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Hailey was gathering her things together when Callue room He stood in the doorway and watched her, not sure what to say now they were alone One thing was certain, they sure couldn’t leave it like it was ‘You’re leaving’

Hailey looked at him ‘I think that’s best’

‘I’ot so out of hand so…quickly’

She shrugged ‘Melancholy We’ve been through the mill a bit, you and me ‘

It hadn’t felt very melancholic to him ‘Is that it? Is that all?’ It wasn’t wise, it wasn’t what he needed—but he wanted her anyway

She sat on the lounge, staring at her lap Of course it wasn’t But what other explanation could there be as to how could things have got so serious in a week? OK, yes, she had known at the ball that he was so special But that had been a reaction to his sheer physicality

What she had felt tonight, when he’d been talking about Annie and Tom, and yesterday, when he’d helped her with Henry, was an entirely different kettle of fish That had been much, much worse than a physical pull There had to be a simple explanation for it

‘What do you want from me, Callum? You want me to admit I’m attracted to you? Fine, I’m attracted to you’ It seemed pointless to deny what they both knew

He pushed away from the doorfra the is entirely mutual’

Hailey nodded So why did he look asto work’

‘I know My priority has to be Toot’ And the truth was he didn’t kno to be a dad to Tom and date at the same time ork and Tom took up all his tiht-thirty each night He didn’t lead a very thrilling life What could he offer her?

‘Of course he should be I’d think less of you if he wasn’t To to affect hiet his hopes up, to have them dashed if it didn’t work out We don’t have the freedoht and ht to start with And I’ve just coh a relationship that, frankly, sucked the soul out of ood relationship material’