“You can’t?Really?”
“No one has ever done anything like that for me, except for Denny and Mrs.V, of course.”
“Well, that’s a damned shame.You should be treated like the queen you are.”
She fanned her face.
“Cut it out,” he said with a grunt of laughter.
“I will not cut it out.I was so happy after the other night.”
“I was, too.”
“I’m tired of being sad and devastated.I want to feel like I did with you.I felt so alive and young and…” She hiccupped on a sob.
“Shhh, it’s okay.Everything is going to be okay.You’re strong and resilient, and you’re going to get through this and find your way to being happy all the time rather than just some of the time.”
“My kids make me so happy, but that night, with you… That was different.”
“It was for me, too.”
“I haven’t felt good like that in so long.Thank you for giving me that.”
“Please don’t thank me.It was a great night for me, too.I’m just so sorry you’re hurting.”
“I’m in shock more than anything.The past several days have been a lot.”
“Yes, they have, which is why I should probably go and give you some space to cope.”
She turned so she could look up at him.“Do you want to go?”
“Not even kinda.”
“Then please don’t.I feel better when you’re here.”
“Can I tell you the statistics for relationships following a divorce or the loss of a spouse?”
“Do you have to?”
“I feel obligated to tell you that we’re possibly setting ourselves up for disaster here.”
“Because you don’t do relationships, right?”
He winced.“That’s not what I mean in this case.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s an attachment forming here, and it wouldn’t be fair for me not to tell you that this is the worst-possible time for you to become attached to me or anyone else.”
“And it’s always a bad time for you, right?”
“Usually, but not with you.It’s different with you.”
“Why?”
He laughed.“The hell if I know, but it just is, and all my usual rules of engagement don’t seem to apply to you.”
“What’re those rules?”
