WORLD BUILDING : CONCLUSION PART 6 By : Barbara Donlon Bradley
W e ’ r e picking this up right after Brian had t o l d M a r y b e t h there was a woman in his life . Her .
“ I ’ ve been in love with you from the first time I saw you smile . I missed you desperately when I was in Charlotte . I wanted to come home for Christmas last year , but we had a deadline that kept me in the city . I was in the office on Christmas working on that project . When they tried to make me work another holiday , I quit . I wasn ’ t happy without you .” “ You came back for me ?” “ Yes . I had thought we could pick up where we left off , but you were so standoffish I didn ’ t know what to do . If
WORLD BUILDING : CONCLUSION PART 6 By : Barbara Donlon Bradley
it hadn ’ t been for Peaches …”
“ She does have a habit of meddling .” Marybeth sighed . “ But her heart is in the right place .”
“ Peaches admires you so much , and once she hounded me about leaving you and got the truth out of me , she worked to bring us together .” Brian grinned . “ She was my champion .” Marybeth shook her head . “ I don ’ t think I would have tried to be around you if it wasn ’ t for her .” “ What are you talking about ?” “ You think you ’ re the only one who doesn ’ t like confrontation ? I didn ’ t know what to think when I saw you when I came back . I thought you hated me .” “ I was protecting my heart .” “ You had shields up so thick there was no way around them . I thought maybe you had someone in your life and my presence would mess that up .” “ You did ?” “ My mom would never give me any i n - formation when I asked about you . All she would say was why don ’ t you come home and find out . Drove me crazy .”
“ We are a pair , aren ’ t we ?” Marybeth started laughing . “ We ’ re like those characters in my romance books who are too stupid to live . None of this would have happened if we had just talked to each other .” “ Does that mean you forgive me ?” “ No .” She crossed her arms over her chest . “ But we ’ re moving in the right direction .” “ So what is next ?” “ You take me out to dinner . A nice dinner where we have to dress up . And then go dancing .”
“ What time do you want me to pick you up ?” “ Tonight ?” Brian nodded . “ Tomorrow night , seven p . m . A girl needs time to get ready .” ***
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