Part 184 (2/2)

fountains, smell the lush garden below, but she might have been

anywhere. Still, she found Drew's arm comforting and rubbed her cheek

against it.

”I hate to see you sad, Emma.”

”I'm not. Maybe a little tired, but not sad.”

”You've been upset for weeks, ever since you and Brian argued. Over me.”

He removed his arm and moved aside. ”The last thing I wanted to do was

cause you trouble.”

”It has nothing to do with you.” He turned, and in the moonlight his

eyes gleamed dark. ”It doesn't really. He would have had the same

reaction no matter whom I was seeing. Dad's always been overprotective.

A lot of it comes ... because of what happened to my brother ”

He kissed her, gently, on the temple. ”I know it must have been rough

for you, and for him, but it happened a lohg time ago.”

”Some things you don't ever forget.” She s.h.i.+vered, suddenly cold in the

warm summer night. ”It's because I understand how he feels that

it's so difficult for me. He's done everything for me, not just

materially, but in every way.”

”He adores you. You can see it every time he looks at you.” Smiling

again, he brushed a hand over her cheek. ”I know just how he feels.”

”I love him, too. Still, I know that I can't go on living my life to

please him. I've known that for a long time.”

”He doesn't trust me.” His lighter flared, followed by the sharp sting

of tobacco. ”I don't blame him. From where he stands I'm on the first

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