His heart did something strange when her face pressed against the bare skin at his neck.

“I’m in awe of you, Audrey. I hate myself for what I did to you. For the situation that has put you in. And even after all that, you’re here, working with me. You know this park, and you know these people and their cabins. I’d be lost without you.”

She lifted her head, letting him see the tears that spilled down her cheeks. She’d entranced him from his first glimpse of her face—those same broad cheeks had been smudged with dirt, and her dark hair had been pulled back in a scraggly braid. She’d looked earthy. Rugged. Utterly enchanting.

When he looked at her, he couldn’t begin to understand the choices he’d made that had deliberately hurt her. He had to force himself to remember the chemical attack in Prague. And even then, his cruelty took his own breath away.

“I am so desperately sorry.”

More tears spilled as she gazed into his eyes, reminding him of the stare down they’d shared before their first intense kiss.

She smiled then, and he guessed she was thinking the same thing. “Blink five times if you want to kiss me.” Her words were an echo of the exchange that had preceded that first kiss.

He chuckled and blinked the required number. “I always want to kiss you, Dr. Kendrick. You never need to ask.” He brushed away the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, cradling her head as he did so.

“I think I’m starting to believe you.”

“About me wanting to kiss you?”

“That, yes. And also that you are genuinely sorry.”

Now his eyes teared, which astonished him. It shouldn’t, though. She’d given him no small thing, and it was far more than he had any right to hope for. “When this is all over, I want to take you to your favorite restaurant. Wine and dine you. I know it’s more than I deserve, but please, give me something to look forward to and tell me you’ll go out with me. Even if it’s only once and only so you can tell me off.”

She gave him a weak laugh even as more tears spilled. “Fine. I’ll let you buy me dinner at my favorite restaurant.”

He dropped a kiss on her cheek, brushing away her salty tears with his lips and feeling strangely light at her promise, even knowing she was probably only saying it to appease him. “Excellent. Where are we going?”

“It’s an amazing seafood restaurant. Asian fusion. Everything on the menu is divine.” She lifted her chin and gave him a crafty grin. “It’s on Oahu.”