What did he want from her? Now that he’d dropped his other woman, was Kate supposed to fall in his arms again? “What am I supposed to say?”

“I know. I know,” he said. “I—” Kate could hear the frustration in his voice. She imagined him running his hand through his blunt cut.

“I was a fool,” he continued. “It was just like you said. It was nothing more than a fear of commitment. I was afraid and looking for an outlet, and Stephanie was convenient.”

“Your outlet was costly.”

Costly wasn’t the word. It had changed her life, changed their future. It was a little late to realize he’d made a mistake. Did he think he could fix it so easily?

A seagull cried out overhead and swooped over the beach, soaring with wide wings. Kate wished she could leave all this behind her and soar over the landscape of her life as the bird did.

“I miss you, Kate.”

The words, spoken softly, pried at the door of her heart. Kate closed her eyes. I will not tell him I miss him. He didn’t deserve to hear it, and she wasn’t even sure it was true. Her feelings for him were muddled, blurry, like the line between the ocean and sky. How could that be when she’d been so certain of her feelings for him only five weeks ago?

“I’m married, Bryan.” It gave her no pleasure to say it. She’d heard the pain in Bryan’s voice, and even though he’d hurt her terribly, she didn’t wish to hurt him.

“I know.” He swore. It was the first time Kate had heard him swear. Why had he called? He didn’t know her marriage was temporary, though he must realize genuine feelings weren’t involved. Did Bryan think she’d divorce Lucas the moment he returned?

“Who is he, Kate? Do you know what it’s doing to me, imagining the two of you together?”

“Yeah, actually, I do,” she snapped.

“I’m sorry. Of course you do.” He sighed. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m just—I’m just going crazy over here. My whole life has been so planned, all my ducks in a row, and now I just feel like it’s all exploded in my face.”

Have you forgotten you’re the one who lit the fuse? She wanted to say it out loud, but what good would it do? What was done was done. She had to stay married. The media would have a heyday if she divorced Lucas and married Bryan. She shook the thought from her head. It was ludicrous to even entertain the idea.

“You don’t love him, do you?”