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She touched his cheek and said nothing

"They were going off to spend the weekend together at a ski resort that day His wife thought he was out of town on business I thought Aone to visit her sister in Denver"

Octavia said nothing, just shook her head sadly

"After the funeral hisand I talked We both decided that, for the sake of her son and iven ht it"

"I see" She lowered her fingers "I'm sorry, Nick"

"I don't want you to feel sorry for me" He took his hands off her shoulders and cupped her face between his palms "I just want you to understand why I've been a little reluctant to rush back into a serious relationship"

"You're scared"

He set his jaw "I am not scared"

"Yes, you are You made the kind of mistake that Hartes aren't supposed towoain So it's easier to play it safe"

"I ive you that much And it's true that Hartes don't usually ret it"

She coave me my son I will always be thankful to her memory for that"

"Of course you will, and that is as it should be But that doesn'tyour eain"

"I am not afraid," he said evenly, "but I ae because we both thought passion was enough It wasn't Next ti to take "

"Knohat I think? I think you're being so careful that you get nervous when there's even a hint that a relationship ht cross the line between casual and serious" She searched his face "Is that what happened the other night? Did you panic because you thought our one-night standmore than that?"

"For the last time, I did not panic And for the record, I never intended it to be a one-night stand"

"I beg your pardon, did you freak out because you orried that our little suet too heavy and too co his te to accooals

"Correct ," he said, "but I was under the i ement either, Miss Free Spirit"

She flushed "I wasn't the one who ran for the door that night I was doing just fine with the su"

"I did not run for the door I left in a hurry, but I did not run"

"Details"