h
l it was time to announ
aunts, Sheila, beside her. His sister, Kate, who was getting married soon, sat with her
there w
look that made me wish I cou
humb moved gently over my skin, almo
" his mother said, looking be
e we
o many times that I could pra
a," I began. "I accident
s a faint smile playing on his lips, and the way he looked at
't think it was planned. But after that night she sp
riousness that I almost
fingers brushed over my arm as th
ww
from several peopl
ng, as though he were trying to see pas
he room seeme
ushed. "They can't even take
watching us. Heat crept up my cheeks,
wasn't enjoying this
tely uninterested in our love story. H
eat," Cole's m
shes, but before anyone could serv
e stiffen
is posture made me tur
ry I'm late," she sai
ble, greeting the faces she
red at e
f them sa
the way they looked at each other felt as though
s yet, but I knew she wa
cheerfully, pushing his chai
His expression ha
high and began rubbing small circles agains
ds me and I quickly mo
for a moment bef
dinner was u
atmosphere had changed. I caught myse
he time we finally l
ause he didn't say much as
e moment I slipped
I expected fro
le pajamas instead, yet the cold stil
t up to my chin a
ole walked out
't look, but my
nothing but h
ulders tapered into a lean waist, and his def
d L
hips, revealing just enough to remind me that I
es when I realised h
t dinner. I was supposed to be pretending to be his gi
cold?"
odd
night, I would have f
ay anything, the
he duvet, climbed into bed,
y heart began beating so hard
mine. I leaned into him
, neither o
bered the wo
essa have hi
nt still fo
ut I noticed the way you looked at each other. And I s
my girl
low, vibrating
as
heated
my head
king as though even talking about her
ly we weren't compatible. But my mother loved bringing u
pau
sa before I told her I was
gave a li
e her?" I as
urse I
hesitation
o her. Then I found her i
e became
stopped letting women get close
know wh
thing unexpectedly sad about hearing him admit that someon
ut Luke?"
ach tig
closed
would eventuall
woman," I continued. "I was angry, hurt, and looking for a way t
allo
cision. I wouldn't sleep
hy
omeone more than once made you commi
ous it sounded, bu
dated anyon
op
uiet for
of what one person did to you," he said. "You mig
ost s
words to me countless times. "Maybe I'm not in
't met someone w
n't a
ight,
d my waist, drawing me
ine when I felt his erec
e body w
th, almost a hiss, when he
idn't pu
ither
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