He slow blinks and mouths something indiscernible when I turn the bolt on the door. His relief is nearly tangible. That’s the thing with soul mates. He isn’t yet aware, but there’s a constant vibe, a bond, a connection between us. I sense his emotions and he senses mine.

I’m angry. I’m hurt. I’m confused.

I hope he feels all of that deep in his gut along with the ache in his chest that isn’t caused by the pizza.

Dr. Wes comes inside my house and stands in the foyer, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants. “I’m a therapist, Caroline. You can’t walk away from me when we have a conflict. I’m not wired to handle that. I have to talk things out and find a solution.”

“There’s only one solution.” And I won’t accept anything less.

“Ending my engagement?”

You’re damn right.

“You can’t be with me while you’re planning to marry another woman. It’s wrong, soul mates or not. And I deserve better than to be treated like that.”

“Come on, Caroline. You make me sound like a cheating rogue. Can you please acknowledge that I never suggested we do such a thing?”

“I’m aware you never suggested an affair.” But he also never suggested that he would call off the wedding.

“Can you stop being so damn angry at me for a few seconds and acknowledge the massive amount of restraint that it’s taking for me to not pull you into my arms and kiss the hell out of you?”

“You want to kiss the hell out of me?”

“Of course I do. Kissing is only the start of what I want to do to you.” He takes a step away from me, shaking his head. “I don’t know why I keep blurting out things like that.”

“That’s how it works with soul mates. The bond between us is so strong that it’s nearly impossible for us to hide our feelings and emotions from each other. Especially when there’s passion involved. It’s powerful stuff.”

“Powerful, indeed. That explains why it’s difficult to keep my thoughts to myself when I’m around you. I’m not usually this impulsive.”

“The bond we share… it’s actually pretty magical.”

Frank sensed that Augustina was in danger the night she was attacked by her father. I’m not certain she would have made it out of that situation alive if Frank hadn’t come to her rescue when he did.

“You know everything there is to know about what’s happening to us. I’m clueless, and it’s not a good feeling. I’m used to being in control.”

I know all too well what it feels like to not be in control.

“You only think you’re clueless. You’re not. A lot of what’s going on between us is innate. You just need to go with it and embrace what happens.”

Letting go is hard for someone like him. This goes against everything he knows to be true.

“I want to learn more about it and understand what’s rising to the surface inside me. I need you to show me the answers.”

He’s bending. I feel it.

“I’ll teach you everything I know. What I don’t know, we’ll learn together. And here’s your first lesson. You’re afraid this is lust but it isn’t. It’s far from it.”

His chuckle is restrained and a shade of pink flirts with his cheeks. “What’s happening to me right now sure feels like lust.”

He wants me.

And everything is beginning to finally fall into place.

“The desire that soul mates feel for each other is normal and healthy. It’s also very powerful. When you and I give ourselves to each other, it will be more than two physical bodies coming together. Much more. It’s mystical. One might describe it as a sexual awakening.”

“You speak about it as though you’ve experienced it already.”

“I have but not in this body. It’ll be different when it’s us.”