Anna and her friends stood in front of the carousel, their eyes peeled for Janie among the crowd of kids and parents waiting in line to ride on the whirling horses or on the train behind it, or just getting an ice cream from the snack bar.

“I’m not seeing her,” Anna said a few minutes later, trying not to let the disappointment overwhelm her. She’d been so sure.

“Well, there are a lots of things here she might be taking in, like the view of the lake, or the hiking trail. Maybe the—”

“Wait.” It took another minute before the carousel made it around again for Anna to be sure. When she saw the tear-stained face, the messy blonde hair, and look of hopelessness, she knew she’d found her. Anna pointed to her sister. “I’ve got it from here, guys.”

“Okay. We’re going to go walk around for a bit. Text us when you’re ready.”

Anna waited for her sister to exit the ride.

Janie saw her as she reached the gate, her back stiffening.

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said and sailed out, returning to the line to get on again.

“That’s okay. Maybe you can hear me out,” Anna said, following behind her. The entrance gate closed, which meant that the ride was full and she would have the time it took for the ride to finish to talk. “Janie, I know you have no reason to believe me, but I really am sorry.”

“Sorry for what exactly?” Janie asked, not turning around.

“Let me go back a step first. I discovered who my dad was when I was thirteen years old. When I looked him up, trying to find out anything I could about him, I found…you. The picture was of the two of you on your eighth birthday and his arms were around you. It broke my heart because…because I wanted to be that little girl. Although I knew it wasn’t your fault that Malcolm wasn’t part of my life, I did resent you. A lot. So unlike you, on his death, I wasn’t surprised to find out I had a sister.”

Janie glanced back at her, briefly, as if contemplating what Anna had said. She was listening.

“When you reached out to me, I had no intention of responding. My editor saw the story about Malcolm and his long-lost daughter and threatened me.” Anna relayed her editor’s ultimatum, leading up to the point when Nick offered her the bargain. “I’m not proud of this, but it is what it is. What I didn’t expect was to find out how much I needed a sister and how much I would come to love that sister.”

That did it, and Janie turned around to face Anna, tears glistening in her eyes as she nodded. “I never expected to love you as much either,” Janie said, holding her hand out.

Anna stared at it for a second before taking it in hers. “I want you to know that that’s the extent of my pretense. Yes, I did find out yesterday about Dax and Sara, but I didn’t think it was my place to tell you, especially since I knew he’d been wrestling with his guilt for so long and planned on coming clean to you himself. I kept it to myself, temporarily, but I would never have let you walk down that aisle without knowing, even if I had to be the one to tell you. Believe me when I say I would never have humiliated you the way that story did today.”

Janie nodded. “I know that. Now. And I’m sorry that I doubted you for a minute. We’re sisters. I would have come around eventually, you know,” she said, smiling for the first time. “But…how did you know where to find me?”

Anna breathed out a shaky sigh of relief. Half the weight on her shoulders seemed to lift. “You told me all about this place, remember? It was kind of a long shot, but Dax used the GPS coordinates from your phone to estimate the direction you were going. I figured it out from there.”

Janie bit her bottom lip. “Have you heard from him? From Dax?”

Now Anna smiled. “You don’t seem that surprised that he was spying on you.”

She looked a bit sheepish. “It might have crossed my mind that he could find me that way. I guess it was a test to see if he’d come for me.” She grew pensive. “But he’s not here.”

“I’m sure that, once he catches up, he will be. Up until a few days ago, I didn’t know that much about Dax other than that he was Nick’s kid brother. But in the time I’ve spent with you both, I can see he loves you and would do anything for you. I also think I can understand, just a little, why he was afraid to tell you. He didn’t want to lose you.”

“She’s got that right.”

Anna whirled around, stunned when she spotted Dax standing a few feet away. Along with Nick. A rush of conflicting emotions hit her at seeing his familiar handsome face.

Hurt. Disappointment. Anger. And yes, even a second of happiness, which was ridiculous.

How long had they been standing there? Listening to her spill her heart out? This man walked away from her, believing the worst things about her, after all the time they’d spent together. He had convinced her that he might be the one person who understood her the most.

She’d been so off base.

Her guard up, she stepped back, allowing Dax to step in between her and Janie.

“Janie. You have to know that you’re the only woman on this earth that I want to be with and to see walk down that aisle and promise to love me forever. I screwed up and I will spend the rest of my life making up for that if you can forgive me.”

Anna walked a few more feet away, wanting to give them the space they needed to talk. It took her a second to realize that she wasn’t alone. Nick was next to her.

“Anna.”

She didn’t stop, continuing to walk. Nothing he could say would take away the pain that he’d caused her when, in that moment, he doubted her.

“I’m glad you found her first,” he said, determined to speak to her despite the quick strides she was taking to get away from him. “I won’t try to figure out how you did it, but thank you. It went a long way in helping Dax out of this mess.”

She seethed. “I didn’t do it for you. Or even for Dax. As you already know, the cat’s out of the bag. Our deal is off. I’m not trying to win points from you. I did this because I care for Janie.”

He didn’t say anything at first, just matched her stride for stride. “You’re right to be angry. It took the drive out here for me to clear my head and to let go of some of my own baggage. I had to realize that you’re not like any of the other people who’ve hurt me before, who used me for their own reasons.”

“Great. I’m happy for you.” It still didn’t dampen the fire inside her gut as she remembered the humiliation she’d suffered a few hours ago. Remembered the pain of his rejection, and how how easily he’d let her go. “I hope that you’ve been spared hours of future therapy.”

“Anna, can you please stop for one minute so I can talk to you?”

She wanted to say no, but she also realized that the sooner she got this over with, let him say his piece, the sooner she could close this chapter of her life and move on.

Well, as soon and Janie and Dax made up and got married tonight. Then she’d close the chapter on her life that might have once had Nick’s pages mixed with hers.

Coming to a halt, she tipped her head impatiently. “Fine. What do you want to tell me, Nick?”

He looked serious, his face drawn tight as if in pain. He licked his lips before speaking, something that once would have had her glued to the movement, wondering at the sensations. Not this time.

“I want to tell you how much of an idiot I am. I shouldn’t have needed an hour or even a minute to consider everything when you first asked me. I should have known immediately that you could never have done something like that. Hell…maybe I did, deep down, but I’m not used to trusting the people around me. I’ve been burned by people who I thought had cared about me and I’m not saying this as an excuse, but so you maybe can understand where I was coming from. It took me longer than it should have for me to realize that you aren’t like them. You’re not only witty and smart, beautiful and funny, but also honest, to a fault sometimes. I failed you when you needed me most, but I’m here to tell you that it won’t happen again.”

He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath until he could say the words.

Words that somehow still cut her like a knife. Because it didn’t change the fact that when it really counted, Nick hadn’t been there. How many more times would he doubt her and question her intentions?

“I’m sorry, Nick. I know that, right now, you probably mean what you said. All of it. But if something came up tomorrow and I was accused of something just as terrible and the facts were just as damning, would you need another moment to consider everything? Or would you take me at my word and know in your heart that I’m not capable of something like that?”

“Anna, I—”

“No. Please, Nick. I mean, who were we kidding? The idea that you and I could have worked out was ludicrous. There are too many obstacles for us to ever work out.”

“I don’t believe that. Tell me one.”

“Your mother, for one. She hates me, a sentiment that I assure you is similarly reciprocated. She’d sooner set herself on fire than see you with someone like me. Someone who doesn’t shine in social situations, who usually says the wrong things and pushes when she should step back. I have no important political or social connections, and other than a small inheritance that I have no intention of ever touching, I’m broke.”

“Do you think any of that means anything to me?” he asked angrily, the tic in his cheek pulsing, the fire returned in his eyes as he glared at her.

“I don’t know, but it should. A man in your position has to think about those kinds of things. Maybe you don’t think you will right now, but it will be important one day.” She sighed, her heart weary. “I think that this little meltdown today helped me to put things in better perspective. I don’t think we’re a good match.”

“Now who is making judgment calls? Who’s willing to believe the worst things about me even though I’m telling you that you’re mistaken?”

This was getting them nowhere, except causing more accusations to be flung about. Accusations that wouldn’t change the facts. There wasn’t going to be a second chance.

“Maybe I am. Look, Nick. I’m not trying to hurt you or pay you back. I’m just being honest. Once this whole wedding is finally behind us and we go our own ways, you’ll see in time that I’m right.”

He opened his mouth like he was going to argue with her but instead pursed his lips. She tried to read the expressions that flittered across his face, but they were so fleeting.

“Anna!” Janie called.

Nick glanced back at Janie and then to her again. “There’s a lot more we need to say to each other but now’s not the time. I’m not giving up, Anna. Not by a long shot.”

“Then you’re wasting your time.”

She turned and Janie reached her, pulling Dax along behind her. “You were right. I know that if I don’t make this man my husband today, I’ll always regret it. So if we want to have any hope of getting our hair in any kind of semblance of a wedding style, we should go now. Maybe you and Nick can drive back and give me and Dax some time to talk.”

Wasn’t going to happen. She couldn’t be stuck in a car with that man again.

“I have a better idea,” she said, her tone even. “Let me talk to my friends, let them know that everything’s squared away, and then I’ll ride shotgun with you while Dax and Nick follow. You need to build up the anticipation of seeing each other again later tonight.”

She was relieved to see Dax and Janie agreed with her. Nick was another story, but she didn’t have time to worry about that for long as she parted with the group to seek out her friends.

Nick wasn’t part of her story anymore. The sooner he accepted that, the better off they’d be.

* * *

With Dax’s future no longer hanging in the balance, their drive home had taken more of a leisurely feel with Dax barely bumping up to the posted speed limit. By the time they got back, the bride and her maid of honor were already sequestered upstairs for the full beauty treatment—meaning Nick wouldn’t get another chance to try and speak to Anna until after the ceremony.

And speak to her he would, even if he had to lock her into a bathroom with him to get her to hear him out. He wasn’t giving up on her. He chose her. First and always.

With two more hours to go before the ceremony, Nick and Dax joined the other groomsmen holed up in Malcolm’s study, playing a game of pool and enjoying the Scotch whiskey that he and Anna had partaken of the other night. The other guys didn’t know the details of what had happened and weren’t too concerned with them either. The status quo had resumed; the wedding was on, and that’s all that mattered.

“Let’s have a drink,” he said to Dax, who looked like he could use it, his face back to a pale almost-green hue. “How you holding up, anyway?” he asked, filling the glasses.

“I’m doing fine,” he said, taking one of the glasses. “Well, I’m afraid my stomach is going to turn inside out, but I’m excited, too. The better question might be, how are you doing?”

Nick glanced up at his brother and then back to the decanter that he covered and returned to the side table. “I’ll be better when this thing is over and some semblance of normalcy returns to our lives.”

“Normalcy is overrated. I kind of prefer the roller-coaster ride that comes from being in love. I think you do, too. You do love her, don’t you?”

He didn’t have to ask who Dax meant, nor did he have to think about it. “Hell yes.”

“Then what are you going to do about it?”

Before Nick could respond, the door of the study opened and their mother stood ominously at the threshold. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need a few words with my sons. Would you mind excusing us? Just for a few minutes and then you can return to your excitement.”

Nick shared a glance with Dax, who knew that the use of that lolling, calm tone meant that Kathryn St. Claire was in a dangerous mood.

She smiled at Jake, Chris, and Josh as they meandered out, waiting until the door shut for her smile to reverse into a tight frown. “Would one of you like to tell me why that woman is back in this house? Hasn’t she caused enough trouble for one day?”

There was only one woman she could be referring to.

Nick slammed his glass back to the sideboard. “Anna is here because she’s as much a part of this wedding as anyone. She’s Janie’s sister, but more than that—and brace yourself for this—she’s the woman I love.”

Kathryn’s mouth opened in disgust. “All you men are alike, thinking with the little head instead of the one you should. You’re just like your father. Can’t you see that she’s only here to do more damage to this family?”

“I’m not here to argue with you, so I’m only going to say this once. Anna is not responsible for that story.”

“Well, then who else had the means and access to make it happen?”

“I don’t know and right now it’s not my priority.”

He glanced at Dax, who shrugged and said, “Maybe it was Sara. She’d seen the writing on the wall and knew it was only a matter of time. This way she could appear the victim, maybe earn some sympathy from you.”

“But as your brother and I already discussed, Sara stood to lose more than gain from this,” Kathryn said condescendingly, picking up her son’s drink and taking it with her as she settled onto a chair.

Nick forced himself to take in some breaths. He wouldn’t let her rile him up. He had too many other things to be focusing on.

“No. Maybe she’s right, Nick,” Dax said, his tone suddenly accommodating. “We should look at who had the most to gain. Who were the primary targets? One would assume they were me and Janie. Someone wanted to break us up.”

But that was too obvious, in Nick’s point of view.

Okay. If they were doing this…he considered the problem from another point of view. “Let’s look at the big picture. What was the biggest impact of this story?”

And as soon as he asked it, the solution was obvious.

Dax seemed to be taking a little longer, as he said, “I don’t know. Breaking us up? Telling everyone about your plans to run for the state senate? Tarnishing dad’s memory?”

Kathryn didn’t answer, only smiling like she was humoring them.

“Any common thread?” Nick asked again.

“I guess…us. Our family.”

“And we’re missing another obvious fallout. When that story broke, everyone immediately concluded that Anna was responsible, including, to some degree, me, leaving Anna to leave in shame and humiliation. Which might have been the end game all along.”

Dax turned his head to stare at their mom.

Kathryn groaned, rolling her eyes. “I feel like I’m in a game of Clue. You don’t both think I had something to do with this? What would I have to gain except humiliation when everyone read about my late husband’s infidelity?”

“Come on. You love that kind of attention, anything to keep you and the St. Claires relevant.” Nick shook his head. “And all this time, I thought it was Sara who was feeding the press all that stuff. I should have known that by hinting at an engagement, a future alliance with the DeWinterses, that you were hoping to set things up that you wanted.”

“You needed a nudge. I knew that you and Sara were perfect for each other and you needed that push.”

Dax looked like he was still recovering. “You really did this, Mother? Why would you risk hurting Janie like that?”

“Dax, let’s be honest. It was your actions that hurt Janie. From what I could gather from Sara, you already were going to tell her. How was I to know that you still wouldn’t have come clean before the story came out? I assumed she’d already know. But let’s not focus on that, since it all turned out and Janie has forgiven you. Now everyone’s talking about Nick and this upcoming election.”

Nick loved his mother, and yes, he knew that she loved him and Dax, but sometimes she could be really…awful.

“You’re forgetting the most important thing in all this. The most important person—at least to me—is Anna. Anna didn’t deserve this.” He shook his head. “I won’t pretend to understand why you find such pleasure in trying to destroy Anna Blake. Was it because she stood up to you, to the St. Claire name, all those years back in high school? Because she survived your attempts to kick her out of school and off the paper? Probably all of the above. Your actions have been petty, cruel, and undeserved. I’m not going to tolerate any more of it, not where Anna’s concerned. You had better get on board with the fact that I’m in love with her and I’m going to fight my hardest to win her back. When I do get her back, if you fail to show her the proper respect and kindness she’s due, then I’m not going to be able to have you in my life anymore.”

Kathryn’s usual smug smile was gone, replaced with shock and maybe even a little regret. Nick didn’t have time to stand there and wait for an apology that was probably another year in coming, though. He had things to do if he was going to do what he said and convince Anna to give him another chance.

He headed to the door. “Dax, I’m going to need your help.”

“As long as I’m standing in the church in one hour and fifty minutes,” Dax said, following him out, “I’m all yours.”

Nick knew he had a lot to prove to Anna, that he needed to show her the kind of man he could be. The kind of man he could be with her at his side.

He wasn’t going anywhere ever again.