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Sucking in a breath, he asked a question that shocked her “Are you seeing anyone?”

“A man? No!”

Aleksy’s chuckle rasped her nerves “Why do you say it like that?”

“Because—” Clair’s heart clenched She felt her eyebrows pull together in a pained frown and turned to the sill to hide it, tracing soo child’s initials carved into the wood She couldn’t find her voice to continue

“You told me that’s what you wanted” He sounded confused

“I did I do! I’m just not ready yet” She wasn’t over him yet

He didn’t say anything She found the courage to glance back at hi her alive with his eyes, a tortured expression on his face

He still desired her ItShe felt the same way Pulled

“Aleksy, don’t,” she pleaded softly, increasing his agitation

“I know, I know Not with rimaced

The bottom dropped out of Clair’s world She wasn’t sure if she understood “Aleksy,” she said haltingly, his naht you understood… Oh, I wish I could make you believe that you’re as entitled to happiness as anyone Why do you have to say that? ‘Not with me’”

“You said that,” he countered harshly

“When?” But even as she said it, she remembered and closed her eyes

“That last day in the kitchen,” he growled “You went off about how I should subscribe to the Happy Ever After channel, but not with me”

“Why on earth would I say with otten off the phone with Lazlo and knew you were already sending hast at how her voice cracked, revealing the stunning pain that still reverberated through her when she recalled it “You didn’t even want me as a mistress anymore”