believe him. No, he did love her, she knew, until tomorrow or the day
after or the year after, but eventually, inevitably, he would leave.
"I love you too, " she whispered. Until forever.
She had seduced him. Jessica stood by the water's edge and let the
truth sink in. The acknowledgment was promptly followed by another
truth just as shocking. She wasn't sorry. For the rest of her life
she would have the memory of his touch and his loving words to cherish
and hold dear. It would have to be enough.
He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed
her shoulder.
He knew something was wrong the minute he touched her, for he felt her
stiffen against him.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"It's morning. That's what's wrong."
"No, you're supposed to say, good morning, not, it's morning, " he
explained as he turned her in his arms.
She avoided his mouth when he tried to kiss her.
"All right, Jessie. What's this all about? " "Last night . . . "
When she didn't continue, he tilted her face up toward him so he could
gauge her mood. She was clearly upset, and he thought he knew why.
"You're regretting what happened, aren't you? " She vehemently shook
her head. "No, I meant what I said last night.
I'll never have regrets." He jerked her up against him and tried to
kiss her again, but she turned her head away, and he ended up kissing
her ear.
"Please don't make this any more difficult than it already is, " she
pleaded. "We had last night."
"We have forever." She stared at his collarbone and tried to stay
determined in her decision. {We should leave now. We'll miss the
train if we don't hurry." He didn't move.
He simply stood there, holding her, while he patiently waited for her
to look up at him again. "We aren't going anywhere until you tell me
what's going on inside that head of yours."
"We had last night, Cole, but now we have to . . . move on." It
finally dawned on him what was happening. "You don't believe I meant
any of the things I said to you last night, do you? That's what this
is all about. You think I told you I loved you so you'd let me touch
you."
"I wanted you, and you wanted me. It was a mutual decision."
"Yes, it was."
"And I have no regrets. I don't expect a commitment from you, and I'm
not giving you one." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are
you telling me you don't want any strings? " "Yes."
"Son of aţ" She turned away and ran to the horses. Cole followed her,
grabbed her from behind, and lifted her into the saddle.
He noticed her grimace and asked, "Are you going to be all right riding
today? " "Yes, of course."
"Jessie, I know I hurt you last night."
"But I'm fine now." Her blush took some of his anger away. She was so