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Yes, there was desire tonight in his bathrooht have even given myself to him But when he started in on the tattoo and reminded me of my disloyalty, I realized Hawke didn't want me

He wanted to punish me

So I beat hiet a quick peek of what I refer to as h to make him stumble backward and away from me with a look of shocked disdain on his face I quickly dropped my skirt, because if he looked closely, he'd see his name was still there I couldn't bear to cover it up, instead e it so I would always have a tiny piece of him with me

"Listen, your dad has another MRI coe of subject

"Yeah," I say hesitantly, not sure where he's going "Wednesday"

"And didn't you say if it's under control, they'll probably do another three months after that?"

"That's right"

"Well, I've been thinkingwhy not justyour dad, because I have plenty of room at my house You both can stay there, and just fly back for the follow-up visits Iwell, there's really no reason for you to stay here You won't have rent to pay I'et another job quicklymaybe even back at Ohio State What do you say?"

What do I say?

My entire being rebels against the idea, so what in the fuck do I say to that offer?

"Todd," I say softly, giving his hand a squeeze "I just don't think that's feasible"

"Why not?" he asks, leaning in towardto search my eyes in the darkness

"For a lot of reasons My dadhe needs to be here near Duke in case so happens"

"But if the tu well--"

"I have a job," I cut hiently "I can't just quit my job That would be unprofessional"

"They created that job for you," Todd re up their budget"

And da the Cold Fury a favor, adding my in

"Without a job, I'd still be living off of you," I point out desperately, with the utter realization that I' for excuses "You kno I feel about that"

"Then ould you say if I asked you to marry me?" Todd says quietly "Would you have a problem with it if you were my wife?"

I drop Todd's hand like it's a hot potato and rear backward "Is that a proposal?" I ask, stunned beyond all belief

"Not the most ro down to stare at his lap

"Butwe've only been going out for a few months"

"Six," he supplies as he raises his face back up to ht, and I don't ?"

I clasp ether, alth and clarity Todd has laid it all out on the line He's declared his love for e and a stable home He's invited my father to live with us On its face, it see to figure a reason to decline

What sane woman would pass up an offer like that?

Perhaps one that still has unresolved feelings for another?

Is there soer and bitterness, betrayal and loss between us, could the reason I's to another man?

There's no clear-cut answer, because so far, ou