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‘Why?’

Cristiano didn’t answer for a long moment He already felt flayed raw, exposed in a way that e and attack ‘Remember when you said you didn’t want to fall in love with anyone?’

Laurel’s eyes widened and Cristiano silently cursed He had not meant to say the dreaded L-word ‘Yes…’

‘In a similar way I don’t want to care about anyone,’ he clarified swiftly ‘Never mind actually fall in love’

‘Because the women you’ve known, your father’s women, were untrustworthy?’

‘Yes’ That wasn’t the whole truth, but it would suffice for now

‘But you seery when I show I’ly clear logic ‘When I’ry because I was talking about nursing, not because I was being as shallow and mercenary as you once assumed me to be’

‘That’s not why I got angry’

‘Why, then?’

Cristiano stared at her in frustration, his jaw locked so tightly he felt as if he could break a tooth This conversation wasn’t going anywhere good Laurel was far too persistent and sue half-truths

‘Because you’re too good for me,’ he said finally, the words ripped from him ‘I want you to be shallow and erandfather—or listen to what people say or laugh—then it turns into sorim note of finality into his voice ‘At all’

Laurel sat back against the sofa, looking a little winded Then she straightened and said, ‘I didn’t ask you to want it’

‘I know,’ Cristiano said shortly He hardly needed the reminder, and it rubbed raw, especially now

‘But,’ Laurel continued slowly, ‘Is it such a bad thing—to care about someone? Because if I’m not like those other women…your father’s…then what’s the problem? The risk?’