He’d been gone since the end of June, and tomorrow was the first of August. Aric no longer checked the dock several times a day but was still missing him.

Kit didn’t miss him at all.

And, whoa, look at the lie I just tried to tell myself.

Every single day, she felt his absence, which didn’t make sense. It wasn’t as if he talked much. Still, he had a way of filling space just by being present.

Whenever Aric did something adorable, Kit would look to see if Hawk had noticed and to share a smile.

And she kept expecting to feel him next to her. She hadn’t realized how often he stood beside her until his warmth was gone.

“So, girl, what’s got you looking so unhappy?” Frankie handed her an iced tea and took the adjacent chair.

Kit felt her color rise. “Nothing.”

“Oh, please.” Frankie pointed an accusing finger. “From the way you’re blushing, I’d guess a man.”

Frankie knew her too well, yet she didn’t. “I wish.”

At her friend’s raised eyebrow, Kit sighed. “I’m better, and I think, eventually, I’ll be ready to deal with men. Maybe even have sex again, someday.”

After all, she could now get herself off again.

While thinking of Hawk, dammit.

“But?”

“But who’s going to want someone like me? Someone who’s been…used.”

“What kind of bullshit is that? No one will feel that way.” Frankie’s gaze darkened with anger.

Tears pricked at the backs of Kit’s eyes. “They will. He did.”

Frankie went still. “Who?”

“Hawk.” Kit swallowed hard. “Oh, damn, Frankie, I…I made a pass at him, hugged him, and then—then I had a stupid panic attack, and when I got over it, he was gone. I disgusted him so bad, he left his own home and hasn’t come back.”

The thickness in Kit’s throat grew. “I’m dirty. Used goods.” She pulled in another breath. “I drove away the man who’d saved me. Because I’m filthy.”

Tears ran down her face.

Taking the iced tea out of her hand, Frankie hugged her—and let her cry.

Confusion mingling with anger, Gabe stayed where he was.

Earlier, roused by Bull’s pickup, he’d come onto his deck, discovered he was still exhausted—damn drunken tourists—and had stretched out in a sunny patch beside Regan’s cat.

An Alaskan enjoys the sun wherever he finds it.

He’d fallen back asleep and woke when the women started talking. He’d have let them know he was there if it wouldn’t have embarrassed the hell out of Kit.

So he heard a lot more than he wanted to. Or expected.

When Kit finished crying, the women headed over to Mako’s place.

Sitting up, Gabe rubbed his hands over his face. “For fuck’s sake.”