He kissed my shoulder again and my body responded just as it had the other night. Was there really something there? Was I as close to Paul as he was to me, but whereas he just went with his feelings I was denying it, telling myself I had to?

"I love you to, Paul." I said, "Just not in the way you would like."

"Because you won't let yourself." Wow, was he reading my damn mind? "But let's not talk about it, we're tired and this feels way to nice to ruin."

He kissed my shoulder once more, "Good night mom. I love you. "

"Love you too." But as...