Nothing’s going to happen between me and Dalton. We’re just talking. Old friends are allowed that privilege, right? And that’s all we are. Friends.

Even as the thoughts flitted through her mind, Sierra knew they were lies. She’d come out here for the express purpose of finding Dalton, had even taken a shower and dressed in clothes she knew he’d like. Wore her hair super curly like he liked it.

Ever since her conversation with Nadine, she’d been in turmoil, had spent a solid hour pacing back and forth in her bedroom. If what Nadine said was true … about Dalton no longer drinking, then she’d made a huge mistake by leaving him. At first, she was so fighting mad at Nadine she could hardly see straight. Nadine had played a large part in her fleeing to New York. Heck, Nadine even gave her the money to get established. She’d trusted Nadine’s judgment, believed her when she told Sierra she’d end up just like her mother if she stayed here with Dalton.

After the anger ran its course, Sierra realized she had to take responsibility for her own actions. She’d left because she wanted to go. She wanted to prove that she could make something of herself, and she’d been terrified of Dalton’s drinking. Everything had come to a head that day she’d had the talk with Nadine. Sierra had been vulnerable, ready to act on whatever advice she was given. Especially from such a trusted source. But at the end of the day, she was accountable.

Finally, she decided that the best course of action was to face this. If her relationship with Parker was so weak that it couldn’t withstand her spending a few weeks with Dalton, then that was her answer. But even if she chose Dalton, that didn’t mean he’d choose her. They couldn’t just erase the last seven years and pick up where they’d left off, could they? And what about her obligation to Parker? She’d built a relationship with him. Well, obviously not as strong of a relationship as she’d assumed. Otherwise, they’d already be engaged. But that was beside the point.

“Waffles.”

She jerked slightly realizing Dalton was studying her. She gave him a courtesy smile. “Yeah, waffles.” Being out here with Dalton unleashed so many memories that they rushed over her like a waterfall, making her have irrational thoughts. Thoughts like throwing caution to the wind and kissing him until her need for him was satisfied. No, that was the problem. She’d never get enough of Dalton Chandler. All he had to do was flash that leisurely grin and rove over her with those smoky eyes and she’d be reduced to a puddle of goo.

He angled to face her.

“So, what should we talk about?” she began, hoping he wouldn’t bring up the topic of her leaving him. Then again, maybe it was better to get it out in the open rather than having it dangling over them. “What happened to your jaw?”

He looked surprised.

“The faint scar running along your jaw.”

“Bar fight.” He gave her a slight smile. “If you think this is bad, you should’ve seen the other guy.”

“You always were a hothead.” She assessed him. “When did you stop drinking?”

His eyes rounded. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

She clasped her hands tightly in her lap wanting to make herself small enough to be shielded from the ugliness of the past. “I figure it’s easier to just rip off the Band-Aid in one fell swoop.”

He gave her a curious look. “How did you know I stopped drinking?”

“Nadine told me.”

“I didn’t realize I’d been the hot topic of conversation,” he said dryly.

“You have no idea,” she muttered. “Is it true?” Her heart beat faster. “Are you sober?”

“Yeah, it’s true.” He looked puzzled and amused. “How about you?”

“Of course,” she said impatiently. “I haven’t touched a drop since I moved to New York. But I was never addicted like you were.” She hated how pious her words sounded, but it was true. She could take or leave alcohol, whereas it had been Dalton’s Achilles heel.

He blew out a heavy breath. “Yeah, I know.” Remorse settled into his eyes. “I’m sorry for all the crap I put you through. It was a tough time with my dad. You know, trying to find out who I was.”

Emotion thickened her throat as she swallowed, the memories of those terrible times overtaking her. “It was rough,” she admitted. “I didn’t have a clue how to deal with your destructive behavior.”

He nodded, his jaw working. “I know. I’m sorry. My old man and I were volleying for power.” He laughed humorlessly. “I was trying to show him that I was tougher than he was. If he was going to beat me, then by golly, he’d get beaten back.”

“I remember.” Dalton’s dad would go into drunk rages and beat him. It had been happening since they were kids. Many a night, Dalton would sneak out of his house after his dad passed out and jog the half mile to the mansion. He’d climb up the trellis to the second story and in through her bedroom window. He’d sleep on a pallet beside her bed, just so he could be somewhere safe.

Her voice hitched, her hand clutching her neck. “That day when you insisted on driving … you were so drunk you could barely walk, much less drive. And then you took a curve too fast and we ended up in that field.” She coughed, trying to stifle the quiver in her voice. “I thought we were goners. You missed that tree by only a few inches.” His face had gone the color of chalk, his lips drawn into a tight line. She could feel the regret emanating from him. “I went to Nadine’s to see if Hal could pull us out because you were passed out cold from the booze.” She hated rehashing all this. Hated all the emotion it unearthed. Hated the accusation in her voice, but wanting to set the stage. She needed him to understand her reasoning.

His brow furrowed, his eyes darkening to a fathomless gray. “The Camaro didn’t get a scratch on it.”

“I know,” she said impatiently. “It’s the what could’ve happened that got to me.”

“I told you I was sorry and that it would never happen again.”

“I wanted to believe you, truly. But I was afraid.” Tears escaped the corners of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Hastily, she wiped them away with her palms.

A peculiar look came into his eyes. “Is that why you left? Because you were afraid I wouldn’t stop drinking?”

“Partly.”

He swore under his breath. Then he gulped out a laugh, bringing his hand to his mouth. “You know? Deep down, I think I knew that. Only I didn’t really realize I knew it until just now.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Wow. I lost you to the bottle. Ironic, isn’t it? Considering my old man?”

“There’s more.” The air was so dense with moisture that Sierra knew the rain wouldn’t hold off much longer. But she had to get this out, here and now. Otherwise, she’d never have the courage to bring it up again. She touched his arm. The pained look on his face clutched her stomach like a fist. “I was pregnant.”

He gurgled, then coughed. “W-what?” His eyes bugged like his tongue was strangling his windpipe. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was afraid if I did, you might not leave for the Marines.”

His brows bunched. “But I was only in basic training for a few weeks, then I was coming back to get you.” Accusation brimmed in his eyes. “You knew that. Don’t try to act like you didn’t.”

She hugged her arms. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she said flatly. “The truth is that I was terrified of ending up with an alcoholic. And then there was a baby to consider. We were so young. I didn’t know what to do.” Her voice trailed off.

A horrified look came over him. “Did you give the baby up for adoption?”

“No, I miscarried a week after you left.”

He shook his head, a dazed look in his eyes. Then he raked both hands through his hair. “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me.” His voice broke. “Why couldn’t you trust me?”

“I don’t know.” The words sounded empty and hollow. “Maybe it was myself that I couldn’t trust.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I knew if I didn’t leave you while you were gone, I’d never have the strength to leave you. I loved you so much. You were my world.” She threw up her hands. “Heck, a part of me still loves you, even though heaven knows I’ve done everything I can to move past this.”

“Do you have any idea what you put me through?” His eyes were harder than flint.

“It’s not like you’re the only one who was hurt,” she flung back, heat spiking through her. She should’ve known better than to try and fix the past. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered, jumping to her feet. She gritted her teeth, glaring at him. “I don’t know why I bothered to come out here and try to explain this to you because you’re never going to see anything other than your side of the story!”

He also stood, a fierce look in his eyes. “Don’t walk away from me. We’re not done here. Not by a long shot!”

She snorted out a laugh. “Oh, yes we are!” She felt first one raindrop then another. A second later, the bottom fell out, drenching them. She let out a shriek and was about to run back to the mansion, but he caught her arm, a hard smile stretching over his lips. “Looks like you won the wager. I guess we’ll have to plan that walk.”

“Yeah, I’ve changed my mind.” There was something primal and raw about being out here with him in the rain, stripping away all pretense. His hair was pressed flat to his head, drawing attention to his rugged features. The wet t-shirt clung to his chiseled pecs and abs, his biceps as hard as granite. Attraction simmered through her, making her warm despite the cold.

He cocked an eyebrow. “You know what? All right. If that’s the way you wanna play it. I changed my mind too. I’ll take a kiss instead.”

Her stomach flipped. “What?”

Before she could get away, he encircled her waist and pulled her close. The feel of his body against hers was overwhelming. Tingles burst through her when his lips came down on hers. She put up a half-second protest before the flame ignited. Seven years of wanting him was a long time, too long for her to deny him now. His lips were demanding as they licked fire through her toes, making her weak in the knees. He dipped her back as a groan escaped her throat. She ran her hands up his tapered back, burying her fingers in his hair. Delicious shivers circled down her spine as he intensified the kiss. A thrill of exhilaration shot through her and she had the sensation of soaring.

Parker had never kissed her like this, like he was drinking the last bit of her strength from her lips and then giving her back even more. She would’ve given up a thousand lifetimes for this kiss … a thousand lifetimes to be here in Dalton’s arms. The feeling of love that poured through her was so swift that she thought her heart would burst.

When he released her lips, she tried to catch her breath, her hands resting on his rock-hard chest.

A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips.

“What?”

“I’ll bet your boyfriend never kissed you like that.”

She gasped like she’d been slapped. “Really? That’s all you can say to me?” It then occurred to her that it was pouring buckets. A shiver ran through her. She was sure she had mascara trailing down her face. She tried to escape from his arms, but he held her in an iron grip. “Let me go,” she seethed.

“For the record. I love you too.”

“You’re such a jerk,” she said reflexively, then realized what he’d said. “Y-you do?” she sputtered.

He laughed. “Yes, I do.”

She cocked her head. “But you said I’d done you a favor by leaving.”

“I lied.”

She frowned. “What?”

“You hurt me, so I wanted to hurt you.”

“You’re such a dork,” she muttered. All that crap he said threw her for a loop, just as he knew it would.

He searched her face. “What now?”

She could tell from the intensity in his eyes that he was asking where they went from here. And truthfully, she didn’t know. Could she leave New York and Parker and come back here? All her insecurities came flooding back with a vengeance. “I—I’m not sure.” It was the most honest answer she could give him right now.

He seemed to be reading her mind as he frowned, a wounded look settling into his eyes. “Would you really leave me again?”

Everything was coming at her so fast she couldn’t make sense of it all. “I have commitments in New York. A job. Parker.” Oh, gosh. What would Parker think if he saw her now? Suddenly, she was ashamed of herself. Ashamed and confused.

His jaw went hard. “I see.”

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t stay here with you. I’m just saying I don’t know right now.” She hesitated. “Please, just give me a little time to sort this out, okay?”

His eyes narrowed. “Seven years isn’t enough?”

“No … I …”

He dropped his arms. “You’d better get inside before you catch your death.”

“Dalton … please.” A wave of panic rose in her chest, bringing tears to her eyes. “I’m just trying to be honest with you. All of this is too much for me right now, especially with Bennie’s problems.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

But she could tell that he didn’t.

He motioned with his head. “Go on in. I’ve got to get my tools out of this rain before they get ruined.” His voice sounded as flat and dead as she felt.

“I’ll help.”

“No!”

She flinched at the hard edge in his voice.

He held up a hand. “I’ll take care of it. Just go. Please.”

She cringed at the desperation in his voice. A curious numbness came over her. “Okay.” Her voice sounded small and insignificant in her ears as she turned and trudged back to the mansion, her tears mixing with the rain.