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We sped past es," set far back from the road on either side, partly hidden behind stands of trees and lush gardens Then we crested a low hill, and the asped

Jackson muttered, "Welcome to Moonstar Ranch"

Then he leaned over, put his head in his hands, and cursed

TWENTY-SIX

BIANCA

Picture a castle--the biggest and most elaborate castle you’ve seen in a eons and ant and ro fountains and flocks of doves soaring through misty vales Or any castle fro to ride up on his trusty white steed

Then triple the size, add in a herd of white-tailed deer prancing across a lush wilderness backdrop, a glittering lake filled with colored fountains and peacefully drifting swans, and an enor over the horizon in the distance, bathing everything in a waric,beauty of the place called Moonstar Ranch

I exhaled an awed breath that contained a lot of vowels Then, panicked, I gripped Jackson’s arhtly hysterical "I’ve respected your privacy I haven’t pried into what happened that made you leave this place and never co You can’t let ht--e or repeat a word to another living soul Just tell me why you would ever want to leave somewhere so beautiful And also why it’s called a ranch because that is like its own European country"

Jackson lifted his head and looked at s can be toxic"

I blinked "That isn’t helpful At all"

He blew out a hard breath and leaned back into the seat "You’ll be happy to know that it’s nothing as dra You ever think about giving up the chef gig and writing fiction?"

Thatsolid I needed arden?"

He groaned "For Christ’s sake, Bianca!"

"What ao straight todiddled by Daddy?"

"Well it had to be solowered at , or inappropriate fondling on the part of my parents"

When I narrowed lared at each other Finally I thought of so shark?"

When he blanched, I thought, Bingo

The lie house, then pulled to a sritted teeth, Jackson said, "Enough questions Let’s just get through this weekend, all right?"

He didn’t wait for the limo driver to open his door He burst from the car, rounded the rear, and yanked open led his fingers

So conversation time was over Noas face the music ti so the scary rich people don’t hate s ona hip flask into

Jackson unloaded e When I was steady on rier Maybe he earing a bulletproof vest