His sweet words resounded in her head...

"I want so much to give you my heart."

Her eyes filled with tears and she stole a glance at him, knowing that he expected an answer; deserved an answer. But what could she possibly say?

He was kissing her now. His soft lips moved across her cheek, dangerously close to her mouth.

"Niles, I..."

"So what's your answer?"

The whispered words brushed against her hair and were tinged with longing, desire and even the faintest hint of sexiness. The combination was almost unbearable and she moved away as gently as possible, hoping that she wouldn't hurt him.

But there was no mistaking the glint of disappointment in his eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I-."

His hand moved up and down her cheek and when she saw his compassionate smile, tears welled in her eyes. But before they reached the bridge of her nose, he was brushing them away.

"It's all right. Daphne, I love you and I would never hurt you. But something is hurting you and I wish you'd tell me what it is."

She wanted to tell him, so badly, but she couldn't. Not here... not now... and perhaps not ever.

The thought pained her, because she should be able to tell him everything. He was her closest friend and confidante. He'd been there for her time and time again when no one else had.

That night... that blissful, passionate, hot summer night, she'd driven around Seattle feeling alone and humiliated.

Her girlfriends were nowhere to be found and as usual, Roz wasn't answering her phone. Why should she, when she was otherwise preoccupied with a man who was probably showing her what it felt like to be a woman?

Daphne shuddered at the image.

The man was most likely someone that Roz would never see again, and the idea that Roz was so used to casual flings made her cringe. Making love was a beautiful, passionate thing and should be regarded as such.

Daphne wasn't inexperienced when it came to sex; not by any means. Back in Manchester, she'd become more than a little promiscuous, seducing one boy after another. And even after she'd begun working for Dr. Crane, she couldn't resist inviting a new boyfriend to share her bed.

But after so many disappointments and heartbreaks, she finally realized that intimacy was something to be treasured and she swore that she would never act in such haste again unless she knew that the relationship would last.

She'd thought about checking into a hotel so that she could think without any distractions whatsoever. But she didn't want to be alone. She needed someone, anyone who would listen to her and understand.

It was only when she slowed the car to a stop that she realized that she'd driven to the Montana.

How had she gotten here? And more importantly, why?

It certainly wasn't her intent to disturb Niles; Dr. Crane as she'd called him just days before, but she had nowhere else to go.

He'd been stunned at first when she'd asked if she could spend the night with him and she hurried to revive him when he fainted. But at the time she assumed that it was the heat that had overwhelmed him.

Never in a million years did she ever think that he had feelings for her, or that her arriving at his doorstep would cause him to become light headed.

But something happened just a few short hours later.

Without warning she found that the only thing on her mind was this sudden attraction to her best friend. He looked so sexy wearing a loose white shirt that exposed just the tiniest bit of his chest. And it was enough to send her mind racing in a million different directions.

She began to wonder what it would be like to touch him... to feel his lips against hers... to have him tell her that he loved her, even if he didn't mean it. Just once...

"We need to get upstairs..." He'd whispered as their tentative kisses turned hot, demanding and-

"Daphne?"

She gasped lightly at the sound of his voice and was instantly brought back to the present. When she looked at the table, she saw his hand gently covering hers.

"I'm worried about you." He said softly. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"A-actually I'm not feeling very well."

It wasn't a lie; not really. But the words hurt just the same.

Fear lurched in her stomach and she felt light-headed.

It was getting harder and hard to be with him, and yet she wanted him so badly it hurt.

Before she realized what was happening, he was holding her hand, gently coaxing her from the booth.

"Come on."

"Niles, where are we going?"

"I'm taking you home."

"But what about our dinner? I thought-."

"I promise I'll make it up to you. But right now I think it's best if-."

"I don't want to go home!" she yelled, sounding very much like a child. The ridiculous outburst embarrassed her and she could hardly bear to look at him. What was wrong with her?

"Daphne-."

"What if Sherry-."

"My home." He clarified, kissing her cheek. "I'm going to take care of you."

Her heart melted at his words.

Because this was exactly what she was afraid of.