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The press is nothing if not fickle This time, at least, we’re on the warm, fuzzy side of the press

More iives e Surely the next part ork, too Because I really don’t want to have to call Sylvia and ask her to book

I draw a deep breath, knock firmly on the door, and wait

A moment later, I hear Da and I’ my breath as the door is pulled inward

And there he is He’s wearing black trousers and his shirt hangs open He looks both dashing and distracted He’s got his arm up as he attempts to fasten the cuff, and when he sees et that for you?" I ask

Wordlessly, he holds out his arm I button the cuff from my position in the hallway, then step inside and do the other one Then, without speaking, I start to work on the line of buttons on the shirt

His body is tense and wary, and I can’t tell if he’s happy to see ry, or uncertain that I am real

"I saw your press conference," he finally says

"Oh?" I try to sound light and encouraging, but insideIf he saw it and wanted me here, wouldn’t he have pulled me into his arms?

"I didn’t expect you here so quickly"

"When you know you want to be with soet there as fast as you can" My s to cry I hadn’t even let myself admit until no much I wanted to hear those three little words fro the to send me away, too

"Oh, Nikki" There are too many emotions packed into my name, and I cannot sort them out "No matter what you tell the press, you deserve better than a relationship with a man behind bars"

"I deserve you," I say "But if you think I can’t handle all of this, then you’re right I can’t Not without you Daet it? I can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch them try you for murder I need to be here I have to be here I need you" I pause to draw a breath, and then tilt my head to look hiht of eternity see in the second that passes before he answers

"I do," he says, and then, "God, Nikki, I do" It is as if a glass wall around him has shattered The life returns to his eyes, the smile to his face Suddenly his ar up the rhyth in the scent of this man I love so deeply

"Then it’s okay that I came?" My words are tentative, uncertain

"Oh, baby, yes," he says, and the esbut a shell"

"You should never have walked away," I say

"No," he says firet free of h you , where you are concerned I am weak I am selfish I walked away once to protect you, but I won’t do it again If you want to go, do it now Otherwise, I will keep you here beside me, because that is where I want you Bywith relief from his words, and can only nod stupidly

"I’ve been in hell without you," he says "Every ainst temptation I wanted to send a plane for you To say to hell hatever was best for you and scoop you up for my own selfish needs"

I lick my lips "I think I would have been okay with that"