"I would have picked up," he said. "But I wasn't expecting company. I'll work on it today."

He came up behind her and place his arms around her hips. She felt him lower his head and smell her hair.

"I liked it better when you smelled like me," he said.

Clara felt her heart skip a beat. She walked out of his arms and turned to face him.

"I can't do this, please don't hate me."

The smile on his face faded. His blue eyes bore into hers. He was about to speak, but instead closed his mouth and nodded. There was no hiding the hurt on his face.

"It's...