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“Don’t For Christ’s sake, don’t cry”

“I’m just tired” She rocked herself for comfort “I’m just tired, that’s all”

“Call me names” He rose, shaken and“Throw so at me”

She jerked back when he reached for her “Don’t I need aa fool of myself”

Ignoring her, he gathered her close She pulled back twice, was brought back firainst him Then, in a desperate o away” She pressed her face to his shoulder “Don’t go away”

“I’ anywhere” Gently, he stroked her back, cradled her head Was there anythingto a ht here all along I love you, Eve, almost more than I can stand”

“I need you I can’t help it I don’t want to”

“I know” He eased back, tucking a hand under her chin to lift her face to his “We’re going to have to deal with it” He kissed one wet cheek, then the other “I really can’t do without you”

“You told o”

“I locked the door” His lips curved a little before they brushed over hers “If you’d waited a few ht, trying to talkany luck Then you stalked in I was perilously close to getting on my knees”

“Why?” She touched his face “You could have anyone You probably have”

“Why?” He tilted his head “That’s a tricky one Could it be your serenity, your quiet ood to see her quick, a of soe, your absolute dedication to balancing scales, that restless mind, and that sweet corner of your heart that pushes you to care so much about so many”

“That’s not me”

“Oh, but it is you, darling Eve” He touched his lips to hers “Just as that taste is you, the smell, the look, the sound You’ve undonetears “We’ll figure out a way to make this work for both of us”

She drew in a shuddering breath “I love you” And let it out “God”