He said he loved her. Okay, he hadn't said the words "I love you", but he referred to her as the woman he loved. It made her throat tight when she thought about it. She almost passed out in the mall. She finally managed to pry his arms from her waist, saying she had to find the girls and get them home. She promised she would talk to him later.
That appeased him a little. He offered to drive her and the girls home. She knew the girls would love to crowd into his little coupe, but she politely declined the offer. He shocked her with his public show of affection, and she needed time to regroup. It wasn't everyday she had men on their knees in the middle of the mall. Who wouldn't need a little time to recover after that?
She knew how she felt about him. Her feelings for him were strong. However, she didn't want to be hurt, so she kept her feelings to herself. She went down that road once, confessing love for someone who ultimately left her alone. She had to be careful. Her heart was smiling, though. Somebody loved her! Not the goddess. Not the nurturer. Her, Ororo Munroe!