She’d fussed over Thomas until Mac picked him up, and then she announced she was tired and went to bed. Even though they’d slept in the same bed, they may as well have been in separate houses. He’d awoken to a note that said she’d gone to check on Buddy and to help Maddie. She had been out most of the day, returning in time to shower and change for dinner. The silence between them was deafening to Luke, and all of a sudden he couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled the truck off the road and brought it to a stop.

Sydney looked over at him. “What?”

“I might ask you the same thing. What’s going on, Syd?”

“Nothing.”

Luke wanted to yell and scream, but that was so not his style. “What happened yesterday that caused you to shut down on me?”

Her eyes widened and her lips pursed, but she stayed silent.

“We’re not moving until you tell me what the hell is going on.”

“We’ll be late.”

“If you’re worried about that, start talking.”

She crossed her arms, and her face was set in a mulish expression he would’ve found cute if he hadn’t been so concerned about what was bothering her.

“Syd. Talk to me.”

She spun around in her seat. “Were you ever going to tell me you’re a part owner of McCarthy’s now?”

Okay, he hadn’t seen that coming. “Eventually. I guess.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Wait, so you’ve been all frosty to me because you heard that from someone other than me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me? We had all those conversations about your life, our possible life together, and never once did you see fit to tell me that you’re not exactly what you pretend to be.”

“And what is it that I pretend to be?”

“Just a guy who works the docks and fixes up boats. Simple. Uncomplicated.”

“I am that guy, Syd. I’ve always been that guy.”

“You own the business!”

“Only part of it, and only for the last year or so. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a huge big deal. That you kept it from me makes me wonder if I know you at all.”

“Sydney, Jesus, you know me better than anyone else in this world. I’ve shown you parts of me that no one else has ever seen. How can you say you don’t know me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because.”

“You have to do better than that.”

“I didn’t want it to be a factor in whether you decide to stay.”

“What does that mean?”

“I wanted you to want me for me, not because of what I have.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God. You haven’t forgiven me. All that talk about clean slates, and you’re expecting me to do exactly what I did before!”