"I had wonderful grandparents, and I promise you that I don't have any emotional scars from what happened with my mother." "Of course you do-anyone would! She walked out on you, then practically before your eyes lavished her attention on her next son..." "Stop it," he teased, "or you'll have in tears." With quiet gravity Lauren said, "I was crying for the boy you were then, not for the man you are now. Despite everything that happened-no, because of it-you became a strong, independent man. Actually,the one to pity is your half brother." Nick chuckled. "You're right-he's an ass." Lauren ignored his humor. "What I meant was that you've succeeded on your own, without wealthy parents to help you. That makes you a bigger man than your half brother." "Is why I'm bigger?" he joked. "I always thought it was in my genes. You see, my father and grandfather were both tall..." "Nick,I'm trying to be serious!" "Sorry."