Page 54 (1/2)

"I would personally expose the both of you," I said "You boat out of here, Nelson Childs You talk about beco a law practice? On what? A big scandal?"

"Olivia, please, I" He looked down "I don't even want to try to defend ht," he confessed "I let my hormones take control It would destroy both our families"

"I can expect so it, but to discover that you were involvedI never would have thought it, Nelson I'm so disappointed," I added, nearly in tears

He nodded

"I'm disappointed in myself, too" He turned to me, his eyes wet, his lips firm "You really have no reason to believe ain," he said

I turned away and stared out the , ht How much I wished he would embrace me, want me, risk all for me as he had for Belinda

"Well, I want to have faith in you, Nelson," I said

"Thank you," he replied quickly "I have a great deal of respect for you, Olivia It's important to me that I don't lose the respect you could have for me"

I gazed at him Why couldn't he think of more between us than mere respect?

"People earn each other's respect," I said

"That's right"

I held his gaze for a ht then," I said "This will just be between us" "Thank you, Olivia You won't be disappointed in me," he promised

I nodded I was disappointed already, but I didn't kno to-express why I started ine

"I've got to go back to school this afternoon," he said "Have a good week"

"You too," I said without looking at him