“That I am.” He grimly eyed the latest sports news, more of him being a druggie. Perfect.

Sam put her hands on her hips. “I want to offer you some advice.”

“I don’t—”

“Get over it. You’re getting your appeal and the retest tomorrow, and when the results come back, you’ll be proven right. End of story.”

“Only if I’m truly clean. But if that first test was accurate and I somehow really ingested, I could conceivably test positive again.” He shrugged. “Either way, people will always remember that I was accused of using.”

“People are idiots. We’ll get past it—somehow. I promise.” She turned to Wade, who was still just standing there. “And since when are you allergic to big fancy fund-raisers with all the fixings including sexy woman and good food?”

“I’m not.” Wade snatched the tux and headed toward the other room to change. “But we’re taking the stairs, even if it’s to the roof. No elevators.”

“Done.”

Later that night came yet another knock at the door. Tired of people, Pace considered not getting it, but on the off chance it was someone bringing him food, he made his way through the house. He pulled open the door and came face-to-face with the woman of his dreams.

“Two things,” she said quietly. “Well, three. One—I’ve never lied to you. Not once. Never will. Do you believe me?”

He looked into her eyes, which were filled with frustration, exhaustion, and a genuine warm affection for him. “Yes, I believe you. Actually, I believe in you, I always have, I just happen to be an ass when I’m in pain. I’m sorry for that. It comes naturally to me.”

“Not going to disagree with you there. Can I come in for thing two and thing three?”

“Sure.”

She walked into his living room and turned to face him. “Thing two. I told you how I wrote about Alex, because what he was doing was wrong. I would never do the same to you because you’ve not done anything wrong.”

“I know you wouldn’t. Holly—”

“I wouldn’t hold back, though, if you had. You should know that.”

She was looking at him, really seeing him, like so few did, and right then and there he realized something. She was one of the few people in his life who didn’t want anything from him, didn’t expect anything other than complete honesty at all times. Added to that heavy fact was that he really cared about her, deeply, perhaps more deeply than he’d ever cared about anyone before.

Ever.

He knew she was nearly done here in Santa Barbara, and in spite of him doing everything in his power to push her away, he didn’t want her to go. “I’d never ask you to hold back, Holly.”