said,
and
then
asked,
“I’m
free
to
go
where?”
She
shrugged.
“Back
to
New
York,
Montana,
on
your
European
book
tour
or
anywhere
you
want
to
go.
I
guess
you
figured
that,
with
your
uncle
marrying
my
mom,
we
should
end
things
between
us
in
a
proper
way
so
there
won’t
be
any
hard
feelings
and
I
just
want
to
assure
you
that
there
won’t
be.
No
matter
what,
Stone,
I
will
always
consider
you
my
friend.”
Stone
took
the
glass
of
wine
from
her
hand
after
suddenly
deciding
that
he
was
the
one
who
needed
a
drink.
He
looked
at
the
glass
and
made
sure
that
he
placed
his
mouth
on
the
exact
spot
that
showed
the
imprint
of
her
lips.
The
white
wine
tasted
good
and
felt
bubbly
as
it
flowed
down
his
throat.
He
emptied
the
glass
then
set
it
on
the
table
next
to
where
they
were
standing.
He
then
met
Madison’s
curious
gaze.
“So
you
think
that’s
the
reason
I’m
here?
To
bring
our
intimate
association
to
a
proper
close?”
he
asked,
managing
a
soft
smile.
She
met
his
gaze.
“Isn’t
it?”
Her
question,
asked
in
a
quiet,
soft
voice,
stirred
something
deep
inside
Stone
and
he
regretted
more
than
ever
that
he
had
never
told
her
that
he
loved
her.
She
needed
to
know
that.
She
needed
to
know
that
each
and
every
time
he
had
made
love
to
her
had
meant
more
to
him
than
just
satisfying
overzealous
hormones.
Yes,
he
had
taken
her
with
a
hunger
| 
