Part 272 (1/2)

breathe. Dammit, I wasn't a boy anymore and it wasn't a crush.”

She had to struggle to find her voice. It was a different kind of fear

now. Dozens of nerves jumping to tangle over each other. ”You hardly

knew me.”

He s.h.i.+fted his gaze to meet hers. ”You know better, Emma. There was

something there, when we sat on the beach. The first time I kissed

you. The only time. I've never forgotten it. I haven't been able to.

Then you walked away.”

”I had to.”

”Maybe you did.” He pitched his cigarette out the door and let the

screen slam shut. ”The time wasn't right, that's what I told myself

Christ, I've been telling myself that for years.” He crossed to her. He

could feel her tremble when he took her arms, but he didn't let go. Not

this time. ”When is the time going to be right, Emma?”

”I don't know what you want me to say.”

”That's bulls.h.i.+t. You know just what I want you to say.”

”I can't.”

”Won't,” he corrected. ”Because of him. Dammit, you broke my heart

when you married him, and I had to live with that. It seems like I've

spent half my life trying to get over you. Maybe I could have done it,

but you came back again.”

”I-” She moistened her dry lips. ”I couldn't help that, either.”

Something came into his eyes that had her holding her breath. ”I told

myself this time it would be different. I was going to make it

different. And then ... When I found out what he'd done to you I

almost went crazy. I've been afraid to touch you, all these months.