She wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but for him to grow so fiercely protective was not it.  She looked down at their clasped hands and then back up at his face.  Even in his anger his face was handsome, it simply made the strong features harder, more chiseled. She wiped the moisture from her eyes and took a deep, calming breath.<br/><br/>"Not that I don't appreciate it, but " she paused.  "You barely know me."  There was a touch of confusion in her eyes. She shook her head to dispel the myriad of thoughts.  "I've only told one other person in the whole world both those stories and she is my shrink." She gave a short, self-deprecating chuckle.  "She encouraged me to move and make a change.  Even gave me the name of one of her old friends and associates who practices here in Chicago.  She would probably give me a stern lecture on how I've been trying to ignore my feelings by throwing myself into work."  She looked at the mostly bare walls of her apartment.  Maybe that was why she couldn't pick which items she wanted on her walls and which would be going up for her gallery showing.<br/><br/>"You're right, no one should ever have to suffer the things I've been through, but they happen.  I chose not to be a victim any longer.  And while my ex is still walking about free, he committed no crime.  My mother's ex is still in jail." She shrugged.  "But you think that's why suddenly I could sense Albert?"<br/><br/>