"They just said some things to me, and my dress got stepped on, that's all."

Serenity had no desire to pour her heart out about all her grievances right here and now.

"I'm sorry," she continued. "I'm afraid bringing me here with you today has turned out to be..."

"You've got nothing to apologize for," he interrupted her. "It's all my fault. I should've taken better care of you and not let you get dragged into this kind of situation."

As he spoke, he knelt and tied up the torn ends of her dr