Chapter 132

‘But you didn’t at the beginning, when we met. You weren’t interested then.’ She’d felt his innate sense of distance and caution, the same as her own. She’d thought they had been speaking the same language, giving the code words for no commitment, no love, no fairytales.

People change, Lucette . I’m thirty-two. You’re twenty-nine. Of course I’d think of settling down and starting a family.’

Something clanged hard inside her; she felt as if someone had pulled the chair out from under her and she’d fallen right onto the floor.

"Well, then, that’s where we differ, Ariston ," she stated, her voice thankfully cool. ‘I don’t want children.’

His eyebrows drew together at that. ‘Ever?’

‘Ever.’

He stared at her for a long, considering moment. "You’re scared."

"Stop telling me what I feel," she snapped, raising her voice to hide its tremble. And get over yourself. I’m not scared. I just don’t want what you want. I don’t want to marry you.’ She took a breath, and then plunged on recklessly. ‘I d