“Listen to you talk about how much you need him.” He met her eyes. “You don’t need anyone, especially not him. He betrayed your trust. He had a romantic relationship with another woman while married to you. He isn’t the man you seem to want to believe he is.”

“You don’t understand,” she said.

“So you keep telling me.” He paused as the waiter set a scotch before him. “But the truth is I do, which doesn’t speak very highly of my judgment when it comes to you, because I do know better.” He lifted his glass to his lips and took a generous swallow.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’m incapable of thinking clearly when it comes to you. Instead of staying with a woman who loves me and dealing with the aftermath of the storm your husband’s words unleashed, I’ve left her, upset and confused, so I could come to you.”

Lina’s heart leapt at his words. “Nick—”

“Hello!” Adele stopped beside their table.

“What are you doing here?” Lina frowned at her.

“I didn’t like the thought of you sitting here alone.” Her eyes were on Nick as he came to his feet. “I’m assuming you’re the famous Dr. Drayton. I’m Adele, Lina’s unmarried and very available sister.”

“Ignore her,” Lina said.

Nick nodded at Adele. “I hate to run. There’s somewhere I need to be.”

Adele touched her chest. “I seriously want you to stay. I’ve been hearing about you for months, and now I have you in the flesh.”

“Another time.” He took out his wallet and threw several bills onto the table before shifting his attention to Lina. “Bye.”

“Nick! Wait!” Lina was up and following him onto the sidewalk beside the patio. “Please.”

“Lina.” He stopped, looking down at her. “I need to leave.”

“But we weren’t done talking.”

“Yes, we were.”

She didn’t like the look of finality in his eyes. “No.” She closed the distance between them and hugged him hard. “Don’t be upset with me,” she whispered into his neck, running her lips along his warm skin.

“I’m not upset with you.”

“Then hug me back,” she whispered. “Just once.”

“You’re killing me,” he said, but then, as if he had no willpower of his own, he engulfed her in his arms, squeezing her almost too tightly. “I love you,” he whispered against her ear. “If you leave him, come find me.”

Chapter 28

28

“Happy birthday, baby.”

Lina opened her eyes and looked into Phil’s. He was leaned over her, one hand on each side of the mattress. “Good morning.” She stretched her arms above her head. “What time is it?”

“After nine.” He met her lips for a soft kiss. “Relax,” he whispered against her lips when she moved to sit up. “I turned off your alarm so you could sleep in. Everyone’s gone.”

“Logan—”