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“I see. Well, I guess we’ve reached an impasse. I’m just going to be going now.” He started toward the door and expected her to call out to him. When he glanced over his shoulder, he found her staring down at the book.
    This night would not turn out as he expected. But then, history had a habit of rewriting itself before it even occurred. Maybe this was the way it was always meant to be between them.
    Ian opened the door and stepped into the hall. At least he didn’t have any regrets. For the first time in his life, he’d said everything he’d wanted to say. The door clicked closed behind him. Except to tell her that he was falling in love with her.
    “Better to keep that to myself,” Ian murmured.
    * * *
    C LAIRE KNEW SHE ’ D probably see him that day. Though they’d spoken on the phone several times over the past three days, she and Ian hadn’t seen each other. So when Dex had asked her to help film some exterior shots of Aileen at her country house, she’d jumped at the chance to meet one of her favorite authors—and to possibly see Ian again.
    “Are you all right?” Marlie asked.
    “Fine,” Claire said. She held onto a light reflector and watched as Dex spoke to Aileen, giving her directions on what they were about to film.
    “You seem a bit preoccupied.”
    “No, I’m fine.”
    “How is it going with Ian? Are you two getting along? He can be a bit stuffy, but he’s being so helpful to us.”
    “It’s been just grand,” Claire said, nodding emphatically. “And he has been...helpful.”
    Their week of denial had been up the night they fought over the orphanage. She’d known the deadline was at had and she was sure Ian was thinking about the same. But then a silly fight had come between them. This was exactly why she hadn’t bothered with men. It always ended in disaster and this one more quickly than most.
    She heard footsteps on the gravel behind her and was almost afraid to turn, knowing it was probably Ian.
    “Claire, could you spare a moment? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
    She turned to face him and their eyes met. “I—I’m busy,” Claire said.
    “Oh, I’m sure I can handle that...thing. Whatever it is.” Marlie grabbed the reflector from Claire and held it out in front of her. “Go ahead. I’ll come get you if your needed.”
    Reluctantly, Claire turned and walked toward the house, Ian at her side. She hadn’t talked to him in three days and yet, she hadn’t been able to put him out of her mind.
    Once she had a chance to put their disagreement in perspective, she realized that she’d used the conflict as just another creative way to sabotage a relationship with a man. Her feelings for Ian were growing far too deep and too fast. She’d thought a day or two apart would be enough to cool the infatuation between them, but things had only gotten worse. She’d missed him terribly.
    How could they have sex now? Especially when it would actually mean something? No doubt he had no intention of changing his mind about the orphanage story and he’d be angry when he learned that Dex had every intention of talking to Aileen. He probably already knew considering the dark look on his face.
    Claire followed Ian though the entry hall and up the stairs. He opened a door and she stepped into a beautifully decorated sitting room. On one end sat a lovely painted desk in the French style. “Aileen lets me use this as a office when I’m here.”
    She slowly crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. “What did you want to say to me that you couldn’t say outside?” Claire asked.
    Ian locked the door behind him then leaned against it, as if he were reluctant to come closer. “I’ve been thinking about our discussion the other night and I’ve come to the conclusion that I was wrong. You have your professional responsibilities and I have mine and we shouldn’t interfere with each other’s work.”
    “That’s it?” Claire asked. Had he considered