Brig reached for the gun but couldn’t get there fast enough to prevent Gage from slamming it into Claire’s head. She crumpled onto the dock, and her name ripped from Brig’s lips.

He had no time to deal with this loser. Wrenching the gun from Gage’s fingers, he ignored Gage’s foul mouth and writhing body. Brig slammed the gun forcefully into the man’s temple, and Gage’s body finally went slack. Brig tossed the gun onto the bank and scrambled off of Gage and next to Claire. He checked her pulse, relieved it was strong.

She blinked her eyes open and stared up at him. “Brig?”

His breath caught. “Claire, oh, sweetheart, you’re okay.” He scooped her off the wooden dock and into his arms. Standing, he strode off the dock and away from Gage’s inert form.

Claire buried her face into his shoulder. “Did you kill him?” she whispered.

“What?” Brig glanced back at Gage. “Oh. No. I just knocked him out.” He supposed the hit could’ve killed Gage. He hadn’t really stopped to check. Letting Claire’s feet slide to the ground, he held her close with his left arm and fished his cell phone out of his wet pocket, hoping the waterproof claims were true. The phone lit up, and he quickly called Rudy and explained the situation, asking him to call the police.

Slipping his phone back into his pocket, he looked down at Claire. “You’re okay?”

She smiled tentatively. “My head hurts again.”

“I bet it does.” He bent down low and kissed the side of her face where Gage had hit her with the gun. Luckily, the skin hadn’t broken, but she would probably have a massive bruise and maybe a black eye tomorrow.

Claire moaned softly and leaned into his kiss. “That helps.”

He forced himself to keep one eye on Gage’s motionless body as he took his time kissing her soft cheek then her jawline then finally her lips. Claire returned his kiss. Then she pulled back and whispered, “I remember everything, Brig.”

He sucked in a breath. “Everything?”

She nodded.

Rudy and Beau ran up to them, interrupting.

“Make sure he’s alive. Then watch him.” Brig instructed Beau.

His man nodded shortly and hurried past them.

“The police will be here soon.” Rudy stopped next to them.

Brig thanked him then half-focused as Rudy asked questions. He wanted to be alone with Claire and be the one asking the questions. Claire stayed close to him and let him keep his arm around her, but she didn’t cling to him or lean into his chest like she would’ve done half an hour before. She didn’t contribute anything to the conversation. Even when he bragged about how she’d distracted Gage so brilliantly, she merely gave him a forced smile.

He was dying to know what her memory returning meant for them. Would new Claire be able to combat former Claire’s reservations to be with him? What if the issues that kept her from him before the head injury were too powerful to overcome? It was as if he could feel her slipping away from him like sand between his fingers. No matter how hard he tried to keep her close, she was going to fall away, and his dreams of forever with her would disappear.

Claire went through the motions, answering questions and acting like she was okay as the police arrived and a few minutes later the ambulance. Brig hadn’t killed Gage, but Gage wasn’t regaining consciousness anytime soon. The EMTs checked her thoroughly, but she refused medical help. She was fine and wasn’t going back to any hospital. She did appreciate the warm blanket they placed on her shoulders though.

Brig stayed close by her side, often wrapping his arm around her back or holding her hand. She savored each touch, wondering if it would be her last. Because now she knew. Yes, the former Claire had been stupid to pass up on an opportunity to fall in love with someone like Brig, but the former Claire had been kinder than the new, amnesiac Claire. It had nothing to do with Brig and everything to do with her. She was a selfish monster who had used Peyton to feel loved when Hazel got married. Then despite Peyton’s love and devotion to her, she’d been too hard-hearted and cold to return that love. She’d forced an ugly fight to try to get him to break up with her, and because of his devotion and concern for her she’d ultimately caused his death. His mom’s face as he died wouldn’t leave her mind. Claire had caused that pain.

Somehow, she answered all the police’s questions and kept giving Brig reassuring smiles as the memories continued to assault her. She could even see all the times Brig had been so sweet and flirtatious with her playing through her mind. She’d loved it, and she’d had a huge crush on him, but she’d never allowed herself to give in to those desires. Brig was just like Peyton. He cared too deeply for her. He didn’t think he was good enough for her, and he put himself in the line of fire to protect others. Yes, former Claire had been smarter and much kinder than new Claire. Former Claire knew things would self-destruct with her and Brig just like they had with her and Peyton. The guilt for being responsible for Peyton’s death and breaking his mother’s heart had almost consumed her. She couldn’t go down that path ever again.

Gage was hauled off in an ambulance, still unconscious, and the police’s questions were finally all answered, and they left them alone. It was over. Just Rudy and Beau were waiting for them.

“Let’s get you two back to the cabin,” Rudy said.

Brig took her arm, and they walked behind Rudy and Beau. As they approached the cabin, with its warm light spilling out, Claire was suddenly terrified. She wanted her sister. She needed someone who knew her inside and out. She needed Hazel’s rational, pragmatic, sometimes harsh opinions. Only Hazel could talk her through this. Brig had been worried when she regained her memory she wouldn’t want him. She wanted him. In fact, she ached for him, but she also understood why she shouldn’t be with him.

They walked up the patio steps and into the large great room. Nobody seemed to have much to say, or maybe they were just stoic military men who didn’t want to deal with the awkwardness and sensitivity this night had unearthed.

Claire wasn’t certain if Rudy and Beau sensed that something had changed between her and Brig or if they were upset that Gage had gotten so close and hurt her. They were good men, and she would miss being around them. She snuck a glance at Brig. Missing him didn’t begin to describe how hard it was going to be to say goodbye.

“We should probably all get some rest,” Brig said. “We can go home in the morning.”

Claire nodded vigorously. She wanted to go home, but she did not want to be alone in a car with Brig for an hour to get there. If she could get to her room, alone, Brig wouldn’t keep touching her and looking at her. She couldn’t resist throwing herself at him if he did either much longer. She took the ibuprofen and water Rudy offered her and thanked both of Brig’s men.

Rudy and Beau said goodnight, and Claire was suddenly much too alone with Brig. He escorted her up the stairs to the loft and stopped shy of her door. He turned to her and said quietly but quickly, as if the question had been waiting to burst out of him, “If you remember everything, what does that mean for us?”

Claire’s breath caught in her throat. He wasn’t giving her an easy out. “I …” She shook her head. “I’m the reason Peyton’s dead, Brig. I can’t get his mom’s face as he passed and again at the funeral out of my mind. Now that I remember all of it …” She didn’t want to say the words but she had to. Brig deserved the truth. “I can’t let myself fall for you. You deserve so much better.” Even as she forced herself to say it, she wondered if she was protecting him or herself. She hoped she was being altruistic. Brig did deserve better. A beautiful, loving woman who was whole and not consumed by guilt. This was why Claire hadn’t let herself date him. Yet now that she’d had a glimpse of how amazing he was, it was going to rip her apart to say goodbye.

Brig stared down at her, his blue eyes clouded with concern. “I don’t understand why you’re blaming yourself for Peyton’s death.” He swallowed and said, “All I know is that I love you, Claire. I’ve never felt like this about someone, and it’s not going to change, even if you never feel the same.”

He loved her? He’d said it twice now, but … No! She couldn’t allow Brig to love her. Yet she already loved him as well. She needed Hazel so much right now. “Can I use your phone to call Hazel? I need Hazel.”

Brig nodded and stared at her deeply as if memorizing her every feature. Instead of pulling out his phone, he wrapped his arms around her lower back, pulled her into his chest, and took complete control of her mouth. The kiss was full of all the passion and desire she’d come to expect from Brig, but it was even stronger than their previous kisses. He put everything into the kiss, and she couldn’t think of anything but the delicious warmth and pulsing power that his lips brought. He kissed her so thoroughly she forgot all the agony and heartache in her life. She felt like she was floating on a cloud of happiness. She never wanted to come back down.

He released her mouth but held her close. They were both breathing heavily.

“Please don’t let your guilt over Peyton’s death ruin our future. I love you,” he said again. “And nothing is going to change that.” He gave her one more tender kiss then released her and stepped back. Pulling out his cell phone, he handed it to her.

Claire had no response. She wanted to grab him and kiss him again and tell him that she loved him too. Instead, she clung to the phone, backed into her room, and shut her door.

She hated former Claire right now.