He bowed his head over their clasped hands. He’d given up on praying when Sharon died. But he’d do anything for Mandy, had already done the unacceptable by marrying Darci for his own selfish needs. Maybe it was time to try asking for help from a higher source. Maybe it was time to believe that there was someone or something out there that could help him.

Because he needed to believe that there was a chance for them, for all three of them. He needed to believe he was doing the right thing, that there was some method to the madness his life had deteriorated to.

He glanced out the window at the afternoon sun, scrubbing a hand over his face. The last weeks had allowed him little sleep. Maybe his exhaustion was affecting his judgment. Maybe he’d just dug himself a hole deeper than anything he could ever hope to crawl out of.

*   *   *

The sun was already slipping behind the Rocky Mountains when he finally left the hospital. Mandy was out-of danger, and the doctor had all but thrown Cole out, demanding he get some rest, too.

The large office building that housed Blackmore’s Gourmet Chocolates was silent except for Cole’s foot-steps echoing through the hall. Darci’s image teased his exhausted thoughts, tempting him, drawing him to her. A cold fear etched its way through the darkness inside him as he realized that he was looking forward to seeing her.

Easing the door of Darci’s office open, he watched her work, remembering a night just a few days ago when he’d stood in the same place. But so much had changed since then. That first night, he’d been looking for a way to survive, a way to help Mandy. And Darci had simply been a means to an end. Until he’d seen her smile, until she’d managed to touch his frozen heart.

She was now his wife. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from caring about her, about what happened to her when he left. And he couldn’t stop wanting her in ways a husband had every right to want his wife.

He clamped his eyes shut on the feelings washing through him. He couldn’t stop to analyze them now, didn’t dare even acknowledge the more tender thoughts. Instead, he tried to cover his emotions with anger.

“You should keep the outer door locked. Anyone could walk in here, and you wouldn’t even notice until it was too late.”

Darci jumped, scattering papers to the floor, her eyes wide when she looked up at him. He allowed himself the small satisfaction of knowing he’d scared her enough that she might be more careful next time.

“Cole, don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“Better me than someone else.” He threw his hat onto the leather couch and glared at her. A frown traced a small crease between her eyebrows as she studied him. When the little girl peeked out for reassurance, his anger evaporated as quickly as it had come. He held up a white paper bag, forcing his lips into a smile. “Chinese okay?”