“Kate.” He heaved a sigh. Relief? “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

She leaned against the door, keeping it partway closed. She’d expected to feel something if she saw him again. Longing, regret, anger. Something. The lack of emotion was a welcome surprise.

“I turned off my phone,” she said. “But I guess you can understand why.”

“I’m sorry I missed your call. So many reporters were trying to reach me that I turned mine off too. I just got your message when I got off the plane.”

“What are you doing here?” Had he come thinking he could comfort her? Help her? Maybe he had a plan to make this disaster go away. He’d always been clever. And her own plan had failed.

“We need to talk,” he said. “Can I come in?”

Kate looked across the street where two houses were visible from the front porch. It would be better than having Bryan seen on her doorstep. She opened the door wide and stepped back against the wall, giving him a wide berth.

Inside, she gestured him toward the sofa. She scanned the tiny, simple living room, seeing it through his eyes. It was a far cry from his contemporary city apartment. Bo appeared at his side, and Bryan inched away, but the dog only sniffed Bryan’s shoe before following Kate to the recliner across the room.

“I’m sorry it got leaked.” Bryan planted his elbows on his knees. “I’m sorry about the interview on TV. It must’ve been very uncomfortable for you.”

Uncomfortable is hardly the word. “Your girlfriend must be having a field day.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. It was a big mistake. She was a big mistake.”

Kate felt weary suddenly, like her bones might melt into the chair. “Let’s not go through this again, Bryan. What’s done is done. The main thing is that you can’t talk to the press. You haven’t, have you?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He had some nerve acting as if he’d never hurt her. Kate stared him down until he looked away. “If anyone questions you, just say ‘No comment,’ okay?”

“Of course. I’ll do whatever you want. I owe you that. I owe you so much more than that.” His baby blue eyes shone under the lamplight. She’d once thought them beautiful, too pretty to be wasted on a man. Now they were a thin, cool sheet of ice, ready to crack under pressure.

“I know this is bad,” Bryan said, “Our personal business all over the news, your career—jeopardized. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Kate.”

His apology was sincere, his regret legitimate. Unfortunately it changed nothing.

But anger was futile. And even though he’d backed out of their wedding, it had been her decision to marry Lucas.