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But she knew the answer. He was upset and lashing out because she hadn’t trusted him enough to come to him for help. She was acting as though she didn’t need him. As though she didn’t care.
She’dhurthim.
The stark implication of that took her breath away. And it begged the question: When had this seemingly straightforward arrangement turned into a relationship with actual emotions tied up in it?
When had they both begun to fall in love?
“I…I’m not ready to make a decision yet,” she managed at last. Even to her own ears, her voice sounded high and thin and brittle. “I need a little more time to make up my mind…about whether to end things or not. I–I don’t know what I want.”
Dominic turned back to face her. A muscle worked in his jaw as his turbulent gaze held her in its grip. And then the fight went out of him. He dragged a hand down his face and then he sighed. “You’re right, Artemis. I’m sorry for losing my temper. And for pressuring you to make a decision when you’re not ready. Particularly now. It’s incredibly arrogant and selfish of me to expect you to.” Another sigh. “It’s just…I wish you’d trusted me enough to confide in me about Gascoyne’s involvement with your sister.”
“I know. And I’m sorry too. Truly I am. I didn’t mean to upset you. I decided to keep it to myself because I thought it was for the best. As I said, I thought you had enough to deal with, with Celeste.”
He nodded. Once. And then his mouth twisted with a wry smile. “It seems we both have family members who are hell-bent on turning us old before our time.”
She offered him a small smile in return. “Yes.”
“I shall see you in an hour in the great hall.”
And then he turned back to his desk and Artemis quit the room.
