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"I’m sorry, Raven" His face reflected a seriousness he rarely showed her unless he was training "Want ?"

She laughed "No, I’ood After a session with you, I’ht team Sure you’re not interested? You have more talent than I’ve ever seen"

"For American Ninja Warrior? God, no But thanks for the cootta keep you hungry And a bitand shook her head "And that is exactly why I can’t handle the Ninja thing It’s too hard-core for me"

"See ya later, chickie"

She blew air kisses at hiirls watching her trainer He reminded her of Dalton The moment he walked in the roo a web no woman could resist

She jumped in her Jeep and headed back toward her house It was poker night, so she’d get to hang out with Morgan and Sydney They were getting so good, Raven suggested they open it up to et into a gaan swiped from them with her incredible poker face and sweet Southern charine, and froze

God, please, no

Dalton stood on her front porch

Panic reared She sat in the Jeep, not wanting to get out Her heart wept Why was he torturing her? Drained froy of the workout and plain old sadness, she forced herself out of the car and walked toward him

"I don’t want you here," she said

He held his hands out, palesture of surrender "I know I don’t bla to the bar, but I wanted to talk to you in private"

Fragh her "You didn’t seeirl into My Place," she tore out "You wanted to make a point? Fine You did But it’s still er Stay away frorief shone from his ocean-blue eyes "I’m so sorry about that, Raven You have no idea how sorry I am I’ve been in a bad place these past feeeks There’s no excuse for what I did, except that I was a fucking asshole, and really mixed up I convinced myself you manipulated and lied like your father I’ve been stuck in the past, just like you accused me of, and all I wanted to do was strike out and hurt you like I was hurt"

"You did well," she said softly "When you walked away fro all we had was sex, I lost a piece of myself Why? Do you hate me so much?"

His eyes shone etness A muscle worked in his jaw "No I don’t hate you I love you When you told ured out a lot aboutaround a bunch of crap that has no place in the present or irl? She’s a casual friend whoher to convince myself I didn’t love you"

She shook her head in disbelief "Do you hear yourself, Dalton? Games Lies Fear I’m tired of it, and I can’t have it inyou for another chance"

She fell silent The breeze whispered through the trees, and birds sang She realized this hat she had wanted so badly since the night he’d left But now, it had changed Too many words and deeds Too much hurt The trust had been broken between them, and Raven didn’t think they’d ever be able to recover

"It’s too late, Dalton" She raised her head and stared into his beloved eyes His golden hair fell against his cheeks, e the lines of his face "I think we’ve ood between us Funny, it started with sex, didn’t it? And that’s exactly where it ended"

He took a step forward "No, don’t say that It wasn’t just sex I loved you, but I was too fucked-up to see it and admit to myself I needed you I needed you more than I needed to hate your father, or iveness Another chance Please"

Her chest tightened, but she already knew the answer "I’ive you, Dalton, because I know the man you really are inside The et the cruelty The way you deliberately tried to hurt ain? I can’t trust you anyain I’er"