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‘I didn’t rent it I own it’

He saith bitter satisfaction, that that stopped her

Her eyes widened ‘You own North Mountain?’ she said incredulously

‘Daht here, where this cabin stands, that’ll dwarf anything you’ve ever iined’

‘Youto take down this cabin?’

No Hell, no! He knew it instantly He wasn’t That was the reason he’d come to the mountain, to admit to himself that he’d never tear the cabin down…

Holly wrenched free of his hands ‘Good That’s wonderful news’

‘Holly, wait—’

‘Burn it dohy don’t you?’ Her heart felt as if it were breaking in pieces, but she’d be damned if she’d let hihosts’

‘Ghosts?’ he said in bewilderment

‘That’s why I caued withabout us About our e’

‘I know Holly—’

‘No You don’t know You never knew’ She spoke quickly, running her words together, despising herself for letting herself think she still loved hi she’d despise herself even e was a uess I just needed re’ She lifted her chin and forced a s it’

Her words knifed through his heart ‘No’ He pulled her into his ar ‘You don’t mean that Think of hoas between us, just a little while ago The things we said, the things we did…’

‘Sex,’ she said Her voice trembled, but her eyes were steady on his ‘That’s what it was, Nick And it’s not enough It doesn’t make up for a lack of love’

Nick’s face whitened His hands slid from Holly’s arms and fell to his sides

‘Closure,’ he said softly

‘What?’