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“And that makes us so much more conscientious about what we’re doing, Loralai.” Tague swept away more tears. With conviction in his eyes as they glimmered from the flickering candlelight, he told her, “I won’t hurt you, ever. Not intentionally.”
“I believe that.”
“Good. I also want you to consider that I’d like more time with you. More nights with you.”
“I’d like that, too.”
He sighed, as though relieved. Did he really think she wouldn’t be amenable to seeing him more than just on a random basis, here and there?
Combing her fingers through his unruly hair, she said, “I’m not able to just cut my fears loose, even if they sometimes do feel like dead weight. But I can give this a chance. I think it’ll be worth the risk.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
She smiled softly. “You make me very happy.”
“Trust me, you do the same.” He kissed her tenderly, showing that side of him that was so unexpected given his aggressive and confident nature. Then he stood and climbed into the tub, helping her in with him.
Tague settled against one side with L.L. between his legs, her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scented bubbles and the fragrant aroma from the roses.
“This is heavenly,” she murmured.
“Then I’m glad I thought of it. You deserve a little decadence.”
“I don’t know about that—I think we’ve already overindulged this evening. But it’s greatly appreciated. Really, Tague. The whole night has been like a fairy tale.”
“Complete with the evil queen,” he lamented.
“Oh, stop.” She laughed quietly. “I could see that you have affection for your parents; you just clearly know that you have to assert yourself and stand your ground with them. Your mother told me they have high expectations for you. I’m sure they’re more extraordinary than the typical parental expectations. But I highly doubt you’ve ever let them down. Well, save for the fact that you brought a plus-one when they’d invited Brianna Carlisle along.”
“Honestly, they knew better than to do that. It did piss me off. At one point, they had influence over whom I was with, and that’s what split the riff between us wide open. But I can’t place all the blame at their feet. She willingly walked away.”
L.L.’s eyelids drifted open. “Who would walk away from you?”
Tague’s muscles tensed all around her. If she glanced over her shoulder, she had no doubt she’d find his jaw set in a hard line and his eyes close to black.
“Her name is Renee. I met her my second term at Harvard. She was thirty-four.”
“And you were what? Nineteen?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. That’s a big gap at that age. Was she a professor?”
“No, a student. Studying for her MBA. She worked as a vice president for a global communications company, and she needed the advanced degree to move into a senior VP position.”
L.L. waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, she prompted him. “What was she like?”
“Beautiful.”
L.L. smiled, despite the sensitive subject matter. “Of course.”
“Very fragile. Blond. Meg reminds me of her.”
Now L.L. winced. “That must have been painful on Tuesday, then.”
“When I met her? No. I was too wrapped up in you to even think of anything else. Especially Renee.”
“What happened with the two of you?”
