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He says he wanted to keep distance between us, and that is why he treatedin hi his time until the lost funds find their way back to his account But why? For what end result? Why use deception when I a to help?

I am shocked at the ease in which we spoke, the Nathan of our Napa trip suddenly present, without the lurk of paparazzi, s on a conversation as easily as breathing, his charof Drew, the expression on his face when our eyesus through the , I turned e out ofunderhands on soing on Candace?" My eyes flip open at his voice Speak of the devil I turn and watch Drealk into the rooesture, but I can see the tension he carries in his shoulders, the dark look on his face

I toss down the pad, his eyes following the motion, and I am suddenly appreciative ofbut whiteness, no hint at the hurricane of e would be appreciated"

"Nathan didn’t knock" The sharp tone of his words , ing him closer tohis furious eyes "I’m not your property, Drew And, since you seem to be irrational, let reement to Nathan"

He scoffed "The rules are out theYou know that, you knew that the minute that I told you about the n You have power now, you could have told his are different now"

I have power I needed to hear that from Drew That I can tell Nathan no, and it will be okay I have toldit from Drew Solid Concrete I have power I can fix this situation I come down fro, his face intense, a question in his dark blue depths He repeats the question "Are you going to continue fking him?"

I stare at him wordlessly, with no idea how to respond I knohat he wants me to say I can see it, written all over his face, his body, and those eyes that yearn for ive him false hope for a relationship that will never happen "I don’t think that’s any of your business"

He leans forward, his hands fisting, ht lose control "It is, in every way, et away froreat He has no one else to consider, no other eht For him it is simple, a masculine, caveman need to dominate another man’s property I see woman I fk woman I ooman

I see man I fk man I desire romance

The true epitome of romance is Nathan and Cecile She robbed hi his heart into a thousand pieces, yet he still loves her--pines for her, will not look at another woman in the same way, his heart co about his life I know I can see the distance in his eyes, the constant distraction that is she, his inability to see anything other than her absence He has needs--I’ve felt those needs betweenover his ry desire, his ck fking en But his needs only control his body She controls his heart

I see man I fkso it onto the bed A sold seal on the front "Your passport," he says shortly "I got you both a new flight There is also a card with Jennifer’s social security number and account nuht departs day after to it open to stare atwith a look that is warives me as he turns and walks out And I wonder, as the door slides shut behind hiht

CHAPTER 10

To Do:

1 Make a list of demands for Nathan’s review and consideration

2 Pack for our trip

3 Decide what to do about Drew

My to do list is so short, three simple items It should be easy, handled in fifteen enerally an all-day project for me Of course, that was back in the day, when I had to choose between Crappy Outfit 1 and Crappy Outfit 2 Now, I just need to grab the appropriate hangers marked with the correct numbers, to assemble the outfits that I choose froure out the Drew situation as I pack In the closet I find a e set, three red and black Diane Von Furstenberg vintage-style trunks I flip them open in the center of the room and open the book of outfits

My brain is not cooperative, playing sothe feel of expensive fabric They belong tothe surf with Nathan, lying in a hammock underneath palm trees and stars, soft kisses that will lead toout this screwed up situation and whatso h the stack of books on rab a few paperbacks and toss the three pairs of shoes and hair and h bottles, sprays, creams and powders to improve half of Florida I look around the roorowls, aiding in nore it,down on the couch and posing e

Blank white

What do I want to deht next to Nathan To have the Nathan who co srin and playful stories I want to spend s with him, side by side on the couch, my head in his lap, his hands in my hair, quiet moments that we both would treasure

But I can’t put those demands down on paper I can’t showhand The worst-case scenario is for hiive me that, all of that, while his heart is still Cecile’s My heart wouldn’t be able to resist, would fall down a long dark hole that it would never be able to climb out of

CHAPTER 11

Nathan drives us the hour and a half to Tampa International, where ill board a plane that would take us to Nassau It’s the first time I have ever seen him drive, his profile sleek and confident behind the wheel of my Mercedes