Page 46 of Legacy of Danger
"I know this isn't a fling," she said, her own voice none too steady.
"No, you don't understand. You deserve so much better."
"Because of your past? We covered the fact that we both have some demons."
He rubbed his jaw. "That's not it."
"All right, then what?"
"This was a mistake."
She flinched, and her heart took a zero-G drop.
"Mistake?" she gasped.
"Not mistake, like what you might think of a mistake." He wet his lips. "Well, yes. Kind of a mistake." He held up a hand as she took a breath. "It's all my problem, not yours. You're fine."
"That's the lamest line I've ever heard."
His mouth gaped open, no words coming out. Good, because she might just punch him if he said something else stupid.
Rubbing a hand over face, she nodded. "Fine. I might be slow, but I finally get it. This time, for real, I'm going to take what shreds of dignity I have left and exit this situation."
"Mariah."
She blinked several times. "Don't say anything. Please." She straightened her shoulders and set her expression into what she hoped was a professional appearance.
His face went blank. That lack of emotion iced her blood. Something more than a simple kiss had happened. A connection had been formed, and breaking it hurt like a beast.
Better now than later. She turned her back on him and slid into the driver's seat. "Good night."
"Damn it. It's not your fault."
The burning behind her eyelids challenged her tight control. "Of course it's not." She turned the key in the ignition. "Your issues are your own. Good night."
"Mariah?"
"Unless you plan to yank my chain even more, I'll ask you to move away from the car and leave me alone." Cold. Final.
She had never talked to anyone like that.
He did as she asked, and she closed the door and drove off into the chilly night.
