Page 67 of Craig

Every word tore through him like a double-edged sword and made him unable to breathe. Determined to rise above it, he rose and went to her.

"Don't!"

"I just want to hold you."

"Why?" Whirling, she blazed at him.

"To comfort you." He forced his tone to be reasonable.

"I don't want to be comforted. This…"

She scissored her hand between them. "If you're thinking that somehow we can work, then you're bound to be disappointed."

"We're already working…"

"You cannot be thinking that just because we're good in bed, it's going to turn into something lasting. You cannot be that stupid."

He knew she was hurting, but she was starting to piss him off!

Grabbing her shoulders, he clamped down when she started to wrench away. "Be still, dammit."

His jade green eyes were blazing, his mouth tight. "I'm in love with you."

She jerked and started to shake her head.

Christ! He hadn't meant to blurt it out, but suddenly he did not care.

He would take the blows as he had been doing.

"And I think you're in love with me too." His fingers dug into her arms, forcing her to keep still.

"You had a lousy childhood and I ache for you. I'm here."

He was drawing her inexorably closer to him.

"I was brought up by loving parents, so I cannot relate, unless you count my grandfather. I'm sorry as hell that you went through all of that."

He lifted one hand to cup her face. "I'm in love with you, Regina."

His voice had deepened, his eyes mirroring his emotions.

"This is crazy." Her hands curled into his shirt, and she could feel her heart hammering.

"This is insane. You cannot… I'm not…" her voice petered off into silence as she looked over his left shoulder, unable to meet his eyes.

"We can make it work."

Her gaze swiveled to his face.

"We cannot! Is this why you brought me here? Was it your intention to tell me this all along?"

"Yes." He realized there was no point in denying it.

And he was tired of hiding his feelings. From now on, he was going to be open and honest.

"Was the guy really a fake minister?" she demanded.

"Yes." His thumb massaged her cheek slowly, eyes intent.