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That awful day last winter, it was stone sober wake-up-next-to-the-one-you-love-and-grab-each-other sex that I’d walked in on And when I saw Graha Rikker, there was more passion and tenderness on his face than I had ever seen there before

People could say what they wanted about all the recreational sex I’d had But I knehat love looked like I’d probably stood there thirty seconds longer than necessary thatto process h "I never made him as happy as he is now Not even close"

"That sucks, Bella"

"It really did But it was the lying that killedhow pathetic it sounded It’s hard to adined you were closer to the center of their world

"He should have leveled with you But ued to s that bothered other girls (like being called a slut behind my back) didn’t bother me so much Graham’s heartbreak hadn’t been so easy to brush away He had never belonged to me But it had been a shock to know he never would

Also, I considered e of character But twice now I’d fallen in love with people ere incapable of loving me back

Since then, I’d stuck to sex and kepted it off "To add insult to injury," I added, "I was in such a hurry to get out of there that I caught my jacket on the door handle" I showed Rafe the pocket "And it tore I still need to get it fixed"

Rafe took the jacket out of my hands and inspected the rip "This isn’t so bad It just needs a few stitches You should do it, though, before the edges get too frayed"

"True I’ll take it to that dry cleaner’s on Chapel Street toe you twenty bucks for a half-inch repair?" Rafe looked appalled "Don’t you have a sewing kit?"

I did, as a e"

Rafe gave me an eye-roll, which most men can’t really pull off On his chiseled face it looked sexy "Whip it out, then I’ll mend it"

"Seriously?" I slid off the bed and went over to hters that I never seeht this on the street corner in Chinatown just because I liked the little silk pouch Not because I kno to sew"

He took it from my hand "Where are you from?"

"New York City"