A sound from across the yard had him going still, hoping he might hear it again. There it was again, and it sounded like a sniffle. Paul put down his beer bottle and was walking across the small strip of yard between the main house and Hope’s cabin before he could think of all the reasons why he shouldn’t.

“Hope.”

“Go home, Paul.”

“You’re upset.”

“It’s not your problem,” she said, her voice catching on a sob that brought him closer to her.

“I thought we said we were friends, if nothing else.”

“We are, but—”

“No buts. Friends are there for each other when they’re needed.” He took the steps to her porch and followed the sound of her sobs to the small wicker sofa, then sat next to her. “What’s wrong? It’s not Ethan, is it?”

“No, he’s fine.”

“Then what?” He put his arm around her.

“Dear God, what’re you wearing?”

“Not much of anything.”

“You shouldn’t be here, especially when you’re mostly naked.”

“I can’t stand that you’re upset. Is it because of me?”

She wiped her face but didn’t reply.

“I’m sorry. I’ll go.”

“Don’t,” she said softly—so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

Emboldened by her invitation to stay, he drew her in closer until her head rested against his bare chest and her hand lay flat against his stomach, inches above the proof of how badly he wanted her. And it was her he wanted. Not just any woman, but this woman who’d tied him up in knots for weeks now, if he were being honest with himself.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Everything is wrong.”

“That can’t possibly be true.”

“If I told you what’s wrong, you’d want nothing to do with me or Ethan.”

“I can’t imagine wanting nothing to do with you or Ethan. I care about both of you. We all do. You’re part of the Martinez family now.”

That only made her cry harder.

Her despair made Paul feel helpless. He ran his hand over her back, wishing there was something he could do to comfort her. She was always so strong and capable, even when his mother was being mean to her. To see her reduced to tears was painful for him.

“Talk to me. Tell me what has you so upset. I want to help if I can.”

“There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothing anyone can do.”

Paul recalled what Ethan had told him about his father and tried to decide whether he should tell Hope what he knew. Would that make things worse or would it make it easier for her to talk about what had upset her? Since it didn’t seem possible to make things worse, he decided to put it out there before he lost his nerve.

“Ethan told me about his dad.”