‘‘You’re right for me.’’ She clung when he would have eased her away. ‘‘Nothing you’ve said changes what I feel. Nothing could. I only love you more for it.’’

‘‘Listen to me.’’ His hands were steady, but they were firm as they gripped her shoulders and pushed her back. ‘‘I can’t give you what you need, what you want, what you should have. Marriage, children, family.’’

‘‘I don’t—’’

‘‘Don’t tell me you don’t need them. I know you do.’’

She drew in air, let it out slowly. ‘‘I need them with you. I need a life with you.’’

‘‘I can’t marry you. I can’t give you children. I promised myself I’d never risk passing on to a child whatever pieces of her are in me.’’

‘‘There’s nothing of her in you.’’

‘‘There is.’’ His fingers tightened briefly. ‘‘You saw it that day in the woods when I took you against a tree like an animal. You saw it when I yelled at you over working in a bar. And I’ve seen it too many times to count when someone pushes me the wrong way once too often. Holding it back doesn’t mean it’s not there. I can’t take vows with you or make a child with you. I love you too much to let you believe it’s ever going to happen.’’

‘‘She scarred more than your body,’’ Grace murmured. ‘‘It’s your heart she really abused. I can help you heal it the rest of the way.’’

He gave her a quick, gentle shake. ‘‘You’re not listening to me. You’re not hearing me. If you can’t accept the way things have to be between us, I’ll understand. I’ll never blame you for stepping back and looking for what you want with someone else. The best thing for you is for me to let you go. And that’s what I’m doing.’’

‘‘Letting me go?’’

‘‘I want you to go home.’’ He released her and stepped back. Felt as if he’d entered a huge, dark void. ‘‘Once you think this all through, you’ll see it my way. Then you can decide if we should go on seeing each other the way we have been or if you want me to leave you be.’’

‘‘I want—’’

‘‘No,’’ he interrupted. ‘‘You don’t know what you want right now. You need time, and so do I. I’d rather you went on. I don’t want you here right now, Grace.’’

She lifted a hand to her temple. ‘‘You don’t want me here?’’

‘‘Not now.’’ He set his jaw when he saw the hurt swim into her eyes. For her own good, he reminded himself. ‘‘Go home and leave me be for a while.’’