Until that point she didn't think his eyes could get any colder.
"You're a naive little child. We all have to make our sacrifices. Your parents have spoiled you rotten with fine clothes and a cushion job. Marrying me will do wonders for your social life - once you learn to dress properly. I don't intend to let life pass me by. I know what I want and I'm going after it."
She took a step backward and stared up at his face in mute silence. Her eyes stung with unshed tears. If he couldn't win an argument any other way, he could always resort to demeaning dialog. That's the way he had been lately. On the other hand, she hadn't been exactly kind either. They had to break this stifling relationship off before it smothered all reason from them.
She swallowed hard and stared at him. He wasn't going to do this to her. She wouldn't let him.
But Denton was relentless. "Wouldn't you like to be the first lady? Wouldn't that be more rewarding than your childish romantic fantasies?"
She met his stern regard with a cold stare. "Do you think it would be any brighter standing in your shadow than my father's?"
He stared at her and for a second she thought there was a glimmer of the old compassion - but then it was gone.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You've got it made. You're set up for the rest of your life. You don't have to wonder if you'll have a job in the next ten years."
She blinked back tears and lashed back at him. "If you were anywhere near the lover that you are a politician we wouldn't be having this argument."
His jaw dropped. "Me? Look who's talking. The little ice maiden herself." He shook his head, regarding her distastefully. "And I didn't think you were the kind to jump into bed with..."
"I wasn't talking about sex. I was talking about romance. There's a difference, you know - or do you?"
It was a mean thing to say. She was lowering herself to his methods - and scoring big time.
He winced visibly and crammed his hands into his pockets in a way that made her wonder if he thought she would be safer that way. Standing in the dark, wielding bitter words at each other wouldn't solve anything. She brushed an auburn curl from her face and sighed.
"Let's not end it this way - with hard feelings. I thought I loved you once, but we're too different. We'd never be happy with each other."
"I'm sorry," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "I was angry and I said things I shouldn't have." His kiss was gentle and tender, but his affection lacked sincerity. He wasn't going to give up that easily. When Denton sunk his teeth into something, he held on. Gently he brushed the curl from her face again and looked into her eyes. He was fighting for his career now.