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a wife I’m sure I’ve not misled you even once”
“That’s just it I want soive” She moved to stand beside the chair “I love you and I want you to love me in return You refuse I won’t settle for less I’ve seen what a loving relationship can be with randparents and parents I deserve the same
“You do as well but you’re so sure that it doesn’t exist or that you’ll be so dependent on another person for happiness that you push that happiness away I’ve shown you love in every way I kno in the last few months Mind, body and soul Yet you won’t accept it I need sohs and coood sex”
“I’ll have you know that sex between us is better than good And I want you to have my children You would be a wonderful mother”
Whitney slowly shook her head, sadness overtaking her “You just don’t get it The sex is so great because I’ a child into a lovelesslike youris that you actthe love and life you could have and throwing it back in my face”
Tanner looked as if she’d socked him on the chin, dazed him She had hit a nerve A very exposed one Whitney stepped back a pace “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that”
As if perforhtening his shoulders and with all the fire leaving his eyes, he shtly at her He shoved his hands in his pockets His de off the San Francisco Bay in winter “You ht about that But this just proves that love isn’t worth the hurt
“Since we’re being so open here, let s Not everyone wants a pie-in-the-sky, everything-is-rosy e Some people just want peace in their life A haven to come home to where people coexist, have common interests and mutual respect Maybe sooal in life Me, I don’t kno to do that And I’ve never said or implied that I did
“Another thing You can’t punish me for what people did to you in your past You can’t live worried about what people ht do and say now You’re not the person you hen you were heavy It’s rather vain for you to think everyone is judging you People like your ex-fiancé disappoint others I’m not your ex I don’t have to love you to be supportive and stand beside you I think I have proved that more than once”
Whitney shrank back He had proved his loyalty Still, she wanted his heart
“One er in the air “Not once have I ever said I give a daave you a list of what I was looking for in athin All of that is in—” he pointed his finger at her “—your head
“Don’t bother askingPut it on the front stoop Text et it That way I won’t ever bother you again”
Seconds later her front door closed with a shudder of the stained glass that coincided with her howl of agony
It had been three weeks since Tanner had left Whitney’s and he still didn’t feel any better He’d never been so blindsided in his life Whitney’s announce had been news to hiossip Those women didn’t matter People talked all the time What mattered as best for Whitney and hiether in bed Wanted the saht She wanted love, needed it froiving it if he did?
He wanted to put his hand through a wall or shake Whitney until he shook some sense into her
When he’d left her place he’d driven to his aparts between hi the cold, sterile-looking place after staying in Whitney’s war home made him more depressed She’d added vitality to his life
More times than he could count he’d been hurt by his parents’ actions but he had never felt this gnawing, snarling anger and frustration eating away at him that he had now It affected every part of his life Including his work His staff was starting to give him looks and iven an order He was trying to get a pro around him
The nights were the worst Especially when he did doze off and woke reaching for her on the other side of the bed Most of the time he just paced the floor or stayed at the hospital Eyedrops had become a staple because he never see face invaded hiswhile cooking dinner Whitney’s look of bliss as she found her release
He sla the pen beside it jump This had to stop
Punching the button on the desk phone, he ran back through thehim the name of the other matchmaker It was time to move on
The sound of Whitney’s clear voice almost dissolved his resolve HeEven his clothes smelled of her
He’d gone by her place A bag had sat on the stoop, just as he’d requested When he’d got it home and opened it, the smell of her had wafted around hi had been his clothes, neatly folded and arranged with care She’d still been taking care of hiered to the point where he’d stuffed all the clothing back into the bag and taken them to the cleaners
Tanner picked up the pen and quickly jotted the nue He didn’t want to have to listen twice With a punch of his finger he deleted the coain
He was tied in knots and it was tiet undone The first step was to call this newsomeone who fit his requireredient He would make the call as soon as he saw his afternoon clinic patients The first on the list was Mr Wilcox Whitney had eventhe olderlife? He was paying for it dearly And was afraid he’d be doing so for a long time to come
Tanner opened the door to the small but functional examination room Mr Wilcox sat on the exa?” Tanner asked
“I’ to death You ask us to strip down then leave us in a cold room”