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 out

leaned in his strikingly handsome features filling her

the tea flooded Jessica's

tried to push him away, her

Timothy didn't let go not until she'd swallowed every drop of

throat burning from the heat-or

wide and wet, as she stared up at the impossibly

vulnerable innocence delighted him. With a rough fingertip,

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

she could react, he took another sip of tea and returned to kiss her again, catching Jessica off guard. She didn't even have time to close her lips before more hot tea slipped into

tea was sweet with a bitter edge-bitterness wrapped in

Timothy had given

always shown her this

of the ginger tea spread through her, mingling with the heat of his hand, creating a rush of comfort that pushed away the pain and left her

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

them, this

but a beautiful illusion, as fleeting as