He’d come around to that way of thinking also, and it scared the hell out of him. Here it was small and confined and whoever was targeting him had access to plenty of people that... hell... he now cared about. This was a bad thing. A very bad thing.

“I have to go.”

“You can’t put distance between yourself and everyone, Dylan.”

How did she know what he was thinking?

“Maybe, but I can walk away from you and Grace, and you need to see that this is the right thing to do.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. It took all his willpower to remove them and climb out.

“This has to be over now, Piper. When we meet again, just a nod or a wave, nothing more. I need you to understand that.”

She sank below the surface, watching as he grabbed her towel and dried off. It was freezing out there, but with that came clarity. What he was doing was right.

“Can I ask you something before you go, Dylan?”

“Yes.” He pulled on his jeans, then reached for the shirt and sweater.

“If this hadn’t happened... if someone wasn’t after you, would you want to stay away from me?”

She was gripping the edge of the tub, hair slicked back, watching him. Dylan battled the urge to kiss her again; the need to hold her was so strong he stepped back.

“I’m not a happily-ever-after kind of guy, Piper, I think I made that clear from the start.” Dylan kept his voice deliberately cool.

“So it was just sex for you? The time with Grace and me in Rummer... all of it?”

“No. I was there as your friend, but there will never be anything more, Piper.”

He felt her eyes on him as he pulled on his socks and shoes. He was lying, Dylan knew that now. She was important to him, but he couldn’t deal with that now... maybe not ever.

“I don’t believe you.”

His head shot up, eyes locking on hers.

“In fact, I think you’re nothing like the man who arrived in Ryker Falls anymore.”

“Don’t make me into someone I’m not.”

“The thing is, Dylan, I’ve made sure never to fall for a guy who isn’t honest, loyal, and a general all-round nice guy.”

What did she mean by “fall for”? Dylan definitely did not feel a jolt of pure joy at the thought of this beautiful, amazing woman falling for him.

“We’re not happening, Piper.”

“Sure, you said that, and I’m not dumb, I get it, and the reasons why... well one of them anyway. But here’s the thing, Dylan.”

He stopped lacing up his trainers and looked at her.

“I love you.”

Their eyes held for long, terrifying seconds, and then he turned and walked away.

Chapter 32