The scrape of her fingernails over his scalp made him tremble.

“Why’d you stop?” she asked in a small voice.

“Same reason as last night. Because if I don’t stop, I won’t be able to.”

She squirmed under him, and he had to bite his lip to keep from moaning. “Paul…”

“We’re going to the mainland on Tuesday. We’ll have a day or two alone together. Between now and then, think about whether this is what you really want. And if you’re in, you have to be all-in. Okay?”

“All or nothing?”

“We can’t do this halfway, Hope. It wouldn’t be fair to any of us, particularly Ethan.”

“You’re right. I know you are, but if we’re going all-in, you need to talk to Alex about it.”

“I will.” Though it was literally painful to tear himself away from her, he pushed up and withdrew. He offered her a hand and helped her sit up, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Are you okay?”

“I’m better. Thank you for listening.”

“I’m sorry for everything you went through, but that has nothing at all to do with us. Okay?”

“Okay,” she said tentatively, letting him know it would take a while before she truly believed him.

That was fine. He had nothing but time that he was willing to give her until she realized he was nothing like the man who’d hurt her so badly. Paul kissed her one more time. “I’ll go to the funeral with you in the morning. I don’t want you to go through that alone”

“That’s really nice of you. Thanks.”

“You’re going to figure out that you can count on me, Hope. I’ll see you in the morning.” He kissed her forehead and got up, forcing himself to walk away, to give her the time to decide if this was what she really wanted. And if she decided it wasn’t? What then? Well, he’d have to accept it and move on, but at least he’d know why.

He took the steps to the back porch and went in through the screen door, stopping short at the sight of Alex, nude, standing in front of the open refrigerator, guzzling a bottle of seltzer water.

“What the hell?” Paul muttered, averting his gaze from his brother’s naked rear end.

Alex closed the fridge, killing the light. “Sorry. Where you been?” When the light over the stove came on, Alex was, thankfully, leaning against the counter.

“Outside.”

“In your underwear?”

“At least I’m wearing underwear.”

“I thought you were asleep.”

“It was a little too noisy around here to sleep.”

“Oh, um…” Alex flashed a big dopey grin. “Sorry again?”

“Hate to say I’m getting used to it, but…”

“We’re moving out next week.”

“Thank God,” Paul muttered.

“So you’re just walking around the backyard in your underwear?”