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That hat his life had been about for as long as he could re respect

But when he looked at Karina, so in hi her,crazy to hih they’d been in each other’s coht could shape this moment so drastically

“But as much as I want you, I am afraid, too, Viktor”

And just like that, his heart stopped “There’s nothing to be afraid of, Karina”

She shook her head and closed her eyes for a second “I’ with you is so unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before, and that’s so good, Viktor But this is also so sudden, and I’m confused”

She was looking at the outfit he’d gotten her, sertips over the ive her tiht be the hardest obstacle he’d ever tried to overcome

“I don’t want you afraid or unsure about this Your job is secure noest aze for a second before continuing “I want you to have as much time as you need, and to decide what you want I won’t rush or push you, Karina I wanted you to knohere I stand and what I want I’ll be here when you make your decision, no matter what that may be”

God, this will be the longest wait I’ve ever experienced

But letting her come to her own decision hat he wanted, and she needed to knoas right for her

12

“What are you going to do?”

Karina had just gotten through telling her friend all about what happened with Viktor everything in detail She wasn’t going to hide what had happened, because she’d wanted to confide in soet another opinion on it all

Karina looked at the other woman, the one person she trusted most of all, Hardy They’d been friends for the last year when Karina had found Hardy drunk, left at the bar by her deadbeat boyfriend, and trying to call someone to pick her up

It wasn’t the ideal way to make a new friend, but the women had hit it off—well, after Hardy had sobered up

After that, and for the last year, she was the one person Karina actually spoke with, the one person she considered a true friend It was funny how people