and stormed to the sink。 She slammed the food facedown in
it。 Then emotion overwhelmed her。 Bracing shaky arms against the
counter； she hung her head。 Helplessly she gave in to quiet sobs。
She didn't hear him e up； but there was a genuine softness in his
voice。 〃I'm sorry。 I wouldn't have pushed if I'd known。 It was
thoughtless of me。〃
She brushed at the tears。 〃It doesn't matter。〃 But it did。 It had been
months since she had cried； but she couldn't seem to stop。 When she
brushed them away； more tears came。 To her horror； they came faster；
until she was a sniffling bundle of misery。
Had she been thinking clearly； she would have shied from him the instant
his hands touched her shoulders。 But clear thought was beyond her。 She
needed fort； and he offered it。 Turning her； he pressed her head to
his chest and held her while her whole body shook。
〃Better？〃 he murmured when she finally quieted。 He stroked her hair；
smoothing loose strands from her damp cheeks as she nodded。 It was only
when he framed her face with his hands to inspect it that she realized
she was hugging his waist。
Awkward； she blushed； stepped back； and turned to leave。
〃Wait；〃 he ordered； but gently now。 〃Why don't you sit down。 I'll make
breakfast for both of us。 You can even water down the coffee if you'd
like。〃
He hesitated。 In the silence； she saw a glint of