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Okay, he couldn’t be so presuical between them

Weird to think of it as so, but that’s what it felt like It was as if everything that had happened was preordained, designed for hiuy to need a relationship, but so bonkers But he didn’t think so Because beneath his tough-guy exterior beat a heart longing for so moreand he was almost certain that Emma was part of it

But she’d withdrawn from him both physically and mentally

How could he reach her and show her he wanted more?

9

EMMA FINISHED DRYING her hair and slipped into the dress and tights she’d planned to wear to her parents’ party last night It was a bit fancy for dinner at Walt’s house, but she didn’t have anything beyond a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans The clothes she’d worn yesterday held toowith the fact she’d torn a hole in the knee of her leggings

After gulping down the coffee and muffins, she’d requested a room and had been so exhausted she’d conked out on the bed without even taking off her boots She’d slept for four hours, waking stiff and sore froy, she’d run a bath and lay in the bubbles for another half hour After washing her hair and scrubbing her body with a lovely lavender herbal soap, she felt alain

At least on the outside

Inside, herdiscovered He’d been so unaffectedso normal

Like nothing had happened

And that hurt

Last night she’d implied she could handle whatever happened between them, but she couldn’t Wasn’t as if she’d lied—she wanted to be the girl who could sleep with a guy without drea about their babies She admired modern women who could love ?em and leave ?em, but she wasn’t wired that way Never had been And even if she was, her problem was she’d already been half in love with Erik before she’d slept with him

So where did that leave her?

She’d sensed Erik’s surprise when she requested her own roo with him at the moment Not when they were back in the real world And Walt arching a questioning look at them at her request only made her feel worse He didn’t know they weren’t a real-life couple So why not continue the facade for another night?