Hoping he’d had the decency to leave out the more embarrassing details, Harper hitched her purse higher on her shoulder. Axel wasn’t all that great at keeping secrets, but he wasn’t vindictive. If he’d told Karoline, it was because he was hurt, or suddenly insecure, not because he was out to get her. But still… “I learned that Axel isn’t the only man in the world, I guess,” she said.

Her sister studied her closely. “And how did you learn that?”

“By meeting someone I found—” she searched for the appropriate word “—interesting.”

“You mean attractive.”

She thought of Tobias, how he’d put on her skates and kept her from falling every time she wobbled on the ice. He was big and strong and kind. She also thought of his smile—how sexy it was—and the way he kissed and did other things that were even more enjoyable. “Interesting and attractive.”

Karoline’s jaw dropped. “So you are dating someone else.”

Was that all Axel had said—that there was now another man in the picture? “One date isn’t ‘dating’ someone.”

“It’s a step in the right direction. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it was nothing.” She held her breath, waiting to see if her sister would contradict her. If Axel had told her she’d slept with this other man, Karoline would definitely have something to say about it.

“You’re not planning to see him again?”

Harper let her breath go in relief. Apparently, Axel hadn’t said too much. “No.”

“Why not?”

Because she knew where it would go if she did. “I’ll be returning to Colorado with my kids, where I’ll get back on my feet and continue to heal before I risk my heart again.”

“He knows that?”

“Of course.”

Karoline didn’t respond right away. After a few seconds, she said, “That’s why you won’t accept Axel’s calls…”

Harper raked her fingers through her hair. “It’s not that I won’t accept them. It’s more that…that there’s no reason for him to call me. He ended our marriage. And now that it’s over, I need to move on. If I’m talking to him all the time that’ll be much harder. If he needs something, he can always text me.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!”

“Then you should be glad.”

“I am. I’m just wondering who this other guy is. Don’t tell me he’s the one who gave you the rose…”

Harper didn’t see any harm in admitting that. “As a matter of fact, he is.”

“What’s his name?”

“Does it matter? You won’t know him. He’s never heard of you or Terrance. He’s only lived in Silver Springs for five months.”

“Does he have any kids?”

“No. Never been married.”