“Don’t leave me like this. Call in sick or something.”

“That’s not how this works.” His expression is grim as he tugs me close to him. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I’ll make it up to you.”

I’ll make it up to you.

I’ve heard those words before. More times than I can count.

“Forget about it.” I reach for my shirt and tug it over my head. “This was probably a bad idea anyway.”

He fastens his jeans and pulls his shirt on, his hair a mess as he stares at me with conflict waging war in his blue eyes.

“This isn’t over. As soon as I’m able, I’ll be back, Maggie.”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Right.” I nod and blow out a breath. “You’d better go.”

“You’re mad.”

“Bet your ass, I’m mad. But we don’t have time to get into that now.”

He crosses to me and cups my face, but I’ve already emotionally pulled away.

Men leave. They lie. Break promises and leave me hanging.

I knew better than this. I don’t know why I thought it would be different with Cam.

Cameron kisses me softly. “I promise, I’ll be back. Do you want me to drive you to the pub?”

“No.” Hell, no. I’d rather die. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”

He throws some things into his bag, looks back at me once more, and then he’s gone.

And I know in my heart that I’ll never be able to forgive him for this—or myself for letting it happen. Even if it’s not entirely Cameron’s fault. I know he has a job that takes him away, but it’s too familiar, too close to what I put up with from the jerk I was married to.

Cameron is the last man on the planet I should be throwing myself at.

And I’d do well to remember that.

Chapter 1

~Maggie~

“For the love of all that’s holy, it’s blustery out there,” I announce and shiver as I hurry into the pub, just a little late for my shift. I’m on table duty, and despite the monsoon outside, it’ll be a busy Saturday night in the bar, full of regulars and tourists alike, taking refuge from the storm. “Sorry, I’m late. My car was giving me fits.”

“Mary Margaret, you need a new vehicle,” Keegan says as I wiggle out of my rain slicker. “You’ve needed one for years.”

“I don’t drive very much.” I can hear the defensiveness in my voice. “Just here and home. The store once in a while. It does fine.”

My brother looks as if he wants to disagree, but I shake my head at him.