Anna sat at the bar, listening to the music that blared from the speakers. She sighed as she took a sip of Coke. She was trying to keep from watching the couples dancing or talking around her.

It was hard to ignore the painful feeling in her gut that came from being abandoned by the person you care about when there were happy couples all around. Maybe there was a singles side to this resort. She snorted—probably not.

An arm rested on her shoulder, causing her to jump. She turned to see Javier smiling down at her. An uneasy feeling rose in her stomach, but she pushed it away.

“Hey,” she said, turning back to her drink.

“How are you doing, mon amour?”

Great. Now she’d upgraded to amour. This was not what she wanted. Sure, Javier was hot and exotic. But he wasn’t Michael. He never would be.

“I’m good. Just sitting here, enjoying a drink and the music.” Keeping her conversation platonic seemed like the best idea.

Javier sat down on the stool next to her and ordered a shot of whiskey. “I’m happy that you decided to come out here tonight. I was worried you wouldn’t.” The bartender poured the shot and Javier downed it.

Anna shrugged. She was tired of feeling sorry for herself. It was time she started moving on with her life. “It beats sitting in McKenna’s hut doing nothing.”

Javier smiled at her. “Why don’t you come dance with me? The best way to forget one lover is to find a new one.”

Anna coughed. What did he say? Maybe she’d given the wrong impression. “Javier, I—”

He nuzzled her ear. “Don’t make any decisions right now,” he whispered.

Anna hesitated, but then shrugged. What harm would it do? If it helped her forget her breaking heart, then she’d give it a shot. “Okay,” she said.

He grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor. A slow song started, and Javier snaked his hands around her waist and pulled her to him.

Her heart picked up speed, but not for the same reasons it had with Michael. This one was more like a warning bell. Telling her this was not what she wanted. As her gaze fell to the inhabitants on the other side of the dance floor, her stomach sank.

Daisy was standing there, glancing around as if she were looking for someone.

Michael.

She was here with Michael. Probably looking for him. Hoping to cover up her broken heart, Anna brought her hands up and rested them on Javier’s shoulders. He responded by bringing her hips closer to him.

Anna took a deep breath. This was okay. She was making the right decision. After all, she couldn’t be the only one here at a resort for couples that didn’t have someone.

Movement over by Daisy caught her attention. Daisy’s gaze landed on her and anger flashed in her eyes. Anna swallowed. Why was Daisy mad at her? She had Michael.

Daisy began to push through the crowd and head in Anna’s direction. Anna shifted until her back was to Daisy and squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart hammered in her chest from the anticipation.

But it never came.

“Looks like she was sidetracked,” Javier said.

Anna glanced behind her to see a guy approach Daisy. She hadn’t seen Michael all day, and she wasn’t sure that she wanted to see him this way. Dancing with his real fiancée.

But the guy that approached her had dark hair and caramel colored skin. He was wearing a waiter’s uniform. Daisy was laughing and sauntering closer to him. Suddenly, she reached out and grazed his arm. The man leaned down and whispered something into her ear.

If it hadn’t been for Javier’s enthusiastic leading, she would have stopped dancing all together to stare at the scene unfolding. What was happening? Was Daisy flirting? Cheating on Michael?

“I’m cutting in.”

Shivers raced down Anna’s back at Michael’s deep voice. She whipped around to see him standing there. When her gaze met his, his once confident expression turned worried.

“I mean, if that’s okay.” He raised his eyebrows as he leaned closer to her.

“We’re dancing,” Javier said. “Why don’t you go be with your fiancée?” He nodded in Daisy’s direction.

“Because she’s not my fiancée anymore. I broke it off.”

Anna’s heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears. “Why would you do that?” she breathed out. It was almost as if she were worried that she just might scare Michael off if she spoke too loudly.

“Because I’m in love with someone else.” He steadied his gaze as he studied her.

“Michael, I. . .” She slowed as she moved to break away from Javier. She needed to stop moving so she could focus on what was going on. But Javier just tightened his grip.

She glanced up at him only to see that he was smiling down at her. “Where are you going?” Javier asked.

Anna pushed away. “I need a minute,” she said. From the corner of her eye she saw Michael step closer to them.

“Don’t let him hurt you again.” Javier’s breath was hot on her ear as he pulled closer to her.

Suddenly, he stumbled away from her. When she turned, she saw Michael standing there with his hand outstretched. He was staring Javier down. “When the lady asks you to let her go, you let her go.”

“Michael!” What was he doing? He was with Daisy. Right?

Javier righted himself and straightened his shirt. “I’m sorry. We were dancing.”

Michael shook his head.

Anna had had enough of being around Michael. She needed a break from it all. Turning, she pushed past the other couples on the dance floor. Once she was on the sand, she made her way across the beach until the thrumming of the bass was in the distance.

Now alone, she folded her arms and studied the ocean as it lapped at the shore. The moon reflected against the water. Her mind began to clear as she took a few deep breaths.

“Anna.”

Her heart picked up at the sound of Michael’s voice. He’d followed her. Why? Why wouldn’t he just leave her alone?

“Michael, what do you want from me?” She turned to see him standing a few feet off. He had an uneasy expression as his gaze raced over her.

“I was just trying to protect you.” He glanced over at her.

“I don’t need protection. I could have defended myself. Javier wasn’t getting anywhere with me.” She was over having men decide that they know better. She needed to start standing up for herself.

“I’m sorry. I can leave if you want.” He took a step back.

The thought of him leaving caused her heart to squeeze. She didn’t want to admit it, but him leaving was the last thing she wanted. But he’d broken her heart. How could she trust that he wouldn’t do it again?

“So, things are over with Daisy?”

Michael glanced over at her and she saw hope in his gaze. “It never was really on with Daisy. I got drunk at a party and proposed to her. I tried to break it off, but couldn’t because she went out of town. Then I got scared and left.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not my proudest moment.”

Anna wasn’t surprised. That did sound like Michael. “So, kind of like the time you broke Mrs. Transke’s gnome, and then ran away instead of telling her? How long were you in the woods for before you parents found you?” She folded her arms. The sweet breeze surrounded her, carrying salty air with it.

Michael laughed and nodded. “Yeah. To say I run from my feelings is probably a bit of an understatement.”

“I have so many examples that it would take all night to list.”

“Yeah. I bet you do. You know me so well. That’s what I love about you.” He hesitated before he glanced over at her.

She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Did he just confess that he loved her? She rubbed her arms as she glanced around. “Where’s Javier? You didn’t beat him up, did you?”

Michael pinched his lips and shook his head.

“You know, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

He shrugged. “Hey, some of the guys deserved it.”

She couldn’t help herself. She laughed at the memories that they’d shared together. What had happened between them? “When did things get so complicated?” she asked, turning to study the ocean. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t wanted to go back to a time when things were easier.

Michael appeared next to her. His gaze was toward the ocean as well. “Anna, I remember our kiss.” His voice was low, and she had to lean over to hear him.

“I would hope so. It’s only been twenty-four hours.”

He shook his head. “No. The one from McKenna’s wedding. I remember that kiss. I pretended I didn’t and that I was too drunk to know that it was with you, but I remember. It was probably the first real thing I’d ever experienced, and that scared me.” He turned to look at her.

“So, all this time, you had me believing that I was the only one who remembered?” Her stomach twisted. Why hadn’t he told her the truth? She felt like such an idiot.

“I was stupid, and then I didn’t know how to tell you that I realized I’d loved you since we were kids and that kiss meant everything to me. I wasn’t sure you even liked me. So, I ran.”

Anna turned to study him. “What?”

He studied her. “I ran.”

“No, not that. What did you say before that?”

He turned, causing him to be inches from her. “That I’ve loved you since we were kids?”

Warmth started in her toes and ran across every nerve in her body. She raised her gaze to meet his. “You love me?”

He stepped closer to her. “Anna Short, I’ve loved you for so long. You’re a part of me. Even though I ran, I couldn’t hide the fact that you’re the one for me. You are the sweetest, kindest”—he lowered his voice—“sexiest girl I’ve ever met.”

She let out a laugh as she studied him. Was he really saying these things to her?

“And only an idiot would let you go.”

He reached out and tucked an escaped curl behind her ear, leaving his fingers to linger on her cheek. “Do you forgive me?”

Anna turned her face toward his hand, kissing his palm. “I’ll do you one even better.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Yeah?”

“How about I say I love you as well?”

She giggled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“Then you’d make me the happiest guy in the entire world.” He leaned down to brush his lips against hers.

When he pulled back, he glanced down at her. “Do you really mean it?”

Anna ran her hands up his arms, to his shoulders and then wrapped her fingers up in his hair. She reveled in the feeling of him next to her. The familiarity of being with Michael.

“I love you, Michael Jones. I always have. Ever since I was a dorky teenager with braces, I knew you were the one for me.”

He shot her a half-smile as he dipped down and pressed his lips to hers. Fireworks exploded throughout her body as she allowed his lips to move against her own. He pressed her so close to him that she could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

He pulled back again, and a groan escaped her lips. Why did he keep doing that? When he glanced down at her, he smiled.

“Say it again.”

She rolled her eyes. “What?”

“That you love me.”

She pulled away. “I said it once. I’m not going to again.”

He grabbed onto her and crushed her to his chest, picking her up and spinning her. She shrieked and giggled as the world spun around her. When he finally set her down, he put up his hands as if he wanted her to stay put.

She took a deep breath and watched as he knelt in front of her. He took her left hand and pulled out the ring he’d given her. The one she’d given him back earlier that afternoon.

“Anna Short, will you make me the happiest guy in the world and really marry me?” He glanced up at her.

Anna took a breath. She didn’t want to ever forget this. Everything in her life had led up to this moment. Michael loving her back. Wanting to spend the rest of his life with her.

“You sure?” she asked. “No more running away from me?”

He shook his head. “No more running away. I’m here. Forever.”

She smiled and nodded. “Then of course I’ll marry you.”

Michael slipped the ring onto her finger and was up next to her faster than she could blink. He pulled her to his chest, dipping down to press his lips to hers.

As the sound of the lapping water filled the air, Anna lost herself in the feeling of Michael holding her. It was everything she’d ever wanted. In this moment, she was complete. And she never wanted him to let her go.