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“It’s better that way for both of us. You’ve done enough for me. Too much, probably. I came here to try to have some shred of independence. To stop relying on men and take care of myself for a change, but I’ve needed your help since the moment I got here.”
I wanted to tell her that needing help wasn’t the same as mooching off someone, but she was right that this was better. Better for me to get back to normalcy and better for her to get back to her life in Seattle and carve a path to self-improvement that didn’t involve me drooling all over her one minute and pushing her away the next.
“I get it,” I said, unsmiling. “You have to do what you have to do.”
“Such a manly response.” Her teasing tone fell away. “Thank you for everything, Asher.”
“No problem.”
I still couldn’t look at her but heard her little sigh. She reached for the door, stopped, then filled my space with her nearness, her warmth, and the flowery scent of her perfume.
She planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “Goodbye, firefighter.”
Too soon, the kiss was over. Faith climbed out of the Jeep and retrieved her crutches from the backseat on her own while I was immobile, sitting in the feeling of her lips on my skin. If I moved, I’d grab her or tell her to stay, and then what? Another conquest with a tourist.
She’s not that. I don’t know what she is, but she’s not that.
Faith shot me a small, parting smile and I waited until she was safely in her condo. The door closed behind her, and this time, I knew it would be locked.
