Chapter Twenty-three

Standing before her in yesterday’s T-shirt and jeans, Xavier held himself still. His hands clenched with the effort it took not to kiss her. “Why were you thinking about me? Why do you even care about me? You shouldn't because I kidnapped you.”

“You try to pretend you’re selfish and cruel,” she said softly. “But I keep thinking about you and coming to one conclusion. You’re a good man. You are just in a bad situation and you need to save yourself desperately. You were placed in a terrible position by Arnold and I understand your actions.”

He gave a low laugh, like thunder reverberating across the dark sky. “I am not good. I am the good man you think I am and I want you get that thought out of your head.” Something snapped inside him and he reached for her shoulders, looking down into her eyes searchingly as he whispered,

“But you…you are. You have the purest heart I have seen in a while.”

“Oh.” She blushed. “I’m not so very good. I’ve been feeling quite stupid, actually, driving you