Chapter 52

“Talk to me, baby,” he said, his voice gentle and coaxing.

“I don’t pretend to understand why you want it this way,” she said. “If we are not hiding, we are basically in a relationship. I’m not insulted or anything, I know this is a personal thing for you, I understand that.”

“But?” he asked.

“But I don’t know if this is something I can deal with.”

“I don’t, either. That’s why I want you to think about it for as long as it takes. I don’t want either of us to get hurt.”

“I vote for that,” Emma said.

He smiled again. Touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “I hope the answer is yes, but I will understand a no.”

She opened her mouth, but she couldn’t think of what to say. He had taken her by surprise, and a hundred thoughts tumbled in her head.

Daniel took care of the problem neatly by stan