he was going to say he loved her very much,but he could not take it any further because he knew she would be used against him.and because of the loss of his family he could not see her grow old and die.
I think he was oging to say "I love you" <3 And when they met again, back at the beach, she asked him what he was going to say, when she found out, she kissed his hand clone thing XD so it was obviously something cute and romantic :)