After a moment’s silence there was a thunderous applause but he did not seem to notice it because he was looking at her, waiting on her to say yes. “Want to get out of here?” he asked her huskily. He still held her hand in his.

“I am not finished with my shift.” She said for lack of anything else to say.

“You may go,” the supervisor said behind her softly.

“Thank you,” Derek told the woman with a charming smile that had her flushing. “Let’s get out of here.” She barely had time to grab her purse and sign out before he hurried along with her through the crowd that had gathered. They parted automatically to let them through and did not even ask him for autographs. He had not driven himself and she got in as the driver opened the door for her. He got in beside her and the car drove off.

“That was quite a performance, the store is going to be grateful for all that free publicity and will benefit from it for a long time,” she said casually. She felt as if she had been transported into a fairytale land but she had been bitten by the poisoned snake before and she was not falling for that again.

“I am sure they will,” he said with a slight smile. He knew she was deliberately being aloof and he could not blame her. That theatrics was not only for her but for the benefit of those who thought that this was a fluke. He never did things like that but he knew it was the only way to show her and the world that he was really into her.

“How is Tyler?” she asked him politely. She was sitting as far away from him as possible because she knew that one touch from him would set her off and all her reservations would fly through the window.

“He is as good as new.” He told her softly. He leaned forward and knocked on the partition which slid open. “We are going to the cabin Caleb.”

“Right sir.” The man slid back the partition shut.

“You did not ask me if I wanted to go,” she told him coldly.

“You would have said no,” he told her with a slow smile. “I have a lot to make up for and I need you to give me a chance that I don’t deserve.”

She opened her mouth to lash out at him but closed it abruptly and stared out at the passing scenery which had changed to more trees and less houses.

He took her hand and helped her out with him as soon as they reached the cabin nestled deep in the woods. He told the driver he would call him if he needed him.

The interior was cozy and there was a fire blazing in the hearth. It was the end of September and the weather had gotten cold. The inside was elegantly simple with a scattering of tasteful furniture around but her eyes were caught by the blanket spread before the fire and a bucket of what looked like champagne chilling inside.

He took her jacket and hung it up with his on the quaint coat hanger near the door. “Can you sit?” he asked her quietly. She did so and he followed suit, stretching out his legs in front of him. He was looking at her and she looked back at him. “My brother told me that I was an idiot and that you were the best thing that ever happened to me and after he left the room I realized that I had known that all along and that was why I was fighting it so hard.”

She did not respond and he knew she was not going to make it easy for him. “I have never felt this way before and I was afraid, afraid of losing control that I had sworn I would never let go of to anyone.”

Still she remained silent and he started to panic, wondering if he had already lost her. “Please say something.” He begged.

“I was about sixteen when it happened,” she did not look at him but stared into the mesmerizing flames. “It was one of the guys at the group home and we were friends who looked out for each other. He persuaded me to go out underneath the tree with him one night and he started kissing me and I let him, until he started going further and I told him no. He managed to enter me and tear the barrier before I was able to push him off me and then rushed inside to the bathroom. I never told a soul until now.” She turned and looked at him.

“He rap*d you?” Derek wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her.

“I never thought he did because I had let him kiss me, I blamed myself for it.” She was not aware that she was crying until she felt the wetness on her cheeks. With an oath he pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his chest and the tears started falling. He held her to him as she cried. He shifted position and she was lying half on him and he cradled her to him. He was aware that she had stopped crying and he eased her off him so he could look down at her. He pushed her hair away from her forehead and used the pad of his hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“I was a fool,” he whispered, bending his head and seeking her lips tentatively as if afraid she was too fragile to be touched but she closed her hands around his neck and opened her mouth underneath his.

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He stopped. He had to, his heart was racing like crazy and he felt as if the room was spinning with him and he was out of control. He lifted his head and looked at her and using his hands he cupped her exquisite face. “Whatever happens after this there will be no turning back for us,” he whispered. “I love you whatever that means and whatever comes with it.” He told her and not even waiting for her to respond he took her lips with his and continued loving her in a way that took them beyond the despair and uncertainty of their past lives and the strangeness of a love that had taken them completely by surprise.

The end.

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