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My eyes darted to Brax, who’d jogged up to us He wore a Silverbacks baseball cap, bill facing the back, and a Silverbacks tee shirt The long-sleeved button down he wore over it hung open When I glanced over ainst the live oak tree in the quad where they’d been arguing His ar Kane McCarthy I felt as though he were looking directly atto recruit me into their sorority," Olivia stated

I turned and Brax’s startling blue eyes and scarred face studied mine as he draped his arm over Olivia’s shoulders He pulled her close, kissed her on the teood luck with that, sweetheart Gracie here ain’t into clubs of any sort Unless it’s the Brax club" He chuckled, and his strong Boston accent paired with a penetrating gaze as he studiedsort of inspection that allance away Sometimes, he looked at me as if he knew Knew my secrets, just like Murphy seemed to Brax’s mouth pulled up in one corner, and it was a soft, friendly sort of lanced down at my wardrobe, then back up Corinne Belle always insisted that in order to be successful one had to dress successful, at all times No jeans No tee shirts No sweatpants Only the finest would do My wardrobe was chosen and tailored for me each semester by Corinne

She’d insisted

And so I did just that But I couldn’t tell if it was sarcas Brax it probably was a little of both, but I took it as a coht nod, then looked at Olivia "You go ahead," he said, then kissed her on the nose "I’ to"--his eyes flashed quickly to et my brother out of here for a while Come over later?"

"Of course," Olivia answered softly

Suddenly, I felt like an intruder I could feel the tension rolling off of Brax in waves Was he that angry with Kane? I’d seen Brax Jenkins angry before It wasn’t a pretty sight My eyes flicked to the slio," I said hurriedly, and sn up for the Turkey Run on Saturday?"

Olivia grinned "We both did"

I nodded "Super, thanks See you guys there"

"Oh, Harper," Olivia said I looked at her, and she s to ask Do you have plans for Thanksgiving? You’re welcome to come home with us We always have a load of food"

My insides froze, and I pasted a s hoh that came out a lot e Belle ordeal Very Norman Rockwell You knohat I mean But thank you"

Olivia nodded, and her eyes softened "If anything changes, the offer is there, Harper"

Brax kissed Olivia’s teled his brows "She makes pies"

This time, my smile came easy His love for her came off him in waves "Thanks, Olivia Brax"

I hurried off toward the library, and at the steps I paused and looked over my shoulder The pair moved up the ay, Brax’s arm protectively around Olivia, his head bent close to her ear, then they stopped at the ay leading to the Science complex and he pulled her close, pressed hisOlivia’s head lifted, sed away

I couldn’t i would be in Olivia’s world I knew she had a big fa similar to one of the Holiday Hallmark movies Murphy frequently watched on her laptop I sedfa Brax’s brother

His stare seemed dead on me I couldn’t move; couldn’t look away Finally, Brax reached him, and the pair turned and sauntered off

Kane McCarthy Mysteriously quiet and attractive Street kid Foster kid Fro football season Not much to know about a person, and what there was to knoas pretty shady and a little frightening But by the time my last class finished for the day, he’d enteredwhen trying to concentrate on the notes Professor Sizehtly accented voice and those dark shts Disruptive, to say the very least Then there was that crooked smile--

"Hey, Harper," a familiar voice sounded behindfor the annual Greek bake sales when Murphy caught up to"Fancy a little curry for dinner?" she asked in her heavy English accent "I heard of a new place that just opened in Covington" She elbowed ’s bollocks, I’m told I’ll drive"

I sh the student body of Winston I’d learned ’s bollocks was a good thing, despite the crude sound of it "Your driving terrifies me"

"Ha! I’ll have you know I’ve pinched only two violations since arriving here, Ms Belle My driving skill is nothing short of legendary"