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She was a He didn't kno he hadn't realized it before, when he'd already known that she was smart and lovely and witty and resourceful But all those adjectives, and a whole host ht of, did not add up to the true

And he wasDear God above, he was jealous of herwI'll go," she said softly, turning and walking toward the door

For awith revelations But when he saw her hand on the doorknob, he knew he could not let her go Not this night, not everwNo," he said hoarsely, closing the distance between theain, "I want you to stay"

She looked up at him, her eyes two pools of confusion "But you said--"

He cupped her face tenderly with his hands "Forget what I said"

And that hen he realized that Daphne had been right His love hadn't been a thunderbolt frolance Every second he had spent in her presence it had grown, until he'd reached this moment, and he suddenly knew

He loved her

He was still furious with her for publishing that last column, and he was bloody asha found a life's work and purpose, but even with all that, he loved her

And if he let her walk out the door right now, he would never forgive himself

Maybe this, then, was the definition of love When you wanted someone, needed her, adored her still, even when you were utterly furious and quite ready to tie her to the bed just to keep her froht This was thewith emotion, and he had to tell her He had to show herwStay," he whispered, and he pulled her to hiy or explanationwStay," he said again, leading her to his bed And when she didn't say anything, he said it for a third timewStay" She nodded

He took her into his arms This was Penelope, and this was love

CHAPTER 18

The moment Penelope nodded--the reed to e hisand tender the next

She wasn't sure, but the truth was--she didn't care

One thing she knew--he wasn't doing this, kissing her so sweetly, to punish her Soe, but Colin wasn't one of them

It just wasn't in him