Page 74 of Kiss Me Forever

"I know," he interrupted. "The last two weeks have been the worst weeks of my life."

"Were you that worried about the article?"

"I was more worried that I was never going to see you again, that I'd screwed everything up."

"I'm the one who did that."

"Can we go somewhere and talk for a moment?"

"Sure," she said, leading him through the ballroom to the patio.

It was a cool night, and Alex immediately slipped off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, just as he'd done the night he'd taken her to the airport to watch the planes take off.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked.

It was funny that Alex would have such good manners growing up the way he did. Somewhere along the way, he'd learned how to be thoughtful, or maybe it was just his nature.

"I'm fine." She could feel Alex's heat still clinging to his coat. It was almost as if his arms were around her. "Did you read the article?" She hated to bring it up, but they couldn't ignore the elephant in the room.

He nodded. "I did. It wasn't exciting or groundbreaking, but it was well written. How did your boss like it?"

"He had much the same impression. Competent was the word he used to describe it."

"Are you in trouble?"

"Let's just say they won't be handing me any plum assignments for a while."

He gazed into her eyes. "Why didn't you tell the whole story, Andrea?"

She let out a sigh. "Because it belongs to you, Alex. You're the only one who should tell it. I personally think the way you rose from such despairing circumstances would inspire a lot of people, but I understand that it's complicated and that you want to protect your sisters." She paused. "Maybe you want to protect your mother, too."

He frowned. "I wouldn't go that far."

"Did you read her letter?"

"Yes. Did you?"

"No." She shouldn't have been surprised by the question, but it disappointed her. It showed her that Alex still didn't trust her. "I don't open private mail."

"Not even for the scoop of a lifetime?"

"It wasn't going to be that. It was a letter from a mother to a son."

"But without reading the letter, how would you know that?" he challenged.

"When I spoke to your mother, I saw the pain and regret in her eyes. I knew that letter was personal." She paused. "I think we should get something straight. I'm a good reporter, and if I'm after a news story that I think will hugely impact someone's life or expose corruption or greed or fraud or anything like that, I will go all out. I would probably read a letter or intercept a text or do whatever I had to do to get to the truth. But it would only be for the greater good. And maybe you think that makes me unethical or untrustworthy, I don't know, but I can't lie and I can't apologize for what I do. Reporters dig. That's my job, and I do it the best way I know how."

"Are you done?"

"Yes," she said.

"Then can I talk now?"

"I've never tried to stop you from talking," she reminded him. "So go for it."

"I went to see my mother the day after you gave me the letter. We had a brief conversation then and another one last night. She was relieved that you didn't include her in your story or any mention of my sisters. She told me that you must really care about me if you would keep my secrets." He paused. "Do you care about me, Andrea?"

She sucked in a breath, wanting to protect herself from rejection but also wanting him to know how she felt. "Yes."

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