He smiled gently. “Rissa, a Christmas tree is nothing if you have no one to share it with. You said as much yourself. It symbolizes a season that is celebrated in sharing. Come. Let’s share this one for the last time.”

He moved to the parlor, didn’t wait for her, knew she would follow. He was rather proud of the condition of her tree, watched eagerly as she entered the room and saw it. She was amazed, clearly. He had hoped for a smile, though, instead of just surprise.

“You changed it, brought in a new tree. Why?”

“It’s the same tree,” he insisted. “I’ve been pampering it myself, watering it twice a day. It decided to survive a little longer.”

He was joking that the tree might have had any say-so in the matter, but she was too sentimental not to agree with him, and with the smile he’d hoped for, she said, “So it did, and quite beautifully, too. I don’t believe I’ve ever stripped a tree looking this healthy before. Are you sure you didn’t bring in a new one?”

“Did I forget to assure you that I’d never lie to you again?”

She blushed. There it was, standing between them again, everything he’d done, everything he regretted. And how utterly foolish, to let that subject come up so soon. He’d wanted her to relax first, to recall the fun they’d had in this room.

“Do you realize that saying it isn’t an assurance, when the assurance could be a lie as well?”

“Your doubt is tangible, Rissa, and understandable. But have you realized that most of the lies were to keep you here? I wanted you so much, I was committed to doing anything in my power to have you come willingly to me. I’m sorry for the deceptions having to do with your father. I made mistakes. I’m far from perfect. But I won’t apologize for wanting you, or for making love to you, or for anything I did to make you mine, if only for a little while, because saying I’m sorry for that would be a lie.”

Though her cheeks were a bit brighter from his bluntness, she didn’t reply. She even moved away from him so she could stare at the tree without looking at him. Her expression had given him no clue, either, to how his statements had affected her, other than to embarrass her.