He stopped touching me and backed up, so I took the opportunity to hop down and test out my legs. Thankfully, I didn’t have an Ariel from The Little Mermaid moment and remained standing fine.

“This is not one of those ‘worthy cause’ times.”

He scoffed as if offended. “The man made the mother of my son get on her hands and knees, and you don’t think that’s a good enough reason to . . .”

I folded my arms, curious where he planned to go with that sentence. “He doesn’t belong in that closet of yours. He’s an asshole, not evil.”

He narrowed his eyes as if about to let me know there wasn’t a difference, but he wisely refrained, saving my heart the unnecessary stress. His hands went to the counter on each side of me, imprisoning me again.

He closed his eyes and said something under his breath, presumably in Italian since I didn’t understand. “You should get some rest. I think that’s enough questions for now.”

I considered protesting, but I was mentally and physically drained, and I didn’t entirely trust myself to make the best decisions in that state. Considering how easily I’d slipped from being afraid to being turned on within the space of minutes should’ve concerned me, too. “Okay.”

He opened his eyes as if relieved I didn’t put up a fight. “Good. So, you’ll sleep?”

“I’ll try.” Best I could promise.

“Good,” he repeated, remaining a fixed block of steely resolve before me.

I angled my head, curious if he planned to move so I could do what he’d asked. When he didn’t budge, I parked my hands on his chest, preparing to give him a little nudge. His heart was beating hard and fast.

“Juliette.” I’d never heard my name said as both a warning and a plea before.

“Yes?” I whispered.

The muscles in his arms went taut, as if restraining himself from touching me instead of the marble off to my sides. “I’m sure Colin’s hoping you and I will wind up together.”

Oh. I swallowed. “I’m sure he’s thought about it.” And I have a hundred times since you came back into my life. Points for keeping that truth to myself.

“The last thing I want to do is disappoint him all over again.”

His words shouldn’t have gutted me or resurrected the wall I’d forgotten to keep up between us, but they did. I had two hearts to protect, not just my own.

“I understand what you’re saying.” The only power I held over him was about our son, but it wouldn’t go beyond that. No us. Message received. Whatever was left of my hope that there’d be more between us disintegrated.

He pushed off the counter and righted his posture. “You understand what, exactly?” He angled his head, intense eyes pointed at me.