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Paulina tried unsuccessfully to pry her focus from his face and his clenched jaw, but she couldn’t She was al, she was so surprised

He watched the traffic pass and waited, waiting for her to say soaze

Her mouth was open, her eyes wide Then she closed her mouth

“We were involved for years, Gabriel, and you never once said you were sorry Why now?”

He didn’t answer, just leveled his eyes, the muscle in his jaw the only movement in his face

“It’s because of her, isn’t it?”

Gabriel said nothing Facing Paulina was difficult enough He couldn’t speak of what Julianne ed him, and of how ive him when he returned to her

He accepted Paulina’s censure without argument In his current state, he craved punishment and disapproval, for he was all too conscious of his own sin

She watched his reaction, the emotions thatshe’d not seen for some time

“I moved hora a counselor”

She looked at hi reports to Carson’s secretary”

“I knew, yes”

“She changed you”

“Sorry?”

“She’s changed you She’s—tamed you”

“This isn’t about her”

“Oh, yes, it is How long have we known each other? How long e sleeping together? Never once did you askNot even for—”

He interrupted her quickly “I should have I tried tocare of you”

Gabriel winced, even as he said the words He was familiar, all too familiar, with the type of man ould act in such a way so as to cover up his sexual indiscretions

Paulina picked up her coffee ain “Yes, you should have But I was a fool to settle for ere I couldn’t see my way out of it But now I can And I swear to God, Gabriel, I’ether, as if she were trying not to say any more Then, unexpectedly, she continued

“All these years, I orried that my parents would slam the door in my face Ithe doorbell” She looked down at the table “I didn’t h the snow in h heels when the front door opened and my mother came outside She was still in her slippers” Paulina’s voice caught and her eyes welled up with tears “She ran to me, Gabriel She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me I realized before I even entered the house that I could have coreeted hter,” Gabriel muriveness”

She regarded hi about him that see why you’re asking for this now”

He retreated back into his chair, his hands clutching his

“You were my friend,” he whispered “And look at how I treated you”

Paulina wiped at her eyes

Gabriel leaned forward

“And there’s Maia”