Aiden rubbed Mabel’s fur as the dog panted and wagged her tail with pleasure. His back hurt from leaning against the palm tree, but he didn’t really want to sit in the sun. And he didn’t want to go back to his villa. Not with the chance of running into Felicity one last time before she left.

Her words echoed in his mind. It doesn’t change the fact that he can’t give me what I need.

He exhaled and shifted against the scratchy bark of the tree. “Well, this is it,” he said to Mabel. “I told her I love her and she left me. Again.”

The hollow feeling in his chest threatened to envelop him. He’d been rejected by Felicity a second time. And it hurt worse than he’d ever imagined. His throat burned with the pain.

A rustling came from behind him and he turned to see Grams. He thought maybe she’d be mad at him, but she just stood there, a look of calm on her face. “What are you doing?”

He shrugged and leaned forward to get the circulation going in his back. “Thinking.”

Grams sat beside him. “You mean wallowing.”

He chuckled. Good ole Grams. She knew how to say it. “Yeah. Wallowing.”

A breeze carried Gram’s light perfume to him. She picked up a small stick and twisted it in her hands. “Why are you sitting here wallowing?”

Aiden stared out at the ocean waves. “She left me. Just like last time.” The words cut through him and he blinked back the wave of nausea.

“And like last time, you’re going to let her go?”

Aiden squinted at Grams. “She doesn’t want me.” Why was she making him say it? Relive it?

Grams frowned and looked at the sand. “Aiden, you know I love you. But I wish I had done this five years ago.”

He waited, but when she didn’t go on, he said, “Done what?”

She reached up and slapped the back of his head.

“Ouch. Grams! What was that for?”

“Go after her, you twit.”

“What? Why? Did you hear the part about her not wanting me?”

Grams got a look on her face, the one that said not to argue with her. “She loves you. She wants you. She just wants you to promise her the moon.”

Mabel barked and Aiden picked up the little dog, cradling her in his arms. “That’s the thing. I can’t give her the moon, Grams. She expects too much of me. Do you know what she wanted me to do? Give up the resort.”

He thought maybe Grams would be shocked at this news, but she didn’t react at all. She just stared at him. “No girl expects an actual moon, Aiden. They just want to be promised it.”

“But that’s irrational.”

“And what you’re doing here is irrational as well.”

Aiden held back a glare. “How so?”

“You love her. You’re miserable without her. And yet, you sit here being miserable instead of going after her and fighting for what you love.” Grams challenged him with a slight eyebrow raise. “You know it’s true.”

“Okay. That’s true. But she won’t listen. I tried.”

“You didn’t try very hard. Is this what you want, to sit here in paradise, your heart breaking for another five years?”

His heart was breaking, and he swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. “Of course not.”

“Then give this up for her.”

His gaze snapped to hers. “Give this up? What about you?”

Grams smiled. “Why are you worrying about me? I will be happy anywhere. Would you just go get your girl back?”

Aiden drew his brows in confusion. “But she said—”

“Do you want all of this, without her? What is the point, Aiden? What are you doing here?”

Something about what Grams said clicked inside of him, and he stood up so fast Mabel jumped from his lap and barked up at him. He ran a hand down his face. “You’re right.”

Grams gave him a smug smile. “Of course, I’m right.”

“Having a billion dollars is meaningless if I don’t have Felicity in my life.”

“I’m glad you’re finally realizing that.”

“I have to go to her.”

Grams rubbed her temples. “Why are you still here?”

He looked at her with wild eyes. “Because you let her go! You took her to the airport!”

Grams gave him a flat look. “Then get on your plane and go to her. You know where she lives.”

His heart raced as he stared at her. Duh. Of course. He had to go to Texas. Show Felicity he was willing to give everything up for her. He crouched down and kissed Grams on the forehead. “You’re brilliant.”

“I know. Now get!”

***

FELICITY SHOVED HER largest suitcase into the trunk of her Honda Accord. She was emotionally and physically exhausted, and all she wanted to do was go home and soak in the tub. Maybe eat the pint of ice cream in the freezer.

She slammed the trunk and walked around to the driver’s side of the car, unlocking it with her key fob. She’d spent the entire flight arguing with herself over Aiden. Yes, she was doing the right thing. No, she wasn’t. Yes, she had to stand up for herself or no one else would. No, she needed to give her all to Aiden, and let him be who he was.

All this arguing left her nerves raw, and her head felt like it was going to explode. She had no idea what was right anymore. She just wanted to stop thinking for the rest of the night.

It was late enough that the streets of Texas were quiet, with light traffic. When she pulled into her parking garage, she sighed with relief. That hot bath was sounding better and better. She grabbed her carry-on and her suitcases holding her camera equipment. This was the last trip she was going on for a long time.

She stepped off the elevator and the wheels of her luggage caught in the space between the elevator and the floor, yanking on her arm. “Come on,” she said, pulling the case but not getting it free. She stared at it and saw the wheel had turned sideways and was jammed in.

“Seriously?” she said aloud. All she wanted to do was get inside and decompress.

Someone approached her. “Let me help.”

That deep voice pierced through her heart and she jerked her gaze to his face. “Aiden?”

He gently pulled the suitcase free and carried it to her door, like it was the most normal thing in the world. Felicity stood rooted to her spot for a moment before Aiden turned and gave her a one-eyebrow-raised look that set her into motion.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her breath a bit strangled as she walked up to him. He seemed relaxed, but his hair was a bit mussed up, which always told her he’d been running his hands through it, a nervous habit of his.

“We need to talk.” His blue eyes pierced through her and her pulse jumped. What could he want from her?

She swallowed, trying to put moisture back on her dry throat. “Okay.”

He jutted his chin out toward the door. “Are you going to let me in, or do you want to talk in the hallway here?”

Her fingers fumbled with the keys until she was able to slide it into the lock and turn it. She walked into her apartment, flicked on the lights, and motioned for him to follow. She shut the door behind him, suddenly warring with herself again, Martha’s words running through her head.

In a relationship, there’s always some give and take. You can’t expect him to be the one to give everything, while you’re not contributing or sacrificing.

Aiden turned to her and stiffened, like he was steeling himself for an argument. “First, I should apologize.”

That wasn’t what she was expecting. She stared at him, her fingers nervously playing with the strap on her carry-on. “For what?”

“For not coming after you five years ago.”

Felicity’s stomach dropped, but she didn’t have time to think about what he’d said because he continued.

“I didn’t want to make the same mistake this time around.”

His gaze traveled over her as she tried to make sense of what he was saying. “You—”

He took a step forward and pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. “Let me finish. Please.” He slowly removed his finger.

She nodded, her lips tingling from his touch.

“I’ve come to realize a few things today, and I took a good long look at myself. You’re right, by the way. I keep you at a distance. I thought it was because I was protecting myself from hurt, but when I was honest with myself, I understood it’s something I’ve been doing for a lot longer than that.”

His voice grew softer and Felicity blinked back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She’d been waiting for years to hear him say that.

“I’ve been afraid of getting hurt for so long, I guess I started being the one to pull away first. And I didn’t even realize I was doing it. But I’m over that now. I now understand that in order to fully love someone, you have to trust them. Give them everything.”

He pulled out his phone. “Let me show you something.” He fiddled with it a minute before turning it so she could see.

Felicity stared at the image on the screen, not quite understanding. “Are those my prints? From the gallery?”

“Yes. I bought them because I didn’t think you’d ever speak to me again, and I needed to feel close to you.” He swallowed. “You see, I’ve never gotten over you.”

His words sank in and her heart swelled. He’d been the one. Through it all, he’d been watching out for her. And he still loved her.

He brushed his thumb over her cheek, catching a tear. She hadn’t meant to cry. He pulled her closer. “I’ve decided to give up the resort. I’m ready to give you all of me.” He swallowed and put his forehead on hers. “If you’ll have me.”

Felicity shook her head and pulled away. Aiden’s eyes grew wide and panic showed on his face. “But—”

“Stop. I don’t want you to give up the resort,” she said, emotion choking her words. “That was cruel of me to even say.”

Relief flooded over his features. “No. I understand now.” He reached for her and she allowed him to wrap his arms back around her. “It’s what must be done.”

He brushed his lips over hers in a kiss that made her knees weak. “I love you, and I won’t let you walk out of my life again without a fight.”

Felicity closed her eyes and rested her cheek on his chest. This is what she’d always wanted. A man who would go to the ends of the earth for her. But Martha’s words still rang in her ears, and she knew she couldn’t accept what he was offering.

She looked up into his eyes. “I don’t want you to give up Belize. You love it there. You...and Grams. How could I ask you to sell it?”

“If you like Belize, we can buy a house on the beach and live there. I don’t have to own a resort for us to be happy there.”

Emotion surged in her, and she placed her hands on his cheeks. “You love your resort. You don’t have to give that up. You’re not the only one who had a revelation today.”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“All this time I’ve been feeling resentful toward you. I resented the time you spent on your drone. All the times when I felt you weren’t putting me first. But when had I put you first? Your needs? I was being selfish. And I caused both of us a lot of pain because of it.”

He bent over and nuzzled her neck. “I forgive you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed along her jawline. Hope filled her chest as she enjoyed the feeling of his lips on her skin. “Aiden?”

“Mmm?” he said, not stopping his kissing.

“How did you get here so fast?”

“Private plane,” he whispered before kissing the corner of her mouth.

“Oh.” She didn’t say anything else because his lips were on hers, and all she could think about was how wonderful it felt to be in his arms.