“It’s insane. He got another woman pregnant, and he’s upset with me for having a friendship with a man.”

“Friendship?” Adele paused with her wine glass at her lips. “Are you in the habit of tongue kissing all your friends?”

“Is that necessary?”

“Don’t bullshit me. He’s more than a friend.”

“I don’t know what he is. I haven’t even seen him since the day on the boat, and ever since that day I’ve been dreaming about Phil.”

“Sex dreams?”

“It’s like Phil is haunting me. Why am I dreaming of him? Why can’t it be Nick?”

“Maybe because you’ve never had sex with Nick.”

“I’ve never had Phil catch me after falling off the top of a mountain either, but I dreamt that too. And then we had sex on a snow drift. I woke up and my room was freezing because I had left the window open.”

“This is one for Mom. I have no clue what that means.”

With the separation agreement signed, Lina met Nick at a small French bistro in Baltimore. “This is nice.” She looked around the restaurant in an attempt to calm her nerves. “Do you—”

“Lina.” His hand covered hers. “What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I just…” She paused and took a deep breath. “I feel guilty for, you know, last time.”

“Nothing happened.”

“That’s not how it feels to me.” She took another sip of her water. “God, I must come across as so unsophisticated.”

“No, but maybe loyal to a fault.”

“I know it doesn’t make sense, but it doesn’t change the reality of how I feel. I may as well have had sex with you for all the guilt I’m feeling.”

“May as well,” he agreed, but when she met his eyes she could tell he was teasing her. “It was too soon. I know better, but my impulse controls seem to disappear when I’m around you. I’m no better than an adolescent boy.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “Forgive me.”

“It’s not like it’s just you. I wanted it as much as you did.”

“I very much doubt that,” he said, treating her to a full, heart-melting smile.

The arrival of the waiter saved her from responding, and she relaxed back into her seat as she listened to him discuss wine choices. “When will the guilt go away?” she asked as soon as the waiter left with his order. “I even feel guilty for being attracted to you.”

“It’s been less than a month. It will take some time before you’re ready, and until then, we’ll be friends—just like I originally said. No pressure—just friends.”

Chapter 41

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