Concern laced his voice. ‘It’s the early hours. Look, if you think the nightmare will return, we can stay awake.’ He reached out of bed to switch on the lamp, causing her to shield her eyes.

Tiredly, she shook her head. ‘We both need time to think.’

As she found her underwear and struggled into her jeans he came to stand beside her, naked but taking no apparent notice of the chill air. Dubiously, tentatively, he said, ‘I suppose there are other places to live than the village, if we had to.’

She fastened her jeans and paused to slide her arms around him, leaning into him for one last dose of comfort. ‘I’ve only just come back to be with my family; you’ve lived here your entire life and your only family is here. Can you imagine telling Niall you won’t be around for him anymore? It’s obvious every time you look at each other that you’re close.’ Grady fell silent, presumably imagining that very thing and unable to dismiss it as unimportant. She released him and reached for her top. ‘I won’t be responsible for spoiling your family relationships.’

‘Have you had the nightmare ever since … it happened?’

She wouldn’t lie to him. ‘No. For several years afterwards, but then it faded.’

‘Is the first time since you came back here?’ His voice was heavy.

She took in the disappointment in his eyes as he stood before her, goose pimples gathering on his skin. ‘The second.’

‘Has the nightmare come when you’ve … slept with other men?’ He sounded as if mentioning that scenario was an effort.

She ran her fingers through her hair. ‘No,’ she admitted. ‘But I only ever told you and Alex. I’ve never wanted a man to be thinking about that while we made love. I’m not saying you did,’ she put in hurriedly.

Wordlessly, he began dressing.

She hooked her bag over one shoulder. ‘You can go back to bed. My car’s here so I can drive home.’

He nodded to show he’d heard but continued yanking on his sweatshirt and jeans. They walked downstairs together and pulled on their coats.

‘I’m sorry I’m leaving you alone but maybe you’ll at least get some sleep.’ Laurel knew she wouldn’t. She’d stay awake and mull over their shitty situation, scared to close her eyes. She opened the front door to be met by a wall of fog swirling like phantoms beneath the streetlights. She fished out her car keys but before she could press the unlock button, Grady slipped his arms around her.

They stood there together in the creeping cold of the freezing fog. Then he cleared his throat. ‘When I think of you, in bed or anywhere else, I think of a vibrant, gorgeous woman. I’m pulled towards you as if I’m a magnet and you’re the North Pole. My guts twist whenever I think of what happened to you but I consider you much, much more than a victim. You’re strong and loyal, talented and intelligent. I’m more than half in love with you and while I acknowledge the difficulty we face, I’m not turning tail.’