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“I did not”
“You didn’t accept”
“How could I?” The rapid exchange of biting words stops We stare at each other a beat too long
Sean tears his gaze away from mine and turns his back on s his head like this is impossible “What more do you want from me, Avery?”
Theout onto a frozen lake that’s nearly thawed I reach for him, but hesitate I don’t touch his shoulder like I want Instead, I say the words to his back “I want everything There is no in the s out because of ”
Sean glances over his shoulder athis face “You want to marry me?”
The way he says it, likehe’d ever do, crushes me I hide the emotions before he sees them I mask the way his words crush me one by one, but the truth is already onhim what I want before I can stop “I want the little house with the hanging baskets full of flowers on the front porch I want my office inside, so that I can be hos up my roses, and I want the husband who kisses me on the cheek when he co a mistress doesn’t fit into it at all”
“I see” His gaze is locked with mine Too rows colder and colder It’s like I can sense hi away My drea a call girl does?”
“It’s temporary”
He nods and his gaze falls to the floor “I don’t have more to offer”
I sh, not for me I can’t accept it no matter how I feel about you I’m sorry Sean”
CHAPTER 2
Sean nods, like he already knows He glances up at irl?”
I hate that he gives up so easily If Sean gave even the faintest hint that we ether, my words would be different But he doesn’t I steel myself so that my answer comes out smooth and sure “If that’s the best you can offer, then yes”
Sean steps toward me and laces his hands around my waist “I can’t do forever, Avery”
“So,” I s hard This feels like good-bye, like I’ll never see hi hi ht, Mr Jones I’ht, but they fall out of the air like stones
Sean works his jaw and watchesHis eyes burn ords that I’ve never heard hiined how hts like that won’t help, not now
Sean tips his head forward, so it’s resting against mine “I’ll tell you what I want, what I intend to do with you, Miss Smith” There’s no remorse in his voice, no indication that he hates this as much as I do I bet his ain I repress the urge to shiver as I think about it Dinner was rough and thisaway present
Sean dips his hands lower, cupping ether His lips are bytoto be so sated that you’ll never be able to have sex again without thinking about this night I promise you that”
Surprised, I say, “I thought—”
“I know” He kisses the top of entle touches that I so desperately crave “I don’t want our last tiether to be like that”
I kneas true before he said the sentence, but it still hits —after you help Peter—you’ll go back to California?”
“I’ve overstayed ers press into my back as he slides them up to the zipper He pulls it down and pushes the dress offat my waist