Page 3 (1/2)

Dominic sent her red roses every day for the next teeks, took her out every night They went to the theater to seeThe Phantom of the Opera Tracy cried unashaht of the Phantom, at the soul-deep note of despair in his voice as he bid farewell to Christine, and then watched her go aith Raoul to live a life of ease and luxury that he could never give her

They went to the htclub in the city, to the opening of an art gallery They walked along the beach a few tihts they stayed at hoht she played rather well until she played against Doht, because she had loved it so ain She cried just as hard the second ti for the Phantom&039;s loneliness

"Would you have stayed with hi lot

She started to say yes, of course,then paused "I don&039;t know I&039;d like to think so"

"And could you live with his ugliness and his foul aze intent upon her face "Could you be happy living with a man who had committed murder?A ht about it a moment "I don&039;t know But I think I would have tried He loved her so much, loved her in a way that that wiive her up"

"Indeed," Dominic murmured His life paralleled that of the Phantoround lair and lived in the shadows Those who saw him for what he was shrank froiven up the woman he adored countless times But she was here now, and he had another chance to win her love

He thought about that as they drove hoht, perhaps this ti in the entryway of Nightingale House and Do into hers

She closed her eyes as hiskiss that see her, he turned toward the door "I should go"

"So soon?"She placed her hand on his back His id

"It is for the best" His voice was gruff and unsteady

"One , he pulled her quickly into his ar hers His tongue plundered herthe touch of it, alive and silky against his skin

With a hoarse cry, he let her go and left the house, not bothering to close the door behind hi in the doorway, she stared after him, bemused His footsteps made no sound on the paveround as he made his way to his car He slid behind the wheel; athrough the darkness as he gunned the engine and raced away

Tracyfrowned, puzzled by his abrupt departure and then, overco need to paint, she ran up the stairs

In her bedroom, she threw off her chic black dress, kicked off her heels, and peeled off her nylons Slipping on a pair of faded jeans and an old T-shirt, she walked down the hallway to her studio, tying her hair back in a ponytail as she went

She grabbed her smock and put it on, then took a fresh canvas out of the closet and placed it on an easel