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We’re having lunch with Mom and Dad at her new favorite Hamptons restaurant. It opened a month ago and she’s made three trips here since then. I think it’s for the food but it could be for the visibility. Anyone who is anyone frequents this restaurant. Thanks to that, right now is absolutely not the time to make a scene with Lyle.

Things are getting serious between us. He asked me to move in with him last weekend. I said yes. I would have preferred for us to find a new place together but I’m sure I’ll be happy in his condo.

And the weekend away he wants us to take? Of course, I’ll be going with him. I’m just going to need to find the right time to break that news to Mom.

I reach for my glass of wine and take a sip. “I remember,” I say to her. “You’ll have to show me those dresses tomorrow when I come over.” We have plans to work on the gala we’re currently in the planning stages of. This one will raise money for a women’s foundation that invests in projects to empower New York communities in their long-term economic security. It’s a gala that holds a special place in my heart because I’ve seen what the money it raises can do.

Lyle eyes me. “We’ve got plans tomorrow.”

I frown. “No, we don’t.”

He releases an impatient breath. “We do, Kristen. You need to start using that calendar of yours better.”

I bristle at his tone. “What plans do we have?” It’s Monday tomorrow. Lyle has work, so I can’t understand why he thinks we’ve got something else planned.

“We’re collecting Andrew and Elise from the airport.” His brother and sister-in-law.

“Oh, right, yes. But I wasn’t aware you wanted me to come with you. I thought you were doing that and then spending time with them on your own.” What I actually want to say is that during the conversation we had over this, he made it very clear he doesn’t expect me to tag along. I was hurt by the things he said. There’s no way I got this wrong.

“No. I want you with me.” And just like that, with a firm, unyielding tone, he lets me know this is what he expects.

I don’t push back against Lyle often, but I can’t let this go. Not when I was so upset after our last conversation about this. “That wasn’t what you said when we discussed this.”

“It was.”

I turn my body to his. “No, Lyle, it wasn’t. You said we weren’t at the stage in our relationship yet that justified my assumption you’d want me to be there when you collected Andrew.” I was stunned when he said this. I can move in with him but I can’t go with him to collect his brother from the airport?

Before he can respond to that, my father says, “I imagine you misunderstood, Kristen, but perhaps if you want to discuss this, you could wait until you get home.” Dad’s displeasure is evident in his voice. Usually, that would be enough to stop me, but not today. I’m in a mood already from the way Lyle rushed me out the door this morning, telling me I waste far too much of his time getting ready. He had the hide to suggest I wake an hour earlier on the days we have plans.

I push my chair back, and at Lyle’s frown, I say, “We’ll take this somewhere private. I’m not waiting until we get home to finish this conversation.”

Without waiting for him to agree, I walk away from the table toward the terrace. I’ve taken two steps when I lock eyes with Bradford who is sitting at a table in the corner watching me. He’s watching me so intently that there’s no doubt in my mind he’s been watching me for a while.

The butterflies that I still feel for this man come to life and I bring my hand to my body, trying to calm them. There’s no calming to be had, though. Not where Bradford’s concerned. Even that god-awful conversation we had six months ago didn’t send these butterflies away.

I’ve only seen him once since then and my attraction to him was as strong as ever. It was at a party. I had Lyle with me. Bradford’s date was a woman I’ve seen him with a few times over the years. The four of us had a five-minute conversation about nothing in particular. My level of jealousy was wild. I hated watching her put her hands on Bradford. Lyle picked up on the vibes between Bradford and me, and we ended the night with the biggest fight we’ve had to date. That wasn’t what I hated about the night the most though. No, it was the fact Bradford and I didn’t find our way to the rooftop.

“Hurry up and let’s get this over with,” Lyle says, coming up behind me.

He doesn’t wait for me to continue walking. Instead, he pushes past me and stalks out to the terrace.

Bradford doesn’t miss any of it.

I watch the slight narrowing of his eyes as he tracks Lyle’s strides.

I watch the pressing together of his lips as he does that.

I watch as he brings his gaze back to me.

I don’t miss the disapproval in his eyes.

He looks ready to leave his chair and come to me. I give him a quick shake of my head and walk out to the terrace, hoping he reads me as well as he always has. The last thing I need is him joining Lyle and me.

“Why are you being so antagonistic today?” Lyle’s question is out before I’ve even come to a stop.

I stare at him. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly. You’ve fought with me since we got in the car to come here. Over insignificant things.”

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