THE NEXT DAY, Grace paced the hospital waiting room while Maggie was in radiology. Maggie had tripped and fallen that morning, and the doctors thought she may have broken her foot.

Grace’s phone buzzed...again. Max had been calling non-stop all day, not to mention the frequent visits to her dreams the night before, but Grace wasn’t in the frame of mind to face her feelings for him and deal with her despair over Maggie’s cancer at the same time. She’d tried to explain that to him earlier, that this was all entirely too much for her and she needed a break.

She stepped up to the nurses’ station and forced a smile. “Do you have any idea how much longer my sister will be?”

The nurse shook her head. “Sorry, hon, I don’t. But she’s just getting an x-ray, so I can’t imagine it’ll be much longer. Would you like me to call down there for you?”

“Grace!”

Grace turned to see Max walking toward her. He wore dark jeans and a tight, light blue V-neck T-shirt. He couldn’t have been better looking if he’d tried. Her heart sped up and she tried to take a deep breath, but found herself unable to.

She turned back to the nurse. “I’ll just wait. Thank you.”

“Sure thing,” she said, eyeing Max like he was a giant candy bar.

Grace forced herself not to scowl at the woman and made her way to Max, who wrapped her in a tight embrace. “Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

“What are you doing here?” Grace asked. “How did you find me? I’ve been trying to block you all day.”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” he said, and loosened his hold. “Why haven’t you answered your phone or texts?” He tapped his temple. “Or responded.”

Grace tried to ignore her comfort in his arms and pulled away. “I have a lot on my mind. Maggie fell and they’re x-raying her foot to see if it’s broken, her chemo starts next week, and I need to find another job. You have no shows coming up, and since I can’t work in the Scotland office, I can’t take your money. I can’t deal with all of that and you as well.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “You never have to work again, Grace, regardless of if you work for me or not, so don’t bother looking for a job.”

“I can’t let you ‘take care’ of me, Max. It wouldn’t be right.”

She watched his face harden. “I am not having this argument with you again, Grace. It is my right and my responsibility to make sure you never want for anything, and nothing you say will change that.”

She let out a growl of frustration. “It’s always all about you! You don’t care about what I want, do you? As long as you get to play the big strong man who rescues the heroine in distress. I need a break, Max. I can’t do this anymore.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he ground out.

“I’m done. With you, with me, with all of this.” She waved her hand in the air.

Before he could respond, Maggie appeared, sitting in a wheelchair being pushed by a hospital volunteer, while their mother followed.

Grace rushed to her sister. “What did they say?”

“It’s broken. I have to get it cast,” Maggie grumbled.

“They’re taking her now,” her mom said, and caught sight of Max just as Maggie glanced over Grace’s shoulder, her face brightening.

“Max? What are you doing here?” Maggie asked.

Grace squeezed her eyes shut in an effort not to react. She felt Max’s hand settle on her lower back and cursed her body for relaxing against it.

“I came to see how you were, lass,” Max said, releasing Grace and hunkering down next to Maggie. “You said you fell.”

“She said?” Grace asked, and realized how Max knew where she was. Maggie had obviously saved his number in her contacts list.

“Yeah, I slipped on the stairs and broke my stupid foot. But I’m okay. I just wanted you to know... well, you know.”

Max nodded. “I know, lass, and I appreciate it.”

“Did you know I start chemo next week?” Maggie whispered.

“Yes. I heard.”

“I’m super excited about that. You know, losing your hair, puking your guts out and stuff,” she droned.

“Hair grows back, and the rest doesn’t last long.” Max squeezed her hand. “I have a feeling you’ll manage beautifully.”

“Margaret Wilson,” a nurse called.

“Here,” Maggie said, and smiled at Max. “Thanks for coming, Max. That was really sweet.” She glanced up at their mother. “Will you come with me, Mom?”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

“Do you want me to come too?” Grace asked.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll see you at home later,” Maggie said. “Thanks for bringing me. Mom can take me home.”

Max kissed Maggie’s cheek, and the volunteer wheeled her away, leaving Grace alone with him again. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Let me take you home, love. We can talk while we drive.”

“No. It’s fine. I have my car. I can get home on my own.”

“Bruce is with me. I’ll drive your car.”

“No, Max,” she stressed.

“You’re upset, Grace. I’d rather you not drive like that.”

“You don’t really have any say in it.” She yanked her hand from his. “I’m perfectly fine to drive.”

He crossed his arms. “I’ll follow you, then, and we can talk at your house.”

“I can’t.” She felt the prick of tears. “Please, Max. I need some space.”

“Grace, don’t do this. Let me help.”

“You can’t help,” she rasped. “Not in the way I need.”

“Tell me what you need, love. I’ll do whatever you want.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to tell you what to do, Max.”

“Give me something, Grace.” He dragged his hands down his face. “I can’t stand to see you this way and if you’d let me, I can help.”

Grace took a deep breath. “I know you’re at a loss, Max. But right now, I can’t put my thoughts and feelings into a cohesive sentence, let alone guide you in how you should respond. You confuse me. I love you, but this isn’t healthy. For either one of us. It’s better that we just walk away now before it becomes impossible.”

With a strength and determination she didn’t feel, she turned and left him standing in the hospital corridor. The guilt weighing her down like an anchor. But she wouldn’t buckle. She had to distance herself from the overwhelming feelings she had for him.

* * *

Grace arrived home to find a familiar Toyota in front of her house. She jumped from the car and rushed inside. “Chuck?”

“Kitchen,” her best friend called.

Grace dashed into the kitchen and into the familiar arms of Charlotte, bursting into tears. “What are you doing here?”

“Spencer let me in on his way out.”

Grace shook her head. “I mean, here, instead of California.”

“Oh, right.” Charlotte grinned. “I quit.”

Grace pulled away, her mouth dropping open. “What? You quit Disneyland?”

Charlotte nodded.

“Why?”

“Because you need me more. I have some money saved up, and nothing was happening in L.A. anyway, so I decided to come up here for a little while. I missed the weather, I missed my family, and I missed you. So, I’m back. I have a couple of auditions in Portland next week already.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

Grace smiled through her tears and hugged Charlotte again. “You have no idea how glad I am you’re here.”

Charlotte released Grace and opened the refrigerator, making herself at home as though she’d never left. “Let’s have some cookies and milk and you can tell me how Maggie’s doing.”

“Well, she fell this morning and broke her foot, which with the cancer, just adds insult to injury.”

“Is she okay?” Charlotte pulled out the milk carton and grabbed glasses.

Grace walked into the pantry for the cookies. “I think a cast will take care of the foot. I just wish the cancer was so easily fixed.”

“I’m sorry, buddy. What’s going on with Max?”

Grace bit her lip. “I broke up with him.”

Charlotte gasped. “What? Why?”

“He’s just so...so, I don’t know, overbearing, I guess. Like, you know when you read those romance books and they’re all alpha male and the woman has to bend to his will because she just can’t deal with life if he’s not in it?”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “And that’s a bad thing?”

“Chuck!” Grace snapped. “Yes, it’s a bad thing. He treats me like I’m the little woman who can’t survive without his money, his guidance, and his support, but refuses to share some of his past with me because he wants to “protect” me from it. He wants to fix everything, and he’s always all up in my grill and stuff.”

Charlotte giggled. “Oh, honey, you have never been ‘street.’”

Grace groaned and slid onto one of the tall stools next to the island. “He’s so freakin’ overwhelming. I can’t handle it.”

Charlotte pushed a glass of milk toward her and returned the carton to the fridge. “So, let me get this straight. One of the richest, most gorgeous men on earth wants to fix your troubles, pay for everything, and take care of you, and you have a problem with that?”

“When you say it like that, you make me sound like an ingrate.”

“Well, aren’t you being just a bit of a dramakazi about the whole thing?”

Grace shrugged and bit into a cookie. “I’m having a difficult time reconciling the man the media portrays him to be and the one who wants to marry me—”

“He asked you to marry him?” Charlotte interrupted.

Grace nodded. “But I can’t marry him, Chuck.”

“Why not?”

Grace squeezed her eyes shut. “I just told you!”

“Grace,” Charlotte said with a sigh. “You’re being a little ridiculous, you realize that, right?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Grace dropped her face into her hands. “I can’t think straight.”

“Can I give you my two cents?”

“No,” Grace grumbled.

Charlotte giggled. “Okay, you’ll get it for free, then.”

Grace sat up and took another bite of her cookie.

“I have never, and I do mean never ever, seen you this upset over a boy. You dated Trey for God knows how long...far too long, in my opinion...but you never really fell for him, you know? You’ve never fallen for any of them.” Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “You never let yourself fully go, and I think you’re freaking out because you can’t control Max.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I am not trying to control him.”

“You’re not?”

Grace stared at her, annoyed that Charlotte said nothing...like she always did. Just sat there smiling at her, eating her stupid cookie while Grace processed the information. “How am I trying to control him?”

“I’m not saying that you are, necessarily. I do know you, though, and you’ve always been the one to distance yourself before you get hurt. The guy obviously adores you”—Charlotte held her hands up to stop Grace’s retort—“which doesn’t mean you should fall for his pretty words, but I do think you should give him a chance to grow and change if that’s what he’s willing to do.”

“He should want to do that for himself, not for me.”

“How do you know he doesn’t?” Charlotte challenged. “I mean, how do you know this is all about you?”

“Stop being so logical.”

Charlotte chuckled. “That’s my job. I might be the actress, but lady, you out drama me every time.”

“You out drama me every time,” Grace mimicked in a little girl voice.

“Now that you’re off the ledge, what else is going on?”

Grace cleared their dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. “Maggie starts chemo next week and Spencer and I are waiting to see if we’re a match for a bone marrow transplant.”

“So, everyone’s in the hurry-up-and-wait cycle of life.”

Grace sighed. “Exactly. I hate it.”

Charlotte smiled. “Who doesn’t?”

“Are you staying for dinner?”

“I promised mom I’d be home by six.” She glanced at her watch. “Which is in twenty minutes. Shit. I should go. Movie tomorrow?”

“Why not? I have no job, no boyfriend, no life. It’ll probably be a good distraction.”

Charlotte laughed and hugged her. “I have missed you.”

Grace couldn’t help but smile. “Me too.”

Charlotte swung her purse over her shoulder and grabbed her keys. “Okay, I’m off. We can chat later if you climb back up on the ledge.”

“Ha, ha,” Grace droned, and walked her friend to the door. “Stick to acting...comedy would be a failing endeavor.”

Charlotte grinned and pulled open the door...and stalled. “Well, hi,” she said.

“Hello,” Max said, his sexy voice washing over Grace. “I’m Max.”

“Yes, I know,” Charlotte said, and glanced back at Grace.

Grace bit her lip, not wanting to admit how happy she was to see him.

“I’m Charlotte.” Charlotte shook his hand and then stepped outside. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well,” Max said.

“Sorry, I have to run. Bye, Gary. I won’t hold my breath on the movie tomorrow.”

“Whatever!” Grace retorted as Charlotte unlocked her car door.

Grace watched Charlotte drive off and then allowed herself to look at Max.

He smiled. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I’m not stalking you,” Max rushed to say. “You left your cell phone at the nurse’s station.”

“Oh.” Grace wrinkled her nose and took the phone from him. “Thanks.”

“I’ll leave you then,” he said, and turned to go.

“Wait,” she said before she could stop herself.

Max faced her again, but didn’t close the distance between them. Lord above, he was gorgeous. She saw his mouth lift in a slight smile and scowled. “Stop it,” she snapped.

He raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry.”

She closed her eyes briefly and then sighed. “Come inside, Max. No point in you standing out there grinning like an idiot.”