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Why? Jason had died three years ago She’d had to tell friends and family about the terrible accident But she’d simply never found herself in a circumstance like this

Matteo was only showing concern over so deal She should just have waved her hand and laughed it off

But when he’d stared at her with those big green eyes and asked her if there was someone in her life it was the first ti

And that terrified her

She shook her head and stared down at her soup She could tell him why she was tearful She could tell him that her fiancé had died a few years before Then, he would know that there was no hint of trouble in her life

But somehow she couldn’t find the words

She’d tried dating Once or twice But her heart just wasn’t in it Jason had held every part of her heart She’d loved him Totally He’d been her soul mate And when he’d died? She’d tried so hard to soldier on

But the hurt was inexplicable Soet And it had made her learn to build walls, put up barriers, to keep herself safe It was the only way She couldn’t—wouldn’t—ever allow herself to feel like that again

Which hy being around Matteo and feeling soain—noher beyond words

But then he did so over hers He gave it a squeeze and gestured down to their plates “I think ht on to desserts Why waste time e both knoant an explosion of sweetness?” He stood up and took her hand in his, pulling her up toward hi What on earth rong with her?

But Matteo did his best to put her at ease by throwing a relaxed arlass counter The waitress gestured toward the cakes “What’ll it be?”

Matteo nudged Phoebe “What’s your favorite?”

There was a mountain of choice Chocolate cake, cheesecake, carrot cake, apple pie, cherry pie, strawberry shortcake, cupcakes and cookies Too much choice She couldn’t even pick Matteo waved his hand “Just give us one of everything We’ll share”

The words see her back to her senses “Matteo? We’ll never be able to eat all that”