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touched her. True. But getting involved with Mikayla was a bad idea. He wasn’t convinced she wouldn’t forgive Ryan. No, he needed to ignore this attraction and drive her home first thing in the morning.
    *
    Andre jerked up to a sitting position. Bright morning sunlight dragged away the remnants of sleep and reflected off the snow covered trees through the balcony’s glass doors. Squinting he held up a hand and blocked his eyes. Pushing back the blanket Mikayla tossed to him the night before, he surveyed the room. The door to the bedroom was closed. The kitchen appeared undisturbed and the only sound was the faint humming of the refrigerator. But something woke him.
    The front door cracked open as Mikayla slipped inside. Still in pajamas, her hair hidden behind a bright orange scarf, and dark red slippers on her feet. One of her hands pressed tightly against her chest as if protecting something as she quietly shut the door. When she turned and caught his eye, she froze.
    She shuffled, biting her lower lip. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
    “What were you doing outside? Looks like more snow fell. It has to be freezing.”
    She avoided his eyes but dragged her feet along the floor to cross the room to him. When she stood at the back of the couch, she uncurled her hand and held it out.
    He shook his head and chuckled. “I thought you quit.”
    “I did!” She came around the couch, he moved his legs so she could sit on the edge. “This is crazy. I haven’t smoked in over a year and after one terrible afternoon I’m craving a cigarette as bad as I did in college.”
    “Because of what happened?”
    She threw the cigarette on the table and rubbed her eyes with the balls of her hands. “I shouldn’t let this get to me. I shouldn’t be so surprised that Ryan did what he did.” Her head fell back on the sofa and she frowned up at the ceiling. “I’m mad at myself, more than I am at him.” She said softly.
    He peered at the cigarette on the coffee table, then back at Mikayla. He could either let her get her thoughts out or remain distant and watch her fall back into the habit she was trying to fight. The urge for a cigarette gnawed at his insides. Even now, he wanted one.
    His mouth dried up at the thought of confiding in her. He glanced at Mikayla’s stooped shoulders and pensive frown and something tugged in his chest. A new, almost uncomfortable sensation. Having a let’s talk conversation wasn’t high on his priority lists. Dealing with the problem head on without examining his feelings was more his style. Her unease made him want to soothe the discomfort. What the hell. He could continue to pretend to be a good guy. Indulging her for a few minutes would, hopefully, bring a smile to her face, and then they’d go their separate ways.
    “I understand how you feel,” he said. “I knew things with Angelica weren’t…ideal, but I let myself believe marrying her would be okay.”
    Slowly, Mikayla’s head turned to face him. He watched the same conflict in her eyes that he’d battled with. Open up with the person who was connected to his enemy or keep the churning emotions bottled up inside.
    “You were going to marry her. I’m so sorry.”
    He shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m lucky to have seen her true colors before proposing.”
    “But, you must hurt more than me. I wasn’t in love with Ryan. If you were thinking of marrying Angelica, then you were just betrayed by the person you loved.”
    He shifted to avoid the empathy in her eyes. His stomach churned. He couldn’t tell her that he was only marrying Angelica to improve the company image. He didn’t want to witness the disgust in her eyes when she realized he’d let lust and Caldwell pride chose his bride.
    “I’m better off.” He turned back to her. “And so are you.”
    Her soft tempting lips curved up into a small smile. She didn’t have the tension around her eyes and shoulders like she’d had the day before. No tightness to