computer from the case by her feet “Now that Lauren’s here we can start” Her fingers flew across the screen, causing the light glittering off the large dia to hit Lauren square in the eye

“Is that what I think it is?” she asked, all thoughts of Callie’s baby shower pushed aside for the moment

A giddy smile formed, and Sara nodded

“Why haven’t I read about it?” The media loved the Sherbrooke family How had they ed?

“After our trip to Connecticut, we stopped at Martha’s Vineyard for a few days, and he asked me then We haven’t told anyone except family yet”

“Congratulations Can I see?”

The ring on Sara’s hand was breathtaking She couldn’t even i was Actually, in a way it reh that one hadn’t been quite as large Despite the beauty of Sara’s ring and the one Kevin had offered, she preferred Nate’s She glanced down at her own hand She hadn’t worn the engagee without it now

“It’s beautiful I won’t tell anyone” She released Sara’s hand

“I know I trust you, Lauren Congrats, yourself Callie toldnext month”