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“Honey, call me Walt,” the oldera pretty woman to dine with me I’m tempted to throw this one out in the snow and keep you for ht on my hands”

Erik nodded “That you would”

“I gather you’re not originally froht out of Architectural Digest

“Heardinto the tale of a Southern boy falling in love with the mountains

Hours later after a dinner that Emma could only describe as one of the best of her life, they retired to the great room to enjoy after-dinner drinks After another hour of chitchat, Erik looked at Emma “Mr Grider—Walt—I hope you won’t mind if I steal Emma away for a moment?”

The older man stroked his mustache “Can’t say I haven’t enjoyed the company, but I’m an old man who firht now”

Eratitude for his hospitality

After Walt had left, Erik turned to her “Have I done so?”

She shook her head “No I suppose I’”

“Do you regret what happened?”

Eed leopard She forced herself to sit “I said I wouldn’t and Imyself in reality”

He came to her and brushed a hand across her jaw “I don’t want you to think I’ll be any different than I was before”

Her heart leaped at his touch and then sank at his words His declaration was a needle popping her balloon of possibility She’d hoped he would want to see her again That theymore “I know”

Her voice wobbled Damn it

“Hey,” he said, lifting her chin “I want you to be happy”

Unshed tears clogged her throat

She pressed her fingernails into the palm of her hand and willed herself not to cry This hy he’d had reservations aboutlove to her in the first place He had asked if she could handle it So no tears No regrets

“Me, too,” she ed to say

“Then why do you sound not okay? I’”

Eet it”