s weren't all that harsh on the surface, but

risse was-being talked to like th

aiting for her

laugh, her voice calm and unbothered. "Yeah

Clayton... They've all got their ow

er. "You? Like someone? You just fake that af

like they had the perfect love story. And then what? She turned around and latched on

n't love, that was

or not, what's it

uncle. You think I'm gonna let just a

cle? Clayton himself sai

reading people. Some folks are just too good at pretending. Full

hould check who's doing the 'guarding.' Some people were fooled so b

ne hit

e air between them felt li

rowled, his voice low and

ps together, clearly re

kind of past he had wasn't somethin

rd like a blade."What's wrong? Can't handle someone throwing your own words ba

him like a storm cloud. "Keep going. See w

l rang in Cha

Clayton's turf. Too many people around. All it'd take was one w

to walk

arm, blocki

lightly, and bam, his

wall and him. His gaze bore down on her,

down the hallway-Cla

face harden

"If my uncle sees us like this, what do you think he'll assume? That I'm cornering yo

s snapp

ought, this situati

ke this, it'd be seen as

y with embarra

ike he knew he had her. "I can't judge your choic

er voice came quick, clipped. "If that's no

ng in fast, voices c

, like he had all the time in th

lse jumped. "

on." And with that, he tilted

est tightened like fireworks had

t it. Co