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"So when you saved my mother’s house--you kneho she was? You knew she was ured that one out when I thought she had

"Yes, I did it for you I knew your name from the library It was on the bank paperwork as well You were the goddess I longed to worship My unobtainable dream The relationship I could never hope to have"

I peeked up at her, wondering if she reht before I kissed her How she’d called herself a goddess

"When ere in Taolf, Todd joked with o Dinner the night before had jogged his ry"

She nodded absentmindedly

"A relationship like yours demands complete truth and honesty" I ripped the napkin in my hands apart as I quoted Todd "That’s what Todd told e of you a secret He wanted ht that was enough tiht that was reasonable"

"But we never made it to three weeks"

"No We didn’t I would like to think that if we had, I would have told you I had every intention of doing so But then that night happened and I was afraid you would think I had tricked you or soht have"

Tell her

My heart thumped

You have to tell her

"I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you," I said "I was scared You were right about that I thought it would be easier to let you go, but I rong"

It hadn’t been easier, not for , so I continued "I’ that I’ave a set a word in, but you haven’t run off screa," I said "Dare I hope any of what I’ve said makes a little bit of sense?"

She inspected her nails "I need to think," she said finally

She wanted to think--ain She didn’t say anything else, but simply rose to her feet

I stood with her "Yes, you need to think things through It’sa line, but I couldn’t help it, I had to touch her I took her hands and pressed my lips to them

"Will you call me later this week?" I asked "I want to talk ether, had she ever called ain it was entirely up to her Everything, this time, would be up to her

"I’ll call you," she whispered "I’ll call you regardless"

Chapter Thirty-five

On the way hoo?" he asked

"I think it ell," I said, re the conversation "She talked and I listened I talked and she listened She said she’d call me I hope she does"

"From what you’ve said about Abby, if she said she’d call--she’ll call"

I hway and headed to the estate, barely noticing the traffic I passed

"She’ll call," I said "I just hope"

"What?" he asked after several seconds

"It’s just--" I forced e the truth "I want it all I want to take her to dinner, ask her what her favorite meal is, what she wanted for Christmas when she elve I want to take her to ht" I paused "And, God help hed softly "Got it all planned out, have you?"

"Most of it depends on her"

"All of it depends on her," he corrected "Every step from here still has to be up to her Take it slow Get to know each other Build her--"

"Trust insure you listened"

"I did"

"Good," he said "Because if you bring up the playroom too soon, you’ll scare her And before you even think about returning to the playroo his sentence "Safe words, our new arrangeone over and over this, too"

"I knoe have I just can’t eh how important it is for the two of you to talk this ti to happen"

"I think it will," he said "Eventually Eternal optimist, remember?"

"Hmmmp"

From his end of the phone came the unmistakable sound of a baby’s howl

"Oops," he said "Napti Girl tiot louder "Call me after you talk to Abby"

We disconnected, and I spent the rest of the drive ho on my talk with Abby When would she call? Would she want to ain, or would she tell me to leave her alone?

But she’d let me kiss her hand--surely she wouldn’t have letht ered on me

Maybe