he confrontation. She changed into a clean black t-shirt and a fresh pair of jeans from the

ing table wa

e, wine glass-sat in the middle of the

with tired eyes and a permanent slump to her shoulders. She glanced at Erin with

a heavy ceramic plate on the table before s

a deep pink inside. Beside it lay a neat row of glistening, herb-flecked asparagus spea

ite of steak was bliss. She was starving. She ate slowly,

da listened to the faint, rhythmic

voice tight with resentment. "Acti

rim. "When she's full and satisfied, w

an expensive meal, they reasoned, was proof. She was g

wing hunger in her stomach. She wiped her mouth with

they made

s sat at the head of the table, Brenda at the opposite end, flanking

o be seen, likely sul

false, syrupy sweetness. "Erin, d

Her eyes went straight to Cletus. "

at he probably thought was a look of paternal concern. "E

hed out loud at

past," he continued, stumbling over th

tunity, Erin. A chance for you to get a lot of mon

of genuine curiosity in her eyes. She ges

e table. "You've heard of the Floyd family, right? The ri

reaction. But Erin's expression was a p

t was originally for your sister, Tiffany. But... Tif

ing. "There's a prenuptial agreement, of course. A huge one. And a l

d the only question that mattered. "Why me? If

xchanged a look. Th

y specifically want a Price daughter. They're very traditional. They believe our famil

rp sound. "Cut the crap, Cle

f balance again. The careful

cross the dining ta

leaned forward. Her voice was a strange, gho

she said, savoring the words. "It's