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.

she remained silent, Timothy's long, elegant fingers reached

a sip of hot tea, then leaned in his strikingly handsome features filling her vision-pressed his lips to hers, and held her jaw, forcing her mouth

warmth of the tea flooded Jessica's

push him away, her face twisting

go not until she'd swallowed every drop of

the heat-or maybe from something

and wet, as she stared up at

him. With a rough fingertip, he gently wiped the last trace of ginger

you like this," he murmured, "you only had

again, catching Jessica off guard. She didn't even have time to close her lips before more hot tea slipped

with a bitter edge-bitterness wrapped

heartbreak Timothy had given

wonder: if he had always shown her this tenderness, would she have drowned in it

the heat of his hand, creating a rush of comfort that pushed away the pain and left

Henry wants to go to the amusement park tomorrow. If your cramps don't get better, it'll be a rough day for

everything that had happened between them, this moment might have

knew better. This was nothing but a beautiful illusion,