Page 82 of The Awakening of Nina Fontaine

“Yes. I’msorry.”

“Not just tonight,” she said. “All of it. It’s too much, too intense. I can’t… I’m not cut out forit.”

She started walking backward, wanting to get away from him before the hurt on his face undid her. She was willing to bet the number of people who’d seen Jack Morgan hurt could be counted on one hand. As upset as she was, she hated that she was now one ofthem.

“Where are you going, Nina? Let me get the car and take you to thehotel.”

She saw a flash of yellow making it’s way down the street toward her: acab.

She lifted her hand and the taxi slowed to a stop next to the curb. She opened the back door, and turned to look at Jack. Standing on the street in his tuxedo, his eyes as unreadable as ever, he was still a mystery toher.

She had to resist the urge to go to him. To let him take her back to the hotel and tie her up and fuck her and do anything he wanted toher.

There was so much more she wanted tosay.

There was nothing left tosay.

She got in the cab and shut the door. She had a moment’s panic before she realized she was still holding her clutch. She opened it quickly and confirmed that her wallet wasinside.

“De Gualle airport,” she said to the cabdriver.

She forced herself not to turn around as they pulled away from thecurb.

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