If anything had happened to Grace, I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself. I already have one person’s pain on my conscience.

I should never have let her go off on her own like that. I should’ve followed her, stopped her from walking the streets of Cabo by herself. But it’s over now. I managed to save her from those assholes. So much for fighting like a girl.

Neither of us speaks the rest of the way home, but I can feel from Grace’s body language that she hasn’t quite forgiven me yet. I don’t blame her for being angry. She opened herself up to me and I’ve stayed closed the entire time.

But my story isn’t something you can easily tell somebody else. In some way, I’m grateful that everything happened the way it did. It led Lance and I back to one another, erased years of silence between us. But the fact that he had painted me in a bad light will not help my case with Grace.

When we enter the house, most of the guests have already left, and the rest that are still there are drinking out on the terrace. All my brothers are in the living room, including Lance. Neal is the first to see us. He shoots out of his chair and rushes to our side.

“What the hell happened to you?” He asks as the others join us.

“It’s nothing. A little fight, that’s all.”

“I’ll take care of the injuries,” Grace promises, putting a hand around my back to steer me toward the stairs.

Derrick looks ready to say something, but I give him a look that says, “back off.”

This is my chance to be alone with Grace, to make things right if I can. As far as I know my injuries are only skin deep. I’d managed to get away before the switchblade the long-haired guy pulled out caused too much damage.

Grace helps me up the stairs. Although I’m perfectly capable of walking myself up, I’m finding it hard to separate myself from her. Who knows, this could be the last time I get to feel her body next to mine. Somewhere inside my heart, there’s an ache at the possibility she would reject me. I can’t help but miss her before she’s gone.

She leads me to the balcony, where the earlier argument had taken place. The moment she sits me down, Derrick shows up with a first aid kit. She takes it from him without a word.

Most of the blood has come from my running nose and not from the cut across my cheek. Grace disinfects the wound and I try not to wince. She cares about me or she wouldn’t still be here.

As soon as we’d stepped into the house, she could have asked one of my brothers to drive her back to the ship, but she didn’t. She chose to take care of my injuries herself instead of delegating the job to someone else. After everything, maybe I still have a chance.

As Grace takes care of my cheek, she won’t look me in the eye. I’m afraid to say anything, to spoil the moment. So, I study her face in silence. The long lashes, the full lips, the rosy cheeks. How is it possible for someone to look more beautiful messed up than put together? For the first time ever, I wonder if she’s the one, my future, the mother of my children. If she agrees to have me, would it last? What if my inexperience at dating gets in the way and I mess up the one good thing in my life?

The idea of getting serious terrifies the hell out of me, but it also fills my heart with something I’ve never felt before, not even with Audrey. When I think of Grace in my future, the part of me that has felt empty for so long fills up.

“I wish you would look at me.” I need to bite the bullet, to take my chances.

She packs all the things away, and her eyes meet mine briefly. She doesn’t say a word.

“Are we no longer speaking?” I lean back in the chair.

“Thanks.” She goes to lean against the railing, distancing herself from me. “Thanks for helping me out there. I appreciate it.” She’s being polite, so different from the woman I had brought here not too long ago.

“Of course. It’s my fault you went out there in the first place. I’m glad you’re okay.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I think we should talk about . . . what you heard before you left.”

“What’s there to say?” A shadow crosses her features, breaking my heart.

“Look.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “A lot of what Lance said is the truth. But not all of it.”

“Which part of the story is not true?” She turns away from me, leaning over the railing.

It’s better for her to face away. It makes it easier for me to say what’s on my mind.

“I didn’t throw him over the balcony intentionally. We were both drunk and the way things were going, either of us could’ve ended up hurt.” I blow out a breath. “Lance was unconscious, so he had no idea that I was the one who called the ambulance.” I shut my eyes to erase images of the past. “The truth is, I was a kid and I was stupid. I did things in my past I’m not proud of. Competing with my brother for a girl wasn’t worth it. I learned it the hard way.” I open my eyes to find her watching me.

“I believe you.” She lifts her shoulders and lets them drop. “I guess I’m a little disappointed you didn’t tell me all this. I felt stupid for telling you everything about my life, even the embarrassing bits, and you didn’t feel it important to share with me something so significant. But I guess I don’t have the right to feel this way. We don’t owe each other anything.”

“I wanted to tell you many times. Trust me on that.” I can still remember the nights I lay awake in my room, wondering if I should tell her about that part of my life. It’s not so much that I wanted to create the bond between us, but more because I needed someone to talk to, to share my burden with for a minute. Someone who will not judge me. “It’s something I have not spoken to anyone about for a long time. Something I tried so hard not to think about.” I form fists with my hands. “The reason I didn’t tell you was because I didn’t want you to be afraid of me.”

“Why should I be afraid of you?”

“Even though I didn’t do it intentionally, my brother went flying over a balcony. I was afraid you’d think I’m violent or something.” I sigh. “What happened to Lance is the reason I am the way I am, the reason I couldn’t commit to any woman. When he lay in that hospital bed, fighting for his life, I made myself a promise. I promised not to be happy, unless he was. I’ve worked so hard at shutting people out that it wasn’t easy to let the walls come down again. But I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Forgive me, please.”

She’s quiet for a long time and when she speaks, her voice is so low the wind steals some of the words. I catch the ones that are important before they get lost. “You know, this whole thing got me thinking. Maybe this thing between us has run its course. I’m not mad at you for anything and I believe you and understand your explanation. But I think maybe I should take some time alone to get back to earth, you know?” She manages a small smile. “I should get back to the ship.”

I read between the lines. She wants to end things before they become complicated.

Instead of trying to change her mind, I nod. I’ve never been a patient man. When I want something, I go out and get it without wasting time.

But Grace needs a moment to think. I should take a step back and give her the time she needs, then we’ll take it from there. I could also use the time to find the right words to say to her later. The last thing I need is to mess it all up.

“That’s fine. I understand.” I push myself out of the chair and touch her gently on the cheek.

She leans her face into my palm for an instant then pulls away. “Let me make you another offer.” I bury my hands into my pockets. “There’s no need for you to leave in the middle of the night. I can arrange for you to have your own room. I promise you’ll have all the space you need.”

“I’d appreciate that.” She blinks. “I’m pretty exhausted. Do you think your brothers would mind if I call it a night?”

“I don’t think so. I plan to do the same.” I gesture toward the entrance. “Let me show you to one of the guest rooms.”

When Grace is in her room, I say goodnight to the boys and head back upstairs. I appreciate that none of them bombard me with questions.

Inside my own room, I sit out on the balcony with a bottle of beer, watching the waves crashing against the rocks. For the first time in years, I allow my heart to open, and give my mind permission to think back to that fateful night. How could it have gone so far? If I had backed away, it wouldn’t have ended the way it did. It would not have left scars which would never disappear. Things could have been different.

Memories from the past flash through my mind, the conversation I’d had with Audrey in the hospital hallway, to let her know what happened to Lance. When I’d picked up the phone, I promised God that if Lance survived, I’d back off. I would let him have her.

To this day, Lance doesn’t know about the conversation I’d had with Audrey. It would’ve hurt him even more knowing the woman he had fallen in love with didn’t feel the same way, that she had toyed with him, with both of us. During that last phone call, I had been honest with her, told her what had led to the fight.

“You were fighting over me?” Her voice had sounded somewhat detached. “Well, that’s unfortunate.”

“He’s hurt badly, Audrey. He might not make it.”

“Oh,” was all she said.

“Listen to me. I like you.” I ran a hand through my hair. “But my brother, he loves you. And he needs you right now.”

“What do you expect me to do about that?”

“Come and see him. I’m sure he’ll be looking for you when he wakes up.” At this point I was disappointed that she didn’t offer to do that without being asked. My heart broke for my brother, knowing that the woman he felt was the one, didn’t seem to think it’s important to be by his side in his time of need.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can do that.” She didn’t sound sorry at all. “I’m not at home right now.”

“Where are you?” Desperation soaked my voice. “Wherever you are, I’ll come and get you.”

“I’m at a spa with a friend. I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave until I’m done—”

“So this was all a game to you, am I right?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Her tone is cold now.

“You never cared about either of us, did you? You enjoyed the attention. You led us on. You knew the entire time how my brother felt about you, and you played him.”

“Yes, Bryant. I played him, like I played you. Getting involved with both of you was actually—what can I say, a bet? I wanted to show my girlfriends that I can make both of you fall in love with me. I guess I win.”

“You bitch.” I slammed down the phone and drove a fist into the nearest wall.

After that night, we never saw Audrey again. She remained a sweet, unattainable dream in Lance’s heart and a bitter pill on the tip of my tongue.