Deep and husky, the singer’s voice wove a plaintive message that made Debbie wish she’d slept through the alarm. Oh, Cole. Not even my love can make your heart feel something it won’t.

Cole groaned and buried his face in the curve of her neck, unwilling to move or to tear himself loose of his lady. He dozed, unaware that Debbie was already lost in a world of hurt and despair.

Last night had been magic. But it was morning. And Debbie had waited all through the night for a word from this man that would make her world right. She’d been given pleasure. She’d been given joy. But the one thing she’d waited to hear was never spoken. He’d made love to her with deliberate and passionate skill. But he’d never said the words she needed to hear. He wouldn’t say, I love you.

The phone rang, jarring the moment, and Cole muttered beneath his breath as he rolled over on his back, taking Debbie with him. He grabbed the receiver before the second ring.

“This better be good,” he growled. And then his arms unconsciously tightened their hold on Debbie as he listened. And finally he spoke. “I’ll be right there.”

Debbie rolled over and out of bed, ignoring her nudity. “It seems I have no clothes,” she said, masking her pain with a teasing sarcasm.

“Debbie!” Cole’s voice was sharp. But his touch was gentle as she turned back to face him. “Don’t shut me out, sweetheart,” he begged. “Every time we get close, my job interferes, and then this wall comes up between us.”

Debbie smiled through tears. “Is that how it seems?” She shrugged into his shirt, using it for a cover-up, and pulled away from his grasp. “I didn’t know.” Her voice was shaky, but her meaning was clear. “I didn’t know we’d even been close.”

She halted his stunned argument with a wave of her hand. “Oh, I know we’ve been close…bodily.” The tears were thick behind her lashes. “But close? As in, heart-to-heart forever-love kind of close—no way, mister. You’re the one who refuses to face facts. You’re the one who shuts off whenever your job enters the picture. It’s not me who’s running. It’s you.”

She walked out of his room. The door shut with a quiet click, and Cole was left to absorb the truth of her accusations. He wanted to shout. He needed to argue…to fling her words back in her face. But he could do nothing in the face of truth.