“It was a serious offer. You matter to me, Flora. You—” He broke off, changing the words he’d been about to speak. “I’m so bad at this. There’s so much I want to say.”

“Just say it Jack. Say it.”

“It isn’t just the words, it’s the timing.”

“Timing?”

He hesitated, nervous, and she discovered that hesitation could be sexier than blistering confidence or masculine swagger. To be this nervous meant it mattered to him.

“This whole vacation must have been so hard for you. There’s Izzy, and Clare—and more water than you probably ever wanted to see in one lifetime. If I’d known about your mother, I wouldn’t have pushed you to come.”

She had a feeling those weren’t the words he’d been on the edge of speaking.

“That would have been a shame, because I like it here. And I chose to come, Jack.” She’d come because she was excited by the possibilities opening up ahead of her. Tempted by a life that was different from the one she’d been living.

“You wouldn’t have said no.”

“Are you calling me a coward?”

“You?” He gave a faint smile. “You were like a lioness last night. When you went and stood next to Izzy I thought you were getting ready to savage me.”

She’d temporarily forgotten about the night before. “Are you angry about that?” She’d wondered. After the flash heat of it had cooled a little, she’d stood there slightly startled at the words that had emerged from her mouth and wondered if maybe she should take them back. Izzy was his daughter, not hers. His problem, not hers.

“How could I be angry?” He stroked his fingers over her cheek. “You told me what you thought. You spoke the truth. That’s the sort of relationship I want. I don’t want you to feel you need to walk on eggshells. Intimacy means trusting each other. Sharing.”

“I know you’re worried about Izzy.”

“I am, and last night I handled it badly. I should have been more relaxed about the whole thing.”

“You don’t want her to go to college?”

His smile twisted. “I’m not that relaxed. Let’s just say I’m willing to back off and hope she comes to that conclusion herself. I honestly just want what’s best for her, even if right now she doesn’t believe that. But enough of Izzy. I want to talk about us. You. Coming here must have been so hard. Why did you agree to it?”

“I came because—” The words jammed in her mouth. Honesty. Intimacy. “I came because I have feelings for you. Strong feelings. And I know you have the children to think of, and that you probably—”