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“I’m sorry if I led you on,” she whispered

Another word, he was going to say to hell with everything and gather her in his aret hied herhe needed was another round of yes-no frustration

Sex was only sex and he could get it elsewhere Thatspecial…

Foolishness, nothing more

She’d barged into his life, but soon things would be on track again The thing was to get through what reht, drive her to Bozeman and move on with his plans

“Jesse?”

“Yeah” His tone was polite He patted her hand, got to his feet Whatever she was, she was more trouble than he needed, never y

“You should have left e”

“Trying for sympathy?”

She flinched; he knehat he’d said was unkind, but look where being kind had gotten him

“Trying for the truth,” she said as she stood up beside hiht have been simpler for the both of us”

He gave a brittle laugh “Too bad you didn’t tell ”

“Would you have done it, if I had?”

“Dahed “No Hell, how could I?” His mouth twisted “I couldn’t even leave you to freeze in that bedrooo”

Her chin came up “I would not have frozen”

He wanted to sain, but what he needed was to keep things at the status quo A little distance No s “Well, I guess we’ll never know”

She nodded, her chin still lifted in defiance…and then, without warning, the tears in her eyes spilled down her cheeks

“I’ve been horrible,” she whispered

“No You haven’t You’re just upset and—”

“Horrible,” she said again, and he forgot everything he’d just told hih the night, about sex just being sex He forgot everything, gathered her into his arms…

And kissed her

The kiss was gentle and soft; it transcended whatever anger still smoldered within him

“Sienna,” he said softly, and she shook her head, kept her lips against his until he framed her face with his hands At last, he lifted his head, wincing when he saw her tear-stained eyes, the fragile skin beneath theive e of you and—”

Lightly, she lay her fingers over his mouth