Sensual Winds. Carmen Green

a huge adopted family—”

      “You’re lucky,” he broke in, wistful. “I’m sorry. That’s something I’ve always wanted. My mom’s away right now, but she’s the reason I live in Key West. While she’s alive, I want to be with her. Emma isn’t attached to her family. She doesn’t have a relationship with them at all. That was important to me.”

      “Did she know that?” Doreen held up her hand. “Of course she did. If you’re telling me, you told her.”

      “You know I did, but that’s all right. I feel a sense of relief.”

      “No sadness, Lucas? I know I would feel a sense of loss or something.”

      Lucas started the car and pulled away from the curb. There was a sense of loss. He’d built a house for a woman he’d thought he’d share a life with. “I’d be an unfeeling bastard if I didn’t feel anything. But it’s not as if I didn’t see the writing on the wall.” He drove in silence for a while.

      “You seem so settled about everything yesterday. I thought you were going to take my head off.”

      “Doreen, I was wrong for that. Really wrong. It wasn’t your responsibility to field our personal calls and referee our discussions. That shouldn’t have ever happened. That won’t ever happen again.”

      “How do you know?”

      “Because the woman I get with will never get tired of talking to me.”

      Doreen’s fingers plowed through her hair and she tilted her head. He knew that move. She didn’t believe him. “And you know this how?” she asked.

      “Because I won’t get tired of talking to her. I’ve got to change, too. I realize that now. Our relationship is over and the love is gone, but maybe that wouldn’t have happened if I’d given her some alternatives. I’ll know for the next time. And there definitely will be a next time.”