Page 101 of The Scottish Duke's Deal

“I was trying to love you.”

That stopped him. The silence after it stretched, long and heavy.

He hadn’t expected her to say it. And now that she had, it felt like something had been pierced inside him.

“You don’t know what I’ve done,” he said hoarsely.

“Then tell me.”

He shook his head.

“I’m not afraid of your past.”

“You should be.”

“I’m not.”

“You will be.”

He turned away before she could reach for him. Before her touch weakened whatever strength he had left.

“You deserve someone better than me, Eleanor.”

“That’s not your decision to make.”

“It is if I’m the one who’ll destroy you.”

“You won’t.”

“I already have.”

She stepped back and that hurt more than anything else.

“I don’t believe you,” she said, quiet but firm. “I don’t believe that you don’t care. That you can just walk out of here after everything we’ve been building.”

“I’m not doing this to hurt you.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Protecting you.”

“You think you’re the first man to try that?” she snapped. “My whole life has been men deciding what I need, what I can handle, what’s best for me.”

“This is different.”

“Why? Because it’s you?”

“Yes.”

Her lips parted.

And for a second, he thought she might scream. Cry. Laugh. Throw something.

But she didn’t. She just stood there. And then she nodded. Just once.

“I see.”

“Eleanor…”