"Don't go," he said, visibly shaking. "If Linklater knowsabout you and me..." he tried to steel himself, with only moderate success. "I've already lost one girl I loved to him, I don't want him to cost me another one." Almost without thinking he kissed her, forgetting there was anyone else around thm and not caring at that moment. Part of him was that terrified he was about to lose her he didn't want her to go without knowing how he felt.