“Yes, and that’s all they ever do.”

That got her attention. “Isn’t that all he wants?”

“No. But most women never get past that beautiful face and body, his strength and his reserve. They never, never trust him with their hearts.”

Chloe pulled her long hair back, twisting it into a loose knot, and held her silence, hoping Gwen might continue to volunteer information. She was in no hurry to admit to her pathetic romanticizing, which had only worsened throughout the day. All day long she’d been treated to glimpses of the incredible relationship between Gwen and her husband. She’d watched, with shameless longing, the way Drustan treated his wife. They were so unabashedly in love with each other.

Because he looked so much like Dageus, comparisons had been inevitable. Drustan had popped up oodles of times, toting a light jacket for Gwen, or a cup of tea, or an inquiry if her back ached, if she needed a rub, if she needed to rest, if she’d like him to leap into the sky and pull down the blasted sun.

Making Chloe think ridiculous thoughts about his brother.

Oh, yes, she had feelings. Treacherous, deceitful little feelings.

“Chloe, Dageus doesn’t look for love from a woman, because he’s never been given any reason to.”

Chloe’s eyes widened and she shook her head disbelievingly. “That’s impossible, Gwen. A man like him—”

“Terrifies most women. So they take what he offers, but they find some other man to love. A safer man. A man they feel more in control with. Is he doing the same thing to you? I thought you were smarter than that.”

Chloe jerked, wondering how the conversation had gotten so personal so fast.

But Gwen wasn’t done yet. “Sometimes—and trust me, I know this from personal experience—a girl has to take a leap of faith. If you don’t try, you’ll never know what might have been. Is that how you want to live?”

Chloe fumbled for a reply, but came up empty-handed, because deep inside her that nagging voice that had so persistently begun asking recently “is this all there is?” was nodding sagely, agreeing with Gwen’s words.

Naught risked, naught gained, Grandda had always said.

When had she forgotten that? Chloe wondered, staring at the ancient stones. When she was nineteen, and Grandda died, leaving her alone in the world?