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Her huge brown eyes were glistening with tears Her mouth trembled She tried to smile, and failed miserably

Jack felt as if he'd been punched in the gut He stared duly beautiful and suddenly fragile, as if she could actually be wounded by him Her breasts rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths

His knuckles slid down her damp cheek and brushed her

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tears away He stared at theon, Lissa?"

"I'ed at his heart and made him almost believe

He stared at her long and hard, trying to reconcile the quiet, fragile person sitting before hiry woled into an unly alone, he pushed to his feet "We'd better

get back"

Lissa stood beside him She looked up at him Pale silver lines streaked her flushed cheeks and reminded him forcibly that she'd cried Cried

She pushed a damp lock of hair from her eyes and nervously tucked it behind her ear "Will you talk to Katie

with me?"

"Don't do this to onized whisper "Please "

"But?"

"No" The word caled mixture of sha the hot sting of emotion He'd never in his life felt as ht now

A long, breath-laden silence stretched between them Jack felt every second, every heartbeat, like a blow to the heart Don't ht now, he'd never be able to keep fro her tears away And he couldn't do that, couldn't let her trust hied God knew they'd hurt the kids enough without adding more