0

in the

-

ntmartre where ivy climbed the stone walls and the scen

employee would be caught dead in at 9 a.m. on

er tea long after the sugar had dissolv

answered h

't even

e would

ugh to let this end be

may

ied in a tall shadow and the scent o

vi

collar like he had rushed but didn't want to show

her booth with

wor

t quiet

ion grew thick enough

e you'd come,

isten if you needed

, then back at him. "Someo

s lifted

u ruin everyth

r sti

between them

d him. "Is

tly, eyes on hers. "

askin

elbows resting lightly on the table. Fo

've built something most people only d

tightened. "Pe

some I cou

oked

round her mug. "Do you t

ade hi

, it was raw. "That's the one

ure whether to belie

s happening between

her d

ink straight wh

played on his lips.

-

wn darker. Rain clouds rolled acr

their hands dangerously close. Xavier hadn't offered his car. B

reet beside the Seine, she fin

now," Xavi

u have

d. "And bitter ex-associates.

opped

of them

n't speak

, "Y

lowed hard

She'd be bolder than a

ed. "So you have

n't de

at was worse th

, turning away. "

d. Of cou

el

I'm starting to feel like I'm just part of a pattern.

re dif

away. Let me build something without your s

d like she'd

because I want to control you. But bec

throat t

rom anyone else," she said.

and walked

e, he le

-

s penthouse, staring out the w

pour himse

't call

stood, sil

he hadn't told her-a name

ho once t

o tried to

e couldn'

o had also

everythin

-

tment, Bella sta

all she could do was sit in the dark and feel the sto

her pho

wn nu

im

a distance-Bella walking w

th it, a

Now the rest o

ood ra

watchi