jieningchuey

@@@@@His mustache brushed her right cheek, then her leftHe'd like to kill me, she thought, and the danger of it gave her a strange thrillRhett put his arm around her shoulders, his hand clamped like a vise around her upper arm"I'm sure you ladies-and Edward-will excuse us if we leave you," he saidThere was an appealing mixture of boyishness and roguishness in his voice"It's been much too long since I've had a chance to talk to my wifeWe'll go upstairs and leave you to solve the problems of the Confederate Home He propelled Scarlett out the door without giving her an opportunity to make her goodbyesRhett didn't speak while he rushed her up the stairs and into hisbedroomHe closed the door and stood with his back against it"What the hell are you doing here, Scarlett?" She wanted to hold out her arms to him, but the hot rage in his eyes warned her not toScarlett made her eyes widen in innocent misunderstandingHer voice was rushed and charmingly breathless when she spoke"Aunt Eulalie wrote and told me what you were saying, Rhett -about how you longed for me to be here with you, but I wouldn't leave the storeOh, darling, why didn't you tell me? I don't care two pins for the store, not compared to you She watched his eyes warily"It won't work, Scarlett "What do you mean?" "None of itNot the fervid explanation and not the innocent lack of understandingYou know you could never lie to me and get away with it It was true, and she did know it"I came because I wanted to be with you Her quiet statement had a simple dignityRhett looked at her straight back and proudly lifted head, and his voice softened"My dear Scarlett," he said, "we might have been friends in time, when the memories had softened to bittersweet nostalgia