Aiden knew it was time to leave. The rain hadn’t let up, but the crackle of attraction between him and Felicity was growing, and he needed to get out of there before he lost all his senses and kissed her. He deleted the photo off her camera then handed it back to her, trying to suppress his smile. “Here you go.”

“Too bad. I could have had fun with that photo. My girls on Facebook would have loved to see it.”

“Over my dead body.”

He crossed the room and pulled on his T-shirt. It wasn’t completely dry, but he had to get out of there.

A loud crash sounded as a long piece of debris broke through the kitchen window. Felicity screamed. He ran to her as the lights flickered and went out. She sucked in a breath.

“It’s okay,” he said, pulling her close. “I’ll fix the window.” She shuddered in his arms as the wind howled and the kitchen curtains flew around in a crazy dance.

“It’s not a tornado. We’re safe here.” He rubbed her back and she laid her head on his chest. It felt good to hold her again. Like she belonged in his arms. His throat swelled as he pressed his cheek to the top of her head. She seemed to calm down as he hugged her to him.

Aiden pushed back the urge to run his fingers down her cheek. He had to get a hold of himself. He was not Felicity’s boyfriend. They were barely even friends anymore. And that’s the way it should be.

“You okay?” His voice came out raspy and he cleared his throat.

Felicity nodded and backed away from him.

“I’m going to look at the damage.”

“Okay.”

He crossed the room and walked into the kitchen. The flashes of light from outside didn’t offer enough, so he took out his cell phone and turned on the flashlight. Broken glass was scattered over the counter and the tile floor. Rain water came in the broken window. He picked his way toward the sink and opened the cupboard. A box of garbage bags was stuffed near the back. He pulled one out and started picking up glass.

“I think I saw a broom in the closet,” Felicity said. She crossed the room and pulled one out. Then she swept while he continued to put the large pieces into his garbage bag.

“You’re handling this well.”

Felicity smirked. “Inside I’m freaking out a bit that this place doesn’t have a basement.”

“We don’t get tornadoes here. Only hurricanes.”

She laughed. “That makes me feel much better.”

“Actually, Belize hasn’t had a direct hit from a hurricane in many years. The people here say it’s because they pray them away.”

“I didn’t realize the people were religious.”

Aiden dropped another piece of glass in his garbage sack and it make a clinking sound. “Yes. Very.”

She swept for another few minutes then picked up the dustbin and Aiden held open the trash bag so she could dump it. “I think that’s all the glass.”

Aiden grabbed the duct tape and another garbage bag. “I’ll tape up the window.”

Felicity opened the closet and stored the broom inside. “Whatever happened to those headaches Grams would get? Does she still have them?”

Aiden shook his head. “You know, I haven’t heard her complain about a headache in a long time. The doctor said they were probably migraines but couldn’t offer up any solution other than medicine, and you know how stubborn Grams is about that. She refused to go on any pills.”

“So, the headaches just stopped?”

Aiden pulled a long piece of duct tape off the roll. “Yeah. I think it was around the time we moved here. Imagine that. I hadn’t thought about it before, but maybe something about the air pressure here stopped them.”

“This is a paradise. I think my health would improve if I got to sit on the beach each day and sip pina coladas.”

Aiden chuckled as he taped up the garbage bag. “Maybe.” Felicity might be onto something there. The wind pushed against the bag, but it held. “That should keep the wind and rain out.”

“Thanks.” Her gaze darted to the plastic as the wind made it push in and out.

He walked to the fireplace and added another log. “I don’t know if we’ll get electricity back tonight.”

The wind howled and Felicity hugged herself. “Are you sure you should go out in this?”

What was she saying? That he should stay there, with her? He swallowed. Not a good idea. He walked to the door and looked out of the glass inlay. Unease crept over him. The palm trees swayed erratically in the wind. Leaves and other debris blew past. He didn’t want to get hit with something. “Maybe you’re right. It does look bad.”

“Then stay.” Conflicting emotions played across her face. “I mean, if you want to.”

He nodded and rubbed his neck. “All right. I can sleep on the couch.”

“I’ll get you a blanket and a pillow.” Felicity disappeared into her bedroom and came out with the comforter from her bed and one of her pillows.

“What if you get cold?” He took the blanket from her and tossed it on the couch.

She shrugged. “I should be fine.”

His stomach growled and he gave her a sheepish look. “Guess my stomach is telling me it’s time to eat.”

She smiled and glanced toward the kitchen. “I haven’t bought anything, so unfortunately my cupboards are bare.”

“We usually stock the fridge with milk. That’s about it.”

“Oh, I do have a few things in my carry-on.” Felicity ran to get them, and Aiden went into the kitchen and took out a couple of glasses from the cupboard. He poured the milk and brought them into the living room. The fire crackled and he set the milk down on the coffee table.

Felicity returned with two granola bars and a bag of peanut M&M’s. “This is all I have left.”

Aiden sat on the couch and grinned at her. “Looks like a feast to me.”

She sat next to him, her apprehension clear. He scooted one of the glasses of milk closer to her. She handed him a granola bar.

Thunder crashed and Felicity jumped.

“Don’t think about the storm,” Aiden said. “It will be over soon.” He wanted to pull her to him again but wasn’t sure that was a good idea. He enjoyed being close to Felicity too much. He had to remember what it had been like after she left him. The unending pain. He sat back and folded his arms across his chest. He didn’t need that again.

She nodded, a forced smile on her face. “I know it will. It’s stupid of me to be afraid.”

“It’s not stupid. You had a terrible thing happen to you.” The fact that she’d shared that with him made him feel good. Like she trusted him, at least a little bit. And that made him want to protect her. He took a bite of his granola bar. “This is good.”

She laughed. “It’s something to eat.”

A comfortable silence fell between them as they ate. When he was done, he crumpled up his trash and tossed it onto the coffee table. “What are you up to tomorrow?”

Felicity folded her empty wrapper. “I don’t have plans.”

“Do you want me to take you on another excursion?” He chuckled. “Since this one worked out so well.”

She laughed, but it was a bit strained. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know.” He studied her. “There’s an excursion we offer that takes you on a hike through the jungle. It includes a waterfall. I think you could get some great photos.”

She smiled and fiddled with the wrapper in her hand. The smile seemed forced. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

And there it was. The truth. Felicity would never forgive him for the past. Why did he even ask? Spending time with her was a stupid idea. What was he just telling himself moments before? He leaned away from her. “Right.”

“I mean, if it’s a big group that’s probably okay.”

Oh, brother. How was he supposed to interpret that? He couldn’t tell if she wanted to go with him or not. He wasn’t even sure how to respond. He settled on a non-committal, “It would be.”

She nodded. “All right, then.”

An awkward silence settled between them. Aiden rubbed his thumb on his palm. “Have you ever wondered what our lives would be like if you hadn’t left?”

Felicity’s gaze jerked to him, and he regretted the question. Why had he asked that? How could he have let that come out of his mouth? But he couldn’t take it back, so he waited for her answer.

She blinked and looked away. “No.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No, it’s okay. I guess I have thought about it a little. We’d probably still be in Chicago.”

Aiden had thought about it a lot. And he was sure they’d have moved. With his money, they could live anywhere in the world, and Felicity loved nature. But he wasn’t about to say any of that to her. “Maybe.”

She looked at him. “You disagree?”

He shrugged. Now he was stuck. He wasn’t sure what to say. “I don’t know. We would have had the means to go anywhere.”

Felicity cocked her head to the side, like she was just remembering he was a billionaire. “Oh. Right.”

Aiden loved that Felicity was never into money or status. She didn’t care about those things. He picked up his glass of milk and took a sip. After he set it back down, he looked at her. The light from the fire flickered across her features. He could easily fall back in love with her.

The thought scared him, and he shifted closer to the edge of the couch. He went through so much after Felicity broke his heart. Depression weighed so heavily on him, he thought he’d never dig himself out. And now, finally, he was seeing some light. Things were good.

He couldn’t slip back into his old self and allow Felicity to break him.

She tore the corner off the package of M&M’s and poured some into her hand then extended it to him. “I’ll let you pick out all the brown ones.”

He chuckled as he picked three out. “I know you think I’m silly.”

“They taste the same as the rest.”

“They totally taste more chocolaty.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s psychological.”

“Are you calling me a psycho?”

“No. But come to think of it, you do kind of have that look about you. And you own a resort that is kind of like a motel.”

“Really? You’re stretching it.”

“As long as I don’t find Grams all shriveled up in a rocker, I think you’re okay.” She flashed him a smile and he couldn’t help but grin back at her.

“Grams would be highly offended by this conversation.”

Felicity laughed. “You’re right. Here, have some more.” She shoved her M&M’s at him.

He picked another brown one out of her hand.

“You’re such an M&M snob.” She poked him in the side, and he jumped.

“Hey, watch it. I’m ticklish there.”

“Oh, yeah? There?” She poked him again but this time, he grabbed her hand.

“No,” he said, like he was scolding his dog.

She giggled and wiggled out of his grasp. Then she poked him again.

“That’s it. You’re toast.” He came at her, tickling her sides. She twisted and laughed but couldn’t get away from him.

“Stop. Can’t. Breathe.”

He wasn’t sure if she was faking it, but he stopped tickling her and let her catch her breath. He sobered, his face inches from hers. He could smell her sweet breath on his cheek and feel her heart beating against his chest.

Her gaze dipped to his lips. Time slowed and Felicity moved closer to him, ever so slightly. Their lips were only millimeters apart when he realized he was about to kiss her and jerked back.

What was he doing? He couldn’t close the distance. He couldn’t allow that. He stood up suddenly.

Felicity jumped off the couch. “Well. I better go to bed.”

“Right.”

“I think you have everything you need.”

“Yes. I should be fine.”

She practically raced out of the room, shutting her bedroom door a little too forcefully.

Aiden sank back down to the couch. What had he almost done? If he had kissed her, it would have been a huge mistake. Seeing her at all was a big mistake.

Why had he said he could take her on the excursion in the morning? He was in so much trouble. He closed his eyes and tried to forget about Felicity for the night, which was almost impossible with her sleeping just beyond the wall.