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.

fingers reached out and

porcelain cup, took a sip of hot tea, then leaned in his strikingly handsome features filling her vision-pressed

warmth of the tea flooded

away, her face twisting with surprise and

swallowed every drop of tea he'd

coughed, her throat burning from the heat-or maybe from something

eyes shimmered, wide and wet, as she stared up at the impossibly beautiful

a rough fingertip, he gently wiped the last trace

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

returned to kiss her again, catching Jessica off guard. She didn't even have time to close her lips before

a bitter edge-bitterness wrapped in

the happiness and heartbreak Timothy had

had always shown her this tenderness, would she have drowned in it long

heat of his hand, creating a rush of comfort

to a soft murmur. "Drink up, sweetheart. Henry wants to go to the amusement park tomorrow. If

between them, this moment might have been picture-perfect—a

a beautiful illusion, as fleeting as dew in the