anywhere he looked。
〃The only way the hurt will stop；〃 he chided gently； 〃is for you to put
the past behind you。〃
Her eyes filled with tears。 〃Do you think I haven't tried？ Do you think
I've spent the past eleven years purposely living with a ghost？〃
**skip**〃Maybe not； but you've done it。 You haven't resolved a thing in the
eleven years； if that hurt in your eyes is for real。 It's your
punishment； isn't it？ Your punishment for living。〃
She shook her head and whispered； 〃No。 That's not true！〃
〃Not true？〃 he echoed in a voice strangely mellow。 〃Answer me one thing；
Chloe。 Have you been with another man since we were together？〃
〃That's none of your bus…〃
〃It is so。〃 He took her face in his hands； correctly anticipating her
attempt to look away。 His touch was gentle but firm。 〃I was the first。
It's my brand that shaped you。 How many others were there？〃
〃That's vulgar！〃 she cried。
〃Maybe。 Answer the question。〃
〃I won't。 Are you jealous； jealous and guilt…ridden？ Well； I don't need
either of those traits in the man in my life。 I'm doing just fine
withoutwithout…〃 Her limbs trembled。
Ross drew her against him； pressing her cheek to his chest； wrapping his
arms around her back。 〃Without love？〃 he asked； so softly that she might
not have heard him had the word not been on the tip of her tongue。
Incapable of speech for the moment； she simply breathed in the scent
that was all male； all Ross。 His heart beat steadily by her ear；
gradually coaxing her own to slow。 His arms enveloped her and lent her
strength。
〃I tried。〃 She spoke； unsteadily at first。 〃I dated。 I still do。〃 It was
easier