Celeste stood at the upstairs window, phone in her hand, The maid knocked lightly. “Miss, there's a gentleman at the gate."
Celeste didn't need the name. “Let him in," she said. “Only to the sitting room."
“Celeste," he said.
“Marcus."
“I asked for five minutes," he said. “You said yes."
“I said yes once," she said. “Use them now."
“I came to apologize."
“You already did," she said.
“I came to apologize accurately," he said. “Yesterday I said sorry like a man who still wanted a result. Today I'm saying it like a man who understands that the end of this conversation is still no."
Her expression didn't change. “I put Blair between us. I told myself I was protecting a friend. I was protecting the part of me that liked being wanted without working for it. I was cruel to you in the way
