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He squeezed her hand “When I called you, I didn’t have any intention of duht you’d taketo someone who isn’t in the in River are so frickin’ torn up—Vanni, her dad, her little brother—I couldn’t let down uard for a second Even aroundthe second Matt’s name comes up”

“Youto explode,” she said

“You knohat I wish?” Paul said “I know this is nuts—I wish I’d been there with him I wish it had been me instead of him”

She was shaking her head “No Oh, Jesus, no”

“He’s got a family He should be with them You just have no idea the kind of man he was—he took loyalty to the next level I could always count on Matt”

“He counted on you, too He asked you to look out for his wife…”

“He wouldn’t have had to ask”

“Paul, you did for Matt what he would have done for you”

Paul was reflective for a fewthat this woman he’d been out with a few tireed to “friends with privileges” status, could bring hi “I owe you, Terri,” he said “I didn’t realize how much I needed to talk to someone about this”

She s her head “All that stoicisraines”

He grinned at her, feeling alraine, but I thinkup For the first time in a while”

“Look around,” she said “There’s only one other couple in here, and they’re eating Let’s get out of here before they start putting the chairs upside down on the tables andthe floor”

“Yeah,” he agreed “I’ve put you through enough And thanks For listening”

When he walked her up the stairs to her second floor apartment, she turned and asked, “Would you like to come in?”

He shook his head i hie of that “I don’t think so But thanks”

She s hiain, but he said it more softly And when the door closed, he found his hands were on her waist, hisher mouth And just like the last time he’d been with her, she was up on her toes to reach hi in to him

“No,” he said against her mouth “I’m all screwed up Tell me no”

She pressed against hi that”

And he was gone Brain freeze took over He had no judgratitude This was as unburdened as he’d felt in rievous load for so long Before a wholeher, touching her, hearing her say, yes, yes, yes, yes

He had one moment of sanity before he slipped his hand under her knit shirt “Terri, this isn’t a good idea…I didn’t call you for this…I didn’t plan on this…”

“I didn’t, either,” she whispered, letting her eyes fall closed “God, I missed you”

Paul’s brain took a hike He was all physical sensation He was hard; she was soft He was desperate, she was hot and willing, and beneath hiainst her, her bare breast in his hand, his tongue licking its way along her neck Her hands were on his belt buckle, then his zipper; his hands were tugging at her clothes while she squirmed and moaned His lips were on her nipple; her hand wrapped around hirabbed for his pocket, pulled an old condom from his wallet and, in a hoarse, desperate whisper he asked, “You have your side covered?”

“The pill, remember?” she answered breathlessly “Oh God, oh God, oh God”

Paul felt his pulse slow just slightly The gentle so he took a enous knot in her very center while his lips tugged at her breast and when her sighs turned into near cries, he entered her, puainst him and steal her breath away, and he let months of misery spill out of him

The first thing he felt, while he panted and tried to catch his breath, was overwhel relief Basic, pri he felt was regret He shouldn’t have done that Even though they had an understanding he could sense that she cared about him Why else would she listen to him with such sensitivity; draw him inside and welcome this encounter