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He took a step forward. “I don’t want to be far from you.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. I’m leaving in the morning. There’s no point in staying here, torturing myself. I’ve been thinking about going back to school and getting my teaching degree. I think I’d make a good English teacher. I could get my students into reading the classics or just reading, period.”
He crossed his arms. “I think you’d be good at that, but you’re meant to be a writer.”
Her lips twisted. “I’m laying down my quill.”
“You’re going to let this one obstacle destroy everything you’ve worked for?”
She gazed out the window and noted the moonlight shining through, bathing him in its glory. “This obstacle is impossible to overcome. I’ve had an entire portion of my life stolen from me with no way of retrieving it. The memory is there, but I’m not sure if it’s real or a figment of my imagination.”
“What if I could give it all back to you? Would you take it?”
Her heart was racing, but she forced herself to relax. “I don’t think so. The dream has been torn, trampled, and left for dead. There’s no redeeming it.”
“You can’t give this up, Nicole.”
She glanced back at the poster, remembering when she first met this man. It was like having her wildest dreams come true, as if she’d stepped into a romance novel and was living the fantasy. “I’m done.” Her voice had turned bitter.
Reece knew better than to argue with her further. She’d find out tomorrow at the meeting what was planned for her and that damn story.
“Really, Reece, what’re you doing here?”
“I wanted to apologize. I never should have accused you. Mum explained everything to me.”
She tipped her head. “I’m glad she did. I accept your apology.” She waited. “Was there something else?”
He stepped toward her. “I love you,” he whispered.
Her heart jumped. “That’s nice, but it’s irrelevant.”
“Why? I know you love me too.”
She didn’t agree or disagree. “I’m not stupid enough to put myself in your power again, so you can hurt me another time. I’ve been down that road before. The potholes have left me shaken.”
“It’s not always going to be this way. We can get through this together.”
Play it cool. Do not let him know his words are affecting you. You know if you give in, he’s going to hurt you again. “I’m not willing to be the moth to your flame anymore. It nearly incinerated me the last time.”
“You’re willing to throw away what we feel for each other?”
“We’ll get over whatever this is, Reece. You’ll find someone new—someone who’s used to the spotlight of the cameras, someone who likes the press hounding her.”
“I want you, Nicole.”
“You can’t have me.”
“I could if I wanted to.”
She laughed scornfully. “You’re absolutely right, Horndog Collins. You could bend me over the desk right now. I’d be ready for you, but that’s all. When all is said and done, when our heartbeats have slowed, and when the sweat’s been wiped from our brows, it’ll still only be sex. Fantastic, mind-blowing sex, I grant you, but just sex. You’ll kiss me softly, whisper sweet promises in my ear, and then you’ll blow me out of the water the moment my defenses are lowered.”
“I’ve never intentionally hurt you, Nicole.”
“Really? Well, too bad I can’t rip open my chest to show you the scars.”
He winced. “Nicole . . .”
“I don’t want to fight anymore, Reece. I know I’ve hurt you just as badly as you’ve hurt me. That should tell you we’re not good for each other.”
