Thank goodness Erin was patient. She listened intently as Sarah told her what had happened between her and Bent in the meadow.”You did the right thing,” Erin said, driving the golf cart along the white picket fence. Sarah, somehow, still felt guilty. Maybe it was because a part of her constantly longed to be with Bent. After all, the guy was totally perfect. And he actually liked her.Erin parked the golf cart beside the water fountain in Bent’s driveway. “Took you long enough,” Trevor said. He flung an arm around Erin’s shoulders as she stepped out of the small vehicle. “Girl talk,” Erin told him, knowingly. Elly lay sprawled out across the wide stone base of the driveway fountain. “Jeez, Sarah. It would’ve been the next day if you’d shown up any later. You ride a horse as slowly as Bent drives around this town!” Sarah froze mid-step. “Bent drives slowly?” she asked, incredulously. Elly laughed as she stuck her hands into the pockets of her orange dress. “Oh my gawd. Bent drives like a friggin’ grandpa! He stops at every stop sign. Every stoplight. And has to use his blinker at every single turn. It’s SO annoying.” Sarah stared at her, dumbfounded. That was NOT the way Bent had driven her. He’d pretty much taken her on a Daytona 500 joyride. She seriously wondered what other differences were in how he treated her versus his other girls. She joined her three friends at the driveway’s fountain, marveling at the expansive grounds. She could see the horses grazing happily far out in the emerald green pastures. The red barn was now just a tiny speck on the horizon. As they stood talking, Bent finally decided to make an appearance. He stood on a high balcony above his front doors. He watched them silently with his arms crossed and his back against the wall. “Look at him up there,” Elly snickered. “He’s like some great overlord.” Sarah couldn’t make herself meet Bent’s gaze. She could practically feel his dark eyes boring into her. There came a sharp sound of tires burning pavement. When Sarah looked up, she saw a shiny Porsche pull to a stop in front of the fountain. “Took me way longer than I anticipated!” Kurl said, jumping from his car. “Kurl!” Sarah shrieked, overjoyed. She raced across the pavement and leaped into his arms. “Whoa, Little Bunny can HOP!” Kurl laughed. He cradled her in his arms. “Did you really think I wouldn’t show up on your birthday?” He kissed her lightly on the head. “What kind of boyfriend would that make me?” Sarah buried her face in his sky blue silk shirt. She’d never felt so guilty in her entire life for kissing Bent. Well HE kissed ME first! she reminded herself. Okay, that made her feel a little better. “Guess what I got my favorite girl?” Kurl whispered, nuzzling the side of her face with his chin. Sarah giggled. She kept her face planted against his chest, her arms draped around the back of his neck. He dug a small box out of his pants pocket. “Here, open it,” he said.