Elle kept busy during her last two days at Oak Bramble. She spent hours at the viewpoint, took long baths, and plowed through the stack of books she’d brought. She even decorated the back patio for a special evening dinner Jess had planned, complete with hanging lights and candles, although she’d had to beg Jess to let her help out again.

By the time her last day had arrived and she was due at the Murphy House, she’d rebuilt the walls around her heart. She barely thought about Justin.

Liar.

She casually “ran into” him a few times because she couldn’t stay away. Each time, he’d give her one of his thunderous looks, like he was half exasperated with her and half … hungry for her.

She should be happy. Looks aside, Justin was giving her space. That was a good thing.

At least, that was what she tried to tell herself.

By the time her taxi arrived, ready to take her to Murphy House, Elle had said her goodbyes to everyone but him. She had just turned to go back to the inn to fix her mistake when another vehicle pulled into the drive, spitting gravel as it stopped.

"Elle," a familiar voice called.

Carter strode toward her, his smile blinding white.

"Where were you?" he asked Elle. "I've been looking for you."

Just then, another voice called her name.

“Elle,” Justin said. Then, when he saw Carter, “What’s he doing here?”

Elle looked between the two men.

“Carter,” she said. “This is Justin.”

Carter eyed Justin. She watched the judgment pass over his face before he turned back to Elle, ignoring Justin as if he didn’t matter. "I need to talk to you.” He spared a look for Justin. “Alone."

Elle didn't know what to say. She didn't want to see Carter. Didn't want to speak to him. But did she owe him the chance to speak with her?

There was an awkward silence. "Well I better get back to work,” Justin said. He backed away before adding, “Goodbye, Princess. It’s been … interesting.”

Elle didn’t know what to say, and she certainly didn’t want to say anything to Justin in front of Carter. So she turned back to Carter, ready to tell him to leave.

"Let's get dinner in town," he said, rushing to speak. "I know we both have a lot to say. I think we should be adults here. Talk it out."

Her heart told her to walk away, but her head told her to listen, to be polite. He was saying all of the right things. Everything she wanted him to say that day on the plane—a day that felt impossibly far away now.

Elle frowned but covered with a smile. "I need to take my things to Murphy House,” she said. “But … I can meet you for dinner. You’re right. There are things we should talk about. How about I meet you in Asheville?”

Carter smiled. "Perfect."

They made plans, and Elle got into her taxi after Carter left in his rental car. While Oak Bramble faded in the taxi driver’s rearview mirror, she couldn’t help but feel as though she was missing something—something she couldn’t name or understand, but something important nonetheless.

* * *

Elle picked at her food. Carter had chosen a French restaurant in downtown Asheville. He'd already filled the air with talk of what he’d done the last week, and manners made her pretend a passing interest. He swore he hadn’t shown up sooner because he wanted to give her space. What he thought she’d do with that “space”—forgive him? move on?—wasn’t clear to Elle.

“The restaurants here really don’t compare to what we have in the city, don’t you agree?“ Carter speared a piece of fish and took a bite. When he sipped his wine he held the glass with a delicate grace.

He was everything Elle should want—well-mannered, rich, charming—but she found herself wishing she were back at Oak Bramble. Hell, she’d even take mucking out bathrooms over having this conversation with Carter.

Elle wasn’t even looking forward to her night at Murphy House. She wanted to watch twilight creep over the mountains from the viewpoint at Oak Bramble. She wanted to see the lights come on in the growing dark.

She wanted to be with Justin.

Elle tried to pull herself back to the moment. Back to Carter. Back to duty and politeness, manners and reason.

“Well this restaurant is lovely," she said.

He shrugged. “I suppose,” he said, looking as though he’d rather disagree.

Carter was tiptoeing around her, acting like a repentant dog who wants to leave the dog house.

She put down her fork. “Carter, why did you ask me to dinner?”

He took a careful sip of his wine. He put down his glass, then dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. “I’m glad you asked,” he said. He looked into her eyes. “I wanted to apologize for my indiscretion on the plane.”

“Indiscretion?” she asked sweetly. “Do you mean when you had sex with another woman?”

Carter cleared his throat. His eyes slid to the table next to them, then back to Elle. “Well. Yes. If you must say it like that.”

“I must, Carter. I really must.”

“No need to get bitchy.”

“You don’t get to say that to me,” she snapped. “In fact, let me give you a little piece of advice. Never tell a woman not to get bitchy—it’s a fantastic way to piss us off.”

“Sorry,” he said. “You’re right. That was uncalled for.”

The waiter appeared and Carter asked for the bill. They were silent while they waited. Around them, the restaurant hummed with the sound of couples chatting in happy, muted voices. It stood in stark contrast to the icy pall hanging around Elle and Carter’s table.

Once the waiter took Carter’s payment, Carter ran a hand through his hair. It wasn’t a gesture Elle had seen him use before, and it reminded her of Justin.

Carter cleared his throat.

She waited.

“Elle, I messed up.” He took a deep breath. “That day on the plane, you started talking about your sister’s wedding and babies and, well, I panicked. I started thinking about us, about our wedding. It was too much. The redhead approached me, and, well … I had no idea it would hurt you so much.”

She couldn’t stay quiet. “Of course it hurt me!” she said.

Elle wasn’t the same woman she was a week ago, and she wasn’t willing to compromise. She was tired of pretending that a life with Carter—or any man who treated women the way he did—was what she wanted.

“Why would you even think that it wouldn’t hurt me? We were dating. More than dating.” She was hot and cold all at once. Flushed with anger, but burning with resolve; as though the hurt he’d caused had turned into strength when she hadn’t been looking. “I saw the ring, Carter. You were going to propose, weren’t you?”

He didn’t answer.

“That’s what I thought.” She shook her head. “You panicked. Freaked out. Whatever you want to call it. Instead of telling me how you felt like a normal person, you cheated on me. You can try to paint a pretty picture, but those are the facts. A simple ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t going to cut it.”

Her throat tightened, and she blinked back tears.

“And I don’t want to be with a man who would treat another person like that. I don’t care about the rest—nothing is worth pretending that what you did, that the way you treated me was okay.”

“I know,” Carter said. He dropped his head. “I am so sorry. Elle, please. I don’t want to lose you. I know what I did was wrong. I can’t change that. I can only promise you I’ll do better in the future.”

He paused to take something from his pocket.

“I love you, Elle,” he said. He reached across the table to take her hand and pressed a small, hard object into her palm. “Please forgive me.”

Elle opened her fingers. A diamond on a simple gold band shone against her skin. It was everything she wanted. Well, everything she had wanted. Right down to the square-cut of the diamond. More, it was the symbol of safety and security she had wanted, and the future that fit within the parameters of what her mother expected of her.

This was just like Carter, she realized. He’d do something to upset her, act like an ass, but then later apologize and act like a completely different person. She thought he would change. She thought the wild personality swings were normal.

Now, she knew better.

Elle looked her fill, then handed the ring back.

“It’s over between us. I can’t marry you.”

Carter nodded slowly. “I really messed this up,” he said.

“Yeah,” she replied. “You did.”

He actually looks miserable, she thought, somehow surprised. Was it possible he truly didn’t know what hurt he’d caused?

She leaned forward. “You’re not a completely terrible person,” she said.

“Excuse me?”

“Someday, the right woman for you will come along, and you’ll realize she’s worth changing for.”

“How do you know she hasn’t come along already?” he asked, eyeing her meaningfully.

Elle glanced away.

Carter let out a long breath. “Okay. I get it. I can take a hint.” He sat back in his seat. “So what now?”

She lifted one shoulder. “Enjoy your time in the mountains. Then go home.”

“I’m assuming your mother doesn’t know about this,” he said, waving a hand to encompass their situation.

“No, she doesn’t.”

Carter leaned forward. “Take me.”

She blinked.

“I’ll be your date to the wedding.”

Elle started to shake her head.

“Wait,” he said. “Don’t answer now. Think about it. I know how important this is to you. We could go together, play the act. No one has to know what happened. Hell, you can ditch me after the wedding. Whatever you decide.”

“Why would you do that?”

He sighed. “I have a lot of making up to do. Just let me do one nice thing for you.” One corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “It’ll ease my conscience.”

Elle toyed with her napkin. She hated to admit it, but she was tempted. Going with Carter to the wedding would buy her time before she had to tell her family the truth.

But was it worth it?

She tried to imagine telling Justin that she’d decided to take Carter to the wedding. He’d think she was desperate for approval, so desperate she’d trade what was right for what made her look good.

And he’d be right.

Even thinking about it made her stomach swim.

“Thank you for the offer, Carter,” Elle said. “But I think it’s time for me to stand on my own.”