GraysonAEs distress only intensified her own panic. oBut donAEt you see, Grayson?o she stammered past the vice around her chest and the lump in her throat. oAll the men in my life said they loved me. Eric, my father. But they were lying.o Her words sliced through the conversation. She heard GraysonAEs quick intake of breath and winced at her own clumsiness. Bad enough that sheAEd accused him of being untrustworthy, now sheAEd accused him of lying as well. oOh God, thatAEs not what I meant,o she moaned. But he thrust her away from him to sit by herself along side him in bed. oUnderstand one thing,o he said, and she could hear the protective coldness in his voice as he laid out his argument as if he was in court. oIAEm not Eric. IAEm not your father. IAEm not a dishonest man. I offer you my love freely. If you choose not to accept it, then I think youAEre right, we ought to discuss this in the morning.o oBut Grayson--o If the thought of marrying Grayson made her heart pound, the thought of losing him sent a pang of anxiety through her entire body.
