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"He didn't invite you to join him because he was sensitive about your probleive you time My father died soon after your return and that's when your father and I really started to be friends When I asked about you, he said to hter embodied a father's hopes and dreams He said he wished for you the kind of man he wanted to be to his oife – someone ould love you forever, deeply, passionately, and be devoted to you, would allow you to be who you were, and respect you for it, but ould help bring out the best in you"

"That's so sweet," I said,up

"That's why I didn't ask you out after weto I didn't think I'd be able to be that man"

I turned around again and hugged hi around his waist

He ran his hands over my hair "He talked about your trip to Africa He talked about your thesis About your position at the school newspaper I knew you'd be aoner And then I irl with the luscious tits and garters and you were Katherine I wanted to know you so badly I wanted so badly to be with you despite knowing it was probably iht your father would hate me if he knew…"

I sh his hair "He loves you like another son"

"And then," he said, pulling me closer "Then ato be a researcher anted to meet a Do Lara wanted ht you wanted this for real and I was the best teacher she knew God, Kate… You can't understand how I felt when I saw you at the café and realized it was you"

"I was so mortified"

"I was ecstatic There you were, this woman I'd alondered about, this delicious little morsel of womanflesh I couldn’t wait to eat, and you wanted a Doold at the end of the rainbow"

My heart did a flip at that "I felt like a silly girl in above her head, mortified that you kneas interested in kink"

"I felt like the luckiest man alive I knew I'd have the battle of s under control, but it was a battle I just couldn't turn away from, no matter what"

I just stared at him, amazed "My dad talked about you, too He used to talk about your father Liam the crazy man, his best friend from 'Nam A wild sonofabitch A crazy idealistic socialist He talked about Liaeon who spent ti hospital equipent Professional In control You sounded like a dream, a fantasy If it wasn't for the fact you were a Republican, I would have wanted to meet you"

"I told you none of that rinned "Do you suppose he waseven then? Before we ever met?"

"He was! I realized it the night of his first can fundraiser" I shook my head in a us together He thought I needed someone like you"

"He did"