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“It is” Aleksy searched for signs of approval in her, not sure why it was i, and he was past believing the acquisition of things ruled Clair, but he couldn’t deny that he wanted her to like his home

He’d settle for her liking his things since there was no chance she’d feel anything toward him except repulsion

Gut-wrenching loss threatened to breach the walls he’d used to brace himself when she had demanded answers at the penthouse He’d known his past would come between them eventually, whether he revealed it or not It was the reason they had no future, but he would have preferred they had separated naturally, before she knew any of this It broke soed To see her fear him

The wo him with shy smiles and the warmth of her touch now held hied and looked away

“Did you design it?” she asked, yanking him back to reality

“To soed out of his jacket and tossed it on the bed Fantasies of her white-blond hair and peach-flushed skin against the sea of blue tantalized him, but he ruthlessly shut them down He’d promised not to touch her

Keeping his voice without inflection, he explained, “My father worked in logging camps when my parents were first alows My mother never complained, but when my father was able to buy into a mill and make his own lumber, he built her a proper house I used that floor plan as a starting point”

Clair cocked her head, her whih to puncture the heart he’d hardened to get through this “You always surprise me when you’re sentimental”

“Sentimental?” The word arrested him He suddenly saw thea place to go to, anticipating time to relax once he defeated Van Eych, but it turned out this was yet another attempt to resurrect the dead

“I thought I just lacked i a finger in the air, urging her to turn so he could help her out of her coat

She huddled deeper into the thick folds for a h for questions to flash into his ainst him? Didn’t want him too close? Didn’t want to risk his touch? Wanted to be ready to run when he stopped watching her long enough?