Part 101 (2/2)

want it behind you.”

”I do. I married Angie for the wrong reasons, Bev. I wanted to settle

down so badly, to have a wife, a home, a family. Of course that monster

in Beverly Hills was never a home, and she always had an excellent

excuse for putting off starting a family. Just as well. I was as poor

a choice for her as she was for me.”

She linked her fingers with his. ”You're too hard on yourself”

”No, it's true. I was a career choice for Angie. The pity is, she

didn't realize I was fond enough of her once to have helped her there

without marriage. But we jumped in and were both too lazy or too

cautious to jump out again when it went bad.” He studied her fingers,

long and slender, tangled with his chunky ones. ”Looking back, I can

see every mistake so clearly. I won't make them again, Bev-if you give

me a chance.”

”P.M.” She moved then, fl.u.s.tered and frightened. His hands came to her

shoulders, surprisingly firm, holding her face-to-face.

”I want you to marry me, Bev, for all the right reasons.”

She hesitated, surprising herself. The answer didn't come through her

lips as quickly, as surely, as it had jumped into her head. It was her

heart that stopped it, she realized. Her heart that wanted to give him

what he wanted. She lifted her hands to cover his.

”I can't. I'm so sorry I can't.”

He stared at her, watching her eyes, the regret in them-and the trace of

pity that made him want to scream. ”Because of Brian.”

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