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