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He shrugged "Things," he said vaguely

Well, he was entitled to his privacy noshut out "So what did youto make it easy on ers around hers "I' you that I love you And re is forever" He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering "Not even goodbye"

On that enigmatic note, he released her without even a kiss on the lips

ONE WEEK HAD PASSED since Ryan had driven Zoe and Sam to the airport, and he still felt as if he'd put his heart on the plane with the her to think he wanted the break, was thehe'd ever done

He hoped it was the smartest

He hadn't been able to think of another way to force her into realizing that she missed him when they were apart and that they could easily ether— if only she came to terms with her fears

She had to believe he loved her for who she was and that he had no intention of destroying her independence or strong personality, the very qualities he'd fallen in love with She needed to believe that despite their different backgrounds, he accepted her unique traits But, most important, she had to believe in herself, and trust that she wouldn't allow anyone to change her Knowing all she had to co after her

He refused to conteood In the ested

He'd returned to the business of living His days consisted of getting back into the routine of work, dealing with clients, attendingbusiness lunches

Somehow the days passed, yet every time he returned to his condo, he was re the sounds of female voices When he woke up, he expected to find either Sa thehts when heto find Zoe had joined his that were once foreign to hi more than spectacular memories He spoke to Sam every couple of days, but not once had Zoe answered the telephone when he'd called When asked, Sam always said Zoe wasn't home He doubted the kid would lie since she seeether as much as Ryan hi about his sister, her life and his uncle's role in both her running away and the way she'd died Though Ryan had co, he hadn't yet reached the point of coiveness, so he hadn't returned Russ's calls Since Ryan had always had his uncle as a sounding board, a mentor and a friend, now he had no one And he felt the loss

He hadn't been in touch with his family since Saood thing since his secretary info r Well, it wasn't like he had anything better to do, Ryan thought

It had been so easy to admit to Zoe that neither one of them had many friends or e to himself how ehed at how pathetic his life was and had been for a long ti he could see clearly now, faced with her absence

She'd given hied for warmth and intimacy to fill the void she'd left behind A void he hadn't before known existed

The question was, could he ever get her back?

RYAN ARRIVED at his parents' ho him at the door, his mother welcomed him "Hello, Ryan" She kissed hilanced over her shoulder to see his father pouring drinks in the study "This info r on?" he asked

His father, who until now had avoided Ryan and any discussion of Salass in hand "I can answer that Yourourme we can do better with Sam than we did with your sister"