But just because he was more bothered than he wanted to admit by her obvious dire financial straits—and the fact she’d spent last night sleeping in an empty house on a bare floor—didn’t mean he should say anything he could come to regret.

Especially since the odds of them seeing each other again were slim to none.

The prudent plan would be to walk away with a simple goodbye.

In case she was hungry, though . . .

“If you want to get breakfast, the Myrtle Café in town has an early bird special until eight.”

“Thanks, but I have peanut butter crackers in the car.”

“That’s not a meal.” Especially with the case of sniffles she was nursing. She ought to have real food and a large glass of OJ.

“I’m not a big breakfast eater. Is there a grocery store nearby?”

He should let this go. Her eating habits were none of his concern—even if she’d once liked big breakfasts and was no doubt skipping today to save money.

“Yes. We have a small market.” He gave her the name and location.

“Thanks.” Still she lingered by the car door, chewing on her lower lip, fingers clamped around her keys as a few beads of perspiration broke out on her upper lip despite the chilly morning air. “Look, I know you said no to a loan yesterday. But I would pay you back. And I could give you this as collateral.” She pulled out the chain that hung around her neck to display a ring with a large diamond in the center, flanked by several smaller stones.

A shock wave rippled through him as he examined the treasured piece of jewelry she’d often worn on her right hand during that fateful summer.

“That’s your mother’s engagement ring.”

“I know.” She swallowed. “It’s worth a lot. I have the appraisal.” She quoted him the figure. “I thought about taking it to a pawn shop, but they wouldn’t give me anything close to its actual value. Besides, I wasn’t confident they’d keep it for me until I could reclaim it. Would you at least think about the loan? As a business transaction, not a personal favor. I don’t have to have an answer this minute. The money isn’t due for thirty days. Please?”

The sun crested the hill, highlighting the taut lines of her face and the urgent entreaty in her eyes. Both chipped away at the formidable wall he’d constructed around his heart—as did her willingness to give him her mother’s ring as collateral.

A danger alert began to flash in his mind, and his pulse spiked. He had to get away from her. Fast. Before his wall crumbled further.

But hard as he tried to voice it, the “no” stuck in his throat.

Fine. He’d go with plan B.