Elaine struggled to zip her favorite black cocktail dress. After a couple weeks in Indigo Bay, eating all that cobbler, she was lucky it still fit well enough to wear tonight. Her long hair was resting on her shoulders, curled into symmetrical coils that framed her face. She’d done all her normal primping, but as she passed the mirror she felt like something was missing. Earrings. Check. Lipstick applied. Check. Her eyeliner was straight. She stared hard until she realized it was her smile. She hadn’t smiled since Davis dropped her off at her car that night and she sped away without another word.

Now as her heart thudded in her chest, the afternoon having too quickly turned to night, she wondered if she’d made the right choice. The charity event would be held downstairs so having a room in the hotel made things easier. In reality, she just hadn’t wanted to spend the night alone in her apartment. Something about being at the hotel made everything feel less permanent. Less real.

Even hiding in the hotel, questions swirled in her mind. Was it principles that had her returning to New York? Was it fear? Fear of how quickly and resolutely she’d fallen for Davis? The questions spun, but the answers never surfaced.

A light knock on her door sent her jumping. She stepped back from her own reflection and resolved that maybe her smile might be elusive for a little while.

“Elaine, it’s me,” Mick said through the door, his voice far more steady than the last time they’d spoken.

Her raw nerves felt like another round of sandpaper had been unleashed on them as she swung the door open and glared at him. There he was standing right in front of her like a bashful fool. “I told you I’d meet you downstairs. This is not going to work if you keep finding new ways to piss me off. The whole point was for me to show people I’m fine, and there is no bad blood between us. Keep messing with my boundaries and there may be actual blood between us. Yours.”

“I know, but I was ready early, and I thought I’d come see how you were doing. Maybe we could walk down together.” He reached out a hand, his expensive gold watch catching the light. She’d seen him in a tux a few times before, but tonight it seemed ill fitting. The magic that had once buzzed between them had evaporated.

“I’m not here to pretend we’re still together,” she corrected. “I’m fine with showing everyone how fine I am, but I’m not letting you parade me around like we’re dating. That’s where I draw the line.”

Mick pulled his hand back as though she’d slapped it, tucking it quickly into his pocket. “That’s not it at all. I just figured, at one point in time you and I had a lot of fun together. We really understood each other. I miss that. I hoped we could just catch up a little, now that things have settled down. It was so tense in Indigo Beach.”

“Indigo Bay,” Elaine corrected as though the distinction was extremely important.

“Right,” he nodded. “But can you admit we used to be good together?”

“We did have fun,” she conceded. “But it was pretend. You know that.”

“That’s not how I see it, Lainie,” he said, tilting his head in that familiar way and turning up half his face in a smile. She could smack herself for all the times she fell for his charm. His tricks. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just had to tell you that your showing up here means everything to me. It’s a testament to the kind of person you are. To the kind of person I lost.”

“You didn’t lose me, Mick,” she said flatly. “I’m not a set of keys you misplaced. I’m a person you chose to use. I’m here now to try to put it all behind me. I’d prefer to meet you downstairs like we originally discussed.” Elaine folded her arms across her chest and waited for him to go.

“Of course,” he nodded and shuffled backward. “Sorry again.”

When he rounded the corner toward the elevator Elaine closed the door and drew in a deep breath. She’d been rattled by his deception, and the more time she had to reflect on it the more it chilled her to the core. A smart woman like her should certainly have been able to see through a man with bad intentions. Somehow though, Mick had snowballed her. So had Elizabeth. Did that mean her judgment was terrible. Could her impression and feelings for Davis be trusted?

Another small knock on the door sent Elaine into a near rage. If this was how Mick was going to spend his time tonight, she’d bail on this whole thing.

“I told you already, Mick, to go downstairs,” she said as she pulled the door open to find Davis standing there, a perfectly fitted tuxedo on and a single red rose in his hand.

“Davis,” she choked out, a hand flying up to her heart. “What are you doing here? How did you—?”

“I’m glad to hear you’re sending men away from your hotel room door, but I hope to break the trend.” His smile was wide but nervous.

“Come in,” she said, yanking his sleeve. “Get in here.”

“I thought of something to say,” he offered, still standing stiffly by the door, but at least inside the room now. “I thought of about a thousand things to say actually, but I know you don’t have that kind of time.”

“I’ll make time,” she smiled, her eyes dampening. “I have things I need to say too. But you first.”

“OK.” He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes for an extra beat. “I’m not sure where to start, but I just want you to know that I see things clearly now. You asked me to see this for what it is, and I can. I realize what is happening tonight. You aren’t going on a date with your ex. You are walking into a lion’s den to help someone who, on all accounts, wasn’t worthy of your help. You’re walking into a room full of people who laughed at you, or yelled at you, or intentionally tried to hurt you. Or, worse than that, a room full of people who pity you. I don’t know that I could do what you’re doing. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you intensely strong. The reasons you’re here tonight are the reasons you were so easy to fall in love with.”

She felt the tears that had welled in her eyes spill over as he handed her the rose and touched her cheek gently. “Davis, I’m not even sure I can walk in there tonight,” she admitted. “I thought I could. But I have no idea what people are going to say, how they’ll react. I’m second-guessing myself.”

He took her hand and pulled her in close. “Whatever you want, I’ve got your back. You want me to stay out of it, then forget I rented this tux and go in there on your own. If you want me by your side, I’ll be your shadow all night. Or if you want to run out of here right now and go eat hot dogs off a street cart in these fancy clothes, we can do that too. Whatever you want.”

“Option B,” she smiled, raising up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I don’t want to go down there and put on a show, pretend I’m happy. So the best thing I can do is show up with someone who actually makes me happy.”

“Does that ruin Mick’s plan?” Davis asked, looking only mildly concerned with that idea.

“He gets what he wants. Nothing can show them how little effect he had on me more than what a profound effect you have on me. I know if we walk in there together, I can do this.” She paused and stared him straight in the eyes, longing for something important. “You need to promise not to hit anyone.”

“Because it’s a fancy affair?” Davis asked, taking a step back and straightening his bow tie with sarcastic haughtiness.

“No, because the people around here have million dollar lawyers, and I’d prefer if you and I were heading back to Indigo Bay in the morning and not to your court hearing. I’m being serious. No matter what happens down there, don’t hit anyone.”

“I promise,” Davis assured her. “I won’t make things more complicated for you just because I want to bash a jerk’s face in.”

“And that means a lot to me,” she joked, slipping her arm in his and leaning on him. “Now don’t let me go until it’s time to leave there tonight.”

“How about I don’t let you go ever,” he asked, tightening his bicep and looking down at her lovingly.

“Deal.”