"Just stay away from me," she said softly, looking out at the night sky. A shooting star flew across the sky and she stared at it, mesmerized.
He bit back an angry reply, killing it inside him. Instinctually he knew that wasn't the way to get her to listen to him. Honesty was a better path. He was going to have to try it. He gritted his teeth, wondering if he knew how.
He had to try. Funny. Other times, with other women, he might have shrugged and walked away. But he couldn't do that here. He care too much about her to try to erase her from his life. He wanted her close. That he couldn't deny.
Coming out fully onto the balcony, h e sat down in the chair beside her. He looked out at the stars, and for the next five minutes, neither one of them spoke.
"I'm sorry," he said simply at last, swallowing his anger. "I really am."
Charity's breath caught in her throat. She'd been in agony, so sure he was going to stomp off in a huff. But he hadn't. He really seemed to care. A man who could say "I'm sorry" was a treasure not to be treated lightly. Slowly, she smiled in the darkness.
"You didn't give your entire speech for nothing," she said softly. "I heard every word."
His hand took hers, threading fingers. "I meant every word."
"Did you?"
His hand tightened on hers and he looked toward her in the moonlight. "Are you angry?" he asked.
She was silent for a moment. "Yes," she said at last.
He brought her hand to his lips. "Are you going to push me away?" he asked softly.
Her smile was in her voice. "I don't think I have the strength to do that."
He pulled her into his arms and held her, his face lost in her hair.
"Oh, Ross, Ross, hold me tight," she whispered. "But don't think this is going to make any difference. I'm still not going to join your damned consortium."
He laughed and her laughter echoed his. Then his mouth was hot on hers, and the laughter evaporated, pushed out by a new emotion that grew like flame on kindling.
But only for a moment. Interruptions were a way of life at Charity's these days, and once again it was Faith who burst in, switching on the light and filling the room with her anger.
"It's happened. I knew it was coming, and now it's happened."
Ross and Charity broke apart reluctantly.
"What?" Charity asked, brushing hair from her eyes and blinking in the brightness. Ross's fingers curled around hers, and she clung to his hand, leaning close to him.