why I enjoy escaping Clare. The town is rife with gossip, with scandal. Everyone thrives on it, and itâs become worse since the reality show.â
âAll the best people live right here in Clare.â Cassie patted Aaronâs knee, the move familiar and intimate.
â Eww ,â Laura said. âDonât do sex things in front of me. Iâm young and innocent.â She took a quick breath, hoping to regulate her rapid pulse. âA girl doesnât like to think about her brother and sex in the same sentence.â
Aaron chuckled, ribald and knowing, and Laura let her breath ease out. Crisis averted.
âMaybe I should work my wiles on Mason and wriggle the womanâs name out of him,â Cassie said.
Lauraâs stress levels bolted to record levels in seconds flat. Her mouth opened to sayâ¦what? There was nothing she could say to divert Cassie, not with nosy interest shining like a glittering prize. âWhy would you want to? Doesnât he have a right to privacy?â
âI canât believe youâre sticking up for him,â Cassie said.
Laura rose. âNo more gossip for me.â She turned away, searched for James and located him chatting with her father.
âWow, who put a bug up her ass?â Cassie said, the words drifting after Laura.
Laura crossed the room on shaky legs. Mason had better keep his mouth shut. As for the other gossip, she didnât believe Dallas was the father of Diannaâs child. She knew that with every part of her gut. Dallas wouldnât shun his responsibilities.
âJames,â she said with a smile.
His greeting was guarded. âLaura.â
âIâll leave you two youngsters alone,â her father said in a jolly voice.
Laura rolled her eyes. âWhat have you been telling my parents? They seem to think a marriage between us is a done deal.â
He sent her a searching look. âIsnât it?â
âNo. Iâm too young to get married, and I think youâre shortchanging your boyfriend if you decide to marry a woman. Youâre consigning him, me and yourself to purgatory.â
Jamesâs mouth tightened to a firm line. He grasped her arm and propelled her to a quiet corner. âI have no idea what youâre talking about.â
âIâve done my research. I saw you with him,â she said, not intending to back down. âI donât have a problem with you or him, but Iâm not inserting myself into the mix.â
âMy parents expect me to marry.â He sounded miserable now.
âMy parents expect me to marry you,â she countered. âBut that doesnât mean I intend to follow their wishes. You need to get a backbone.â Another reason she refused to marry him. No one wanted a man they could walk over without breaking a sweat. âLook, I have a temporary solution. We attend social functions together as friends.â She leaned closer and whispered, âIâm interested in someone else too.â
âSomeone your parents donât approve of?â
âYes.â Best to keep things simple. âWhat does your boyfriend say?â
âIf I marry a woman, heâll walk away.â
âDo you love him?â
âYes, weâve been together for three years. I canât imagine ever wanting anyone else.â
âJames, youâre an idiot,â Laura said. âYouâre willing to risk the love of your life because of tradition, because you want to please your parents.â
âTheyâll disinherit me.â
âI want to meet your boyfriend when weâre both back in Napier. If heâs agreeable, weâll go to functions with each other, but we will not marry. Is that clear?â
âWhy do you want to help me?â
âBecause Iâm dating someone who is totally unsuitable and would send my parents into hysterics. The difference is Iâm not willing to follow along like a little
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