Thank goodness Erin was patient. She listened intently as Sara told her what had happened between her and Bentley in the meadow.

"You did the right thing," Erin said, driving the golf cart along the white picket fence.

Sara, somehow, still felt guilty. Maybe it was because a part of her constantly longed to be with Bentley. After all, the guy was totally perfect. And he actually liked her.

Erin parked the golf cart beside the water fountain in Bentley'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.

Ella lay sprawled out across the wide stone base of the driveway fountain. "Jeez, Sara. If you'd shown up any later, it would've been the next day. You ride a horse as slowly as Bentley drives around this town!"

Sara froze mid-step. "Bentley drives slowly?" she asked, incredulously.

Ella laughed as she stuck her hands into the pockets of her orange dress. "Oh my gawd. Bentley 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."

Sara stared at her, dumbfounded. That was NOT the way Bentley had driven her. He'd pretty much taken her on a Daytona 500 joyride. She seriously wondered what other differences there were in the ways he treated her versus his other girls.

She joined her three friends at the driveway's fountain, marveling at how expansive the grounds were.

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, Bentley finally decided to make an appearance. He stood on a high balcony above his front doors. With his arms crossed and his back against the wall, he watched them silently.

"Look at him up there," Ella snickered. "He's like some great overlord."

Sara couldn't make herself meet Bentley's gaze. She could practically feel his dark eyes boring into her.

There came a sharp sound of tires burning pavement. When Sara looked up, she saw a shiny Porsche pull to a stop in front of the fountain.

"Took me way longer than I anticipated!" Kurt said, jumping from his car.

"Kurt!" Sara shrieked, overjoyed. She raced across the pavement and leaped into his arms.

"Whoa, Little Bunny can HOP!" Kurt 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?"

Sara buried her face in his sky blue silk shirt. She'd never felt so guilty in her entire life for kissing Bentley.

Well HE kissed ME first! she reminded herself. Okay, that made her feel a little better.

"Guess what I got my favorite girl?" Kurt whispered, nuzzling the side of her face with his chin.

Sara 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.