Sunlight streamed through Justin’s picture window, hitting the bed and warming him through the blankets. He couldn't keep the grin from his face. He sat up on one elbow, watching Elle sleep. He’d even put on his glasses to see her better. Justin should have felt like an idiot for staring at her, and for not being able to stop. Instead, he wanted to wake her up just to see her smile.

Elle murmured and moved closer. One hand reached out and brushed his stomach, making his muscles jump. He hadn’t jumped at a woman’s touch … well, since his teenage years, when every touch made him want to explode.

She was wearing one of his tee shirts and it was big on her. Except for a few notable locations. It stretched over her chest and hips, making it look far better on her than it did on him. The effect made him want to never let her out of bed.

Her eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes.

"Good morning," he said.

Elle blinked. "Justin," she said, her voice still full of sleep. She moved back a little and sat up in bed. Her cheeks were flushed. She seemed embarrassed. Or something. “Oh my goodness,” she said, wincing at the sunlight. “What time is it?”

He reached for her, but she slipped out of the bed.

"I need to go," she was saying. She grabbed her pocketbook and pulled out her phone. When she saw the screen, she swore. "I'm late. So, so late."

Justin got out of bed. He was wearing boxers, but she blinked at him as if he were wearing one of those swimsuits Michael Phelps had made famous. He couldn't tell if it was a good look or a bad one.

"I'll take you to Asheville," he said.

Her mouth pinched. "It's fine. I have to stop at the Murphy’s inn first to get my bags,” she said, avoiding his eyes. “It would be better if I went alone. I'll call a taxi."

"I thought you were late," he said. "If you’re running late, calling a cab will only make it worse.”

She huffed as she threw on clothes. She tugged her hair into a spiky ponytail. The result made him think of an angry hedgehog.

Justin reached for her. He pulled her to him slowly, trying not to add to whatever was happening.

He wasn't sure how the morning had spiraled into this moment. It had started out so good. He'd wanted to make love to her again and again. He wanted to take his time.

She tilted back her head to look at him.

"Do you regret spending the night?" he asked, voice soft. He had to know.

Elle paused. In that breath, he realized how much the answer mattered.

"I don't regret it," she said. "Truly. Last night was ..." a slow blush lit her cheeks again. "It was lovely. I should have said that first.” She looked him in the eyes. “Thank you for last night."

He pulled her closer and kissed her. Once, twice before she pulled away.

"You don't need to thank me," he said.

She smiled. This time, her smile held a hint of mischief. "Oh, but I do."

"Stay,” he said. “We can be lazy. I’ll bring you croissants in bed.”

She shook her head. "I need to go. The fitting is this morning, then brunch. And I need to shower.”

“Shower here.”

“You have a shower in your toolshed?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.

He laughed. “Yes, I have a shower.” He lowered his voice. “Wanna see it?”

The corners of her mouth quirked. “I guess I have time for a shower … but just a quick one.”

He tugged her toward the bathroom before she could change her mind.

* * *

They ran through all of the hot water, and more soap than Justin used in a week. On the flip side, he had a shit-eating grin that wouldn’t go away. And for good reason.

While Elle finished up in the bathroom, Justin towel-dried his hair.

She came out in a cloud of steam.

"I'll be ready in five,” he said.

“Oh, that’s okay. I called a cab.”

Something wasn’t right. She was looking shifty again.

He crossed his arms.

“What’s going on?”

She ran her fingers through her hair, then pulled it into a loose braid. ”I called a cab. I just … I don’t want to have to explain this to Theo while you wait in the car. It’ll just complicate things. It’s no big deal.”

But he noticed she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“Is that it, then?” he asked. “You sleep with me then hop in a cab and take off?”

“I don’t know,” she snapped. “I’ve never done this before. You tell me.”

“Jesus, Elle. I don’t do this every day, you know.”

How had things gotten so bad so fast? Justin struggled to pull the moment back to what they had just minutes ago. Last night he’d thought one night would be enough. But it wouldn’t be. He wanted more of Elle. He wasn’t sure what it would look like, but he was willing to try something—anything—to make sure this wasn’t it.

He had a sudden idea. A crazy, stupid idea. One obviously affected by the fact that all of his blood must have left his brain and headed south. Still, knowing it was stupid didn’t stop him from saying it out loud.

"Take me to the wedding.”

“Excuse me?”

“You need a date. Take me.”

"Oh," she said. Her nose crinkled, the way it did when she was thinking hard about something. “It’s okay. Really. I’m going alone.”

He sighed. “Sure. Okay.” He picked up her pocketbook for her because he had to do something with his hands. What was wrong with him? He didn’t want to go to some stuffy wedding. It was good that she was leaving. Better.

As he handed the bag to Elle, a small black box fell to the ground. The lid popped open. Justin bent to pick it up, and only as he handed it to Elle did he realize what it was.

“Tell me what I’m seeing here,” he said. “Tell me that’s not your ring.”

Elle looked as surprised as he felt. She took the box from him. “That must—Carter must have slipped it into my bag.”

“Carter?” he asked. He was hot and cold all at once. He didn’t like the feeling.

"I saw Carter last night,” she said. “After I left Oak Bramble. Remember? He came to the inn … and well. We went to dinner.”

“Great,” he said, biting off the end of the word like it was a bitter pill. “You must have done more than dinner if you left with a ring. When were you going to tell me?”

“It wasn’t like that,” she said.

“That’s why you don’t want me to go to the wedding with you,” he said, half to himself. “You can take him. I guess your plan worked out.” He dropped his towel and started to pull on clothes at random.

She straightened. “Wait just one minute. That’s not what happened. God, I can’t believe that’s what you think of me.”

Justin shook his head. Not wanting to listen. He thought they could ignore their differences, thought she’d changed. But she hadn’t. He was a fool.

Justin ran a hand through his hair. “Don’t all the lies bother you? What is wrong with you?"

Elle’s face was flushed.

Good, he thought. Get mad. He wanted her to hurt, just as much as he was hurting. No, more.

“There is nothing wrong with me. I’m trying to be honest with you. This ring has nothing to do with us. I can’t take you to the wedding. My mother wouldn’t let you near the church, much less be my date.”

“I don’t care about your mother,” he said. “You’re the problem here, Elle. Other people can think whatever the hell they want to think about me. I don’t give a damn. You, though …” he shook his head. “I thought you were better than that.”

“You know what,” she said. “Think what you want to think about me. If you ever want to stop telling me things and listen, let me know.”

He watched her gather her things until he couldn’t. Instead, he stared out the large picture window, studying the waves of blue mountains like they held the answer. He heard the door open. Still, he didn’t turn. Even when she closed the door and walked away.