He thrust his hand through his hair and looked at the floor. “I know I wasn’t perfect, but I tried, for you.”

“I know you did.”

The anger seemed to have left him, as had the confidence. Now it was all about sadness, sorrow.

“I just need you to give me a chance, Megan. Another go. I’ll fix it, I promise.”

“No. I can’t do that.” She swallowed. “I’m getting on with my life, my career, it’s feeling good.” She was going to add that it felt good to be herself, without worrying about him and his swinging moods and beer drinking.

A low groan left his chest and he squeezed the bridge of his nose.

For the first time ever, Megan saw a tear slide down Dylan’s face.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, closing the gap between them and resting her hand on his shoulder. God, could she feel more awful? “Really I am. But I can’t conjure emotions that aren’t there anymore.”

“But they were. Love was there.”

“A long time ago. At the beginning. But I’m not ready to get married. I should have realised that sooner.” She stroked his shoulder. “And I apologise profusely for that.”

“That’s okay. I accept your apology.” He looked up, hopeful, and dashed the rogue tear away. “And look, I had this done, for you.” He gripped the base of his vest and tugged it off.

He dropped the vest to the floor and patted his hand over the gaudy red rose that was inked over his right pectoral. “A rose, your middle name, red for love, over my heart. Now you’ll always be with me, part of me. Nothing can change that.”

Megan stared at the tattoo. She’d hoped the rumour had been false, but now, seeing the ugly design on his skin made her stomach lurch. She was just glad he hadn’t had Megan scrawled through it. “It’s…nice.”

“It’s more than nice, it’s a symbol of our love. Our endless love.”

What was the matter with him? He’d always been stubborn but this was really taking the biscuit. It was as if he’d become deaf to anything he didn’t want to hear. “Dylan, I understand that you still have feelings for me.”

“Love you.”

“Love me even, but I don’t love you, not anymore.”

“But you used to love me, you said it lots of times. And you can again, I know it.” He shot out his hands and pulled her near. “I love you so much.”

“Dylan!”

His lips pressed down on hers. Hard and unmoving, and his hands roamed her body squeezing her close, clamping her to him.

Megan kept her mouth shut tight. “Mmmpfh…”

He pulled her nearer and his tongue penetrated her lips.