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Unfortunately, her fears were of an altogether different sort now

She was veryin love with hi, thick wall up around her heart

The thing was, Nicola would have claimed him as her boyfriend in front of the world in a heartbeat if she thought their relationship had any chance of working out But she knew better than to believe in that fantasy She and Marcus were having great sex Lots of it Of course they would connect during all that intimate skin-to-skin contact, with all the hours they were spending together

But the fact was that on Monday she would go back to her life and he would go back to his The last thing she needed was visual re her what had happened to the gorgeous business

Yes, she wanted to protect Marcus from the circus his life would become if he were linked with her

But she needed to protect herself, tooand reoodbye on Mondayfair After breaking up at least a thousand fights between his brothers and sisters, he’d always assu all sides of a proble emotionally involved on either side

So then, as his probleer, his frustration over the sneaking around stuff It wasn’t her fault that she was faiven him the chance to walk away froht before and he hadn’t taken it

He needed to get over himself, and fast, before Nicola drew into herself anybefore they ever said goodbye on Mondayherself off more with every mile they covered in his car as they crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge, heading north into Marin And the fact was, he hated losing his connection to her even oddao pick her up at the VIP side entrance

He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through hers "I’, surprised, as she turned her beautiful face to his "Marcus?"

"Will you forgive lad, to see her full lips curve up slightly at the corners "There’s nothing to forgive"

He lifted her hand to his lips, pressed a kiss to the palain"

He kept her hand on his lap, pulling her closer to hied on his lap, curled up against his chest, where he could stroke her hair, where he could keep her safe, where she could relax and let go of the stress of her high-pressure life for a little while

"That night in the club," she said softly, "you didn’t sign up for this I’ upfront with you froo for letting you believe I was just any girl"

"You could never be just any girl And it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re fahtened on hers "You’re very special, Nicola Very, very special"

Didn’t he realize he couldn’t say things like that to her if he didn’t want her to fall head over heels for hih Noas telling her how special she was