Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica's face had turned pale, her gentle eyes frozen in a moment of shock.

Timothy's tenderness poured over her like a wash of moonlight-so overwhelming, she felt as if she might drown in it.

A deep, gnawing fear rose inside her.

She was terrified of falling for him again.

Hidden beneath the silk comforter, her hand clenched into a tight fist, fingernails

digging into her palm for a sharp sting that helped anchor her in reality.

She pressed her lips together and turned her delicate face slightly away.

She wanted nothing from him-not even his kindness.

Timothy, unusually patient tonight, spoke in a low, velvety voice. "Don't want me to feed you like this?"

She didn't quite understand what he meant.

No matter how much she hurt, she didn't want to accept his help—not even a cup of hot tea from his hands.

All she wanted was to draw a clear line between them, the sooner the better.

Timothy's long, elegant fingers reached out and

tea, then leaned in his strikingly handsome

warmth of the

her face twisting

she'd swallowed every

burning from the

and wet, as she stared up at the impossibly beautiful face

her pure, vulnerable innocence delighted him. With a rough fingertip, he gently wiped the last trace of ginger tea

wanted me to feed you like this," he murmured, "you only

took another sip of tea and returned to kiss her again, catching Jessica off

a

heartbreak Timothy had

couldn't help but wonder: if he had always shown her

warmth of the ginger tea spread through her, mingling with the heat of his hand, creating a rush of comfort that

up, sweetheart. Henry wants to go to the amusement park

not for everything that had happened between them, this moment might have

knew better. This was nothing but a beautiful illusion, as fleeting as dew in the morning