cancelling assaults gamey?

[Marquo]

"Once the three defensive fires are made, move in the infantry for an assault that will only take defensive bombardment from artillery, if any is left. This can be done to guarantee no defensive fire to disrupt the assaulting infantry."

This is my question - does the reaction fire to a potential assault count as classic defensive fire? YOu can move adjacent to a unit, stop and often it will not fire a defensive shot. If you come back later and organize an assault, it may then fire - but does count against th etotal of 3 for moving adjacent? I thought not.

Marquo