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But it was the other woman who held her attention Maybe thirty, thirty-five, with a bright sh She wore the colors of a tourist: brand-new jeans, thick pink cable-knit sweater, aqua-blue hat and gloves

"My daughter Shes in grad school at NYU," Chad said "And Clarissa The woman I live with "

"You still live in Nashville?" It was like rolling a log uphill, pushing those words out The last thing she wanted was to ht-eyed believers about the news?"

He took her by the shoulders, turned her to face him "You didnt want ruffness of deep emotion in his voice "I was ready to love you forever, but—"

"Dont Please "

He touched her cheek in a fleeting, almost desperate caress

"I should have come to Tennessee with you," she said

He shook his head "You have big dreas I loved most about you "

"Loved," she said, knowing it was foolish to be hurt

"Sos just dont happen "

She nodded "Especially when youre too afraid to let them "

He took her in his arain and held her with more passion in that instant than Grant had tendered in years She waited for a kiss that never cao, then took her arm and walked her back up to the road

In the sudden coldness of shade, she shivered and leaned against him "Give me some advice, Wiley I seem to have screwed up my life "

Out on the sunny sidewalk, he faced her again "Youre successful beyond your wildest dreah "

She winced at the look in his eyes "I guess I should have stopped to smell a few of those flowers Hell, I didnt even see them "