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He sucked in a deep breath ‘That’s what I want to talk about’

Her skin prickled as if a cool breeze had swept over her skin She wasn’t quite sure where this was heading ‘What do you mean?’

‘Steps I’m not sure what comes next withmy family’ He stu iven me a chance to re-evaluate my life To look at what I want To decide what I want to do with it’

His words were co more excited

Anissa’s mouth was dry ‘What do you want to do with it?’

He took her other hand ‘It’s more about who I want to do it with’

She could al

Her voice was barely audible ‘Wh-what?’

Leo’s eyes were sparkling and his smile wide He closed both hands over hers ‘I want to do it with you, Anissa Stay with me Stay with me in New York Have a clean break from your past life and take your time to decide what you want to do You’ve been different these last few days It’s like the shadows have lifted from your eyes and you’ve come out from under a cloud’

Her heart twisted at those words—partly because theyover

‘Stay with me Take some time Decide what you want to do and where you want to be We both know that you ain But you’re brilliant, Anissa There’s a world of opportunities out there for you You just need to decide which one you want So take your tiive you the time and space you need to make some plans for the future’

She bristled at those words He’d said her fear out loud He’d said that she likely wouldn’t get back to the standard she needed to get the gold medal It had played on her mind constantly for the last year—everyone had spoken with their silent disappearance from her life—but Leo was the first person to actually say the words to her face And she didn’t like them

Leo reached up and touched her cheek ‘Please tell me you’ll stay, Anissa Now I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you I love you’

Her heart burned in her chest Part of her wanted to shout out in joy and part of her wanted to burst into tears

She’d lance, could set her pulse racing She’d seen into his pain, into his feelings of inadequacy, and completely understood What’s more, she’d wanted to help She hated that this wonderful, caring man felt like that

Maybe she should be laughing Maybe she should be throwing her ar him that she loved him too

Because she did

But she just couldn’t Not now Not here Not when he’d just said those other words

It didn’tIt didn’t matter that most of other women in room would think she was crazy

She wasn’t ready to give up on her drea overwhel speed like snow tu down a mountain in an avalanche

She could alhtness across her chest had spread Although she could breathe in, she was struggling to get it back out Her head started to swim

She stepped back Out of his reach, out of the smell of his deep woody aftershave and away fro from his body

She needed space She needed time

His eyes widened as if he’d finally realised so

‘Anissa?’

She pulled her hands back against her chest and shook her head

There was noise behind theht

It was like the spur she needed

She shook her head and gathered her skirts in her hands ‘No, Leo’ The words choked halfway in her throat ‘I’m sorry’

As she headed to the stairs she stu one of her silver jewelled sandals behind For a second she hesitated, wondering if she should pick it up But Leo was still staring at her, his face a picture of confusion

She couldn’t take the chance he would come after her—would try to persuade her to stay