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.“You make it sound as if I think you’re not good enough.Or that I’m a snob, or somehow think I’m better.What kind of bullshit is that?”“I’m just stating facts.”He snorted.“Incorrect ‘facts.’ I’m not better than you or anyone.I turned a hobby that nearly landed me in prison into a lucrative business.That was damned lucky.” He grabbed her by the shoulders.“I’m the son of an alcoholic and a desperately unhappy woman who barely spoke English.There’s a big claim to fame.And if you make one more derogatory comment about your size, I’m going to smack that ass until it turns as red as a cherry.”She rolled her eyes.“You’d probably like that.”Rafe joined her attempt to lighten the moment.“Who says you wouldn’t?”“You’re impossible.”Rafe could barely stand to look at that heartbreaking mouth, her downcast eyes.So he placed a long, still kiss on her lips and backed away.“This isn’t real.You have a life; I have a life.If anything, you’re too good for me.I’ve never known anyone with such a big heart.I don’t have the ability to.care for people the way you do.I’m not wired that way.Relationships and I—we just don’t get along.”“But just tonight, you just risked everything to help me—”“I didn’t say I was a total shithead.” He raked a hand through hair he already suspected looked like it had been styled by Medusa’s hairdresser.“Look, you needed help, so I helped you.It’s my good deed for the decade.Staying together.it puts you in too much danger and doesn’t make sense.My flight leaves in about twelve hours.”Kerry tensed before her face settled into lines of grim acceptance.“You helped me so much.Your plan will work, I think.Mark’s freedom is all I hoped for, and I’m grateful.”By unspoken agreement, they left the conversation there.Kerry curled on her side, away from him, lying so still, her breathing so light, he knew she wasn’t asleep.Neither was he.But he pretended to be—and pretended he hadn’t seen the hurt on her face, pretended that he didn’t want to roll over, grab her, and make love to her until they were exhausted beyond walking, beyond arguing or thought.But he couldn’t do that, or anything else.So he did nothing but try to ignore the dull ache pounding away at his chest and watch the sun rise through the sheer-draped French doors, ticking away the seconds until he boarded a plane out of Kerry’s life forever.By eight the next morning, Kerry had steered through the rush-hour traffic and pulled up with an equally silent Rafe to the circular drive in front of his palm-shaded hotel.The sprawling property resembled a tropical paradise, and she’d always wondered what staying here in a suite overlooking the Causeway would be like.The resort’s beauty was totally lost on her now.Her legs felt like lead as she crawled out to the humid morning and helped Rafe with his hanging bag.He grabbed his laptop.Neither looked at the other, and Kerry’s heartbreak drummed so hard inside her, she swore it reached new decibel levels.Thank God, he didn’t seem to notice.As they passed, the hunky valet gave her a long look and tipped his white cap.Rafe glared at him and took her hand, leading her into the refrigerated interior, complete with huge fresh flower arrangements in classic urns and a darkened bar that wouldn’t see action until tonight, well after Rafe had left town.Sudden tears lashed at her eyes, stinging the sleep-deprived sockets.Kerry looked at the ceiling, willing them away.If Rafe didn’t care, thought parting as easy as flushing the toilet and that he’d forget her by nightfall, then by damn, she’d give the same impression.Why let the man know she was going to love him for the rest of her life? He would never reciprocate.“Here’s your bag.” Horrified at her breaking voice, Kerry cleared her throat.“Thanks for everything.You have my cell phone number if something happens with the money.Have a good trip back.” She stuck out her hand.Rafe looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.He dropped both bags on the cool ceramic tile and grabbed her hand.He used it to yank her forward, flush against his body.As he wound an arm around her waist, she could feel how completely aroused he was.And no one was around to care, except a small woman behind the front desk in the distance, apparently looking through paperwork.“Kerry, I don’t know what’s going on in your mind, but don’t give me some bullshit that you’re not upset.”His gray gaze softened and delved into her, melting her heart that much more.Parting was painful beyond believing, and his tenderness would only kill her.Already, she knew it was going to take years to get over him, if she ever did.He was only making it worse.and better.Rafe was sweet, in his gruff way.Seeing this final display of warmth only made her love him more.“A lot on my mind,” she said, discreetly trying to wriggle free.His grip didn’t give an inch.“If you’re worried about Mark, don’t be.This plan isn’t perfect, but I think it will work.In the end, someone will want that money and come after it.I’ll be watching.” The hand at her waist splayed across her lower back as he raised the other to cup her cheek in his palm.“If you’re disappointed that this.thing between us can’t go on, try not to be.We had a great time.Intense, but not meant to last.I’m not good for you, babe.I don’t know how to be with a woman if it involves more than sex.I’d only break your heart.”You already have.She swallowed the lump of pain in her throat, blinking to force back fresh, hot tears.“I should go,” Kerry managed to choke out.He tensed, tightened his grip on her.But he nodded.“Yeah, I have bank deposits to monitor, phone calls to make.I want you home.You being safe, that’s the most important thing.”If it was only about her safety, if Rafe truly wanted her with him, she’d risk anything to stay here, watching those deposits with him, sharing smiles, making love.planning a possible future.He didn’t want any of that, and she’d only humiliate herself by asking.“Bye,” she murmured.Before she could think, move, Rafe swooped down, landed a hot, open-mouthed kiss on her lips.Heart bursting, flooding her body with love and need and pain, she opened to him and kissed back one last time with every ounce of feeling in her body.Suspended for long moments in emotion, the kiss felt like something out of time.No one else existed.Nothing around them mattered.Only his mouth, connecting his soul to hers, seeming to tell her that he cared and regretted their parting.Too bad his kiss lied.Abruptly, he lifted his head and picked up his luggage.His full lips still damp, he whispered, “Bye, babe.”Kerry barely made it to her car before the tears started to fall.The gray clouds threatened rain, but she beat them to the punch and cried all the way home.Luckily, traffic wasn’t moving fast or she’d likely have been off in a ditch on the side of the road.The dingy house she rented stood still and hot and unwelcoming.She flung herself on the lumpy secondhand couch and curled up into a ball, tears flowing.How had it happened so fast? One minute Rafe had been just the sexy target of her scheme, the next minute the most exciting lover of her fantasies.Then, in the blink of an eye, he was the man willing to risk prison time to help her.but not risk his heart to stay.A knock on the door boomed through the little room, startling her.Rafe? Surely he could have found her address on the Internet if he’d wanted to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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