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Sabela reached for the piece of paper in his hand, but he held it back, out of her reach

“You have to listen to me first, remember?” he said

“Fine” Sabela held her chin up “But I want to see what you’ve written”

He held the paper up and she squinted It was a simple release of debt, and probably wasn’t worth the paper he’d written it on But it was so, and he’d done it because she’d demanded he do it

It was enough

His face softened, and he tucked the paper into the breast pocket of his jacket He moved toward her, and she didn’t back away When Colin lifted his hand, though, she winced All he did was caress her cheek, and Sabela’s shoulders relaxed

Even now, his touch was electric

“You have to believe me when I say that I don’t want to hurt you Thereyou here, but things have changed Don’t you think things have changed between us, especially after everything that happened last night?”

She wanted to believe hi to believe him But life had burned her one too many times to trust him entirely

Sabela needed to fully understand the depth of his deceit, and she wanted him to confess it

And should hisexplanation as to why

“I don’t think that’s fair play in a negotiation,” she said “You can’t fall prey to your emotions You of all people should know that?”

Colin chuckled, but it was dark hu but emotions in this if you want to hear the whole sordid story If you really want to hear it, I’ll tell you Then we can decide where we go from there”

Sabela started to soften toward him She desperately wanted there to be a reason for her to stay Going back to her dis luxurious desire with Colin … it was a soul-sucking thought, and she felt guilty for thinking it

Even if it had only been a short while that she had found herself in Haberlin Chalet, she had found what sheshe could ever want

Colin had helped her get back in touch with the young woo of that part of herself so soon

“Let’s hear the story,” she said

Colin dropped his hand to e

“You’ll want to get comfortable,” he said “And if you don’t, I do As hard as this is for you, it’s harder for me”

The soles of his leather shoes clacked against the floor as he led her to the lounge

“But I won’t hold anything back If you want the truth, you’ll get it,” he said

She only hoped it really would be the truth

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Come aith me, Blanca,” Colin said

The two of them sat at a booth in Pinkie’s Diner, Colin’s arhtly sticky table She looked radiant in her white summer dress, her dark caralistened as if it had an inner light Since they’d been children, Colin had always found her beautiful

“Papa won’t agree,” Blanca“You knoon’t”

“I don’t give a damn about what your father thinks I love you, and I’ve proven to the world that I can care for you no matter what”

Her gaze darted up fros of a smile curl her ruby lips “You’ll care for me?”

“Forever”

Pleased, Blanca lifted her chin a little more and smiled widely Colin’s heart melted, and he reached across the table to take her hand

“Marry me, Blanca We’ll elope It doesn’t o soo start our lives over as Mr and Mrs Morgan”

“Blanca Morgan,” she whispered, expression alive with delight

“The one and only Mrs Colin Morgan,” Colin whispered back He squeezed her hand “Say yes, Blanca”