She’d been there for a couple of hours, just watching the water, alone with her thoughts. She knew her grandmother and Silas were both worried. She’d given them an abbreviated version of everything that had happened. No sense in them knowing the extent of Bryony’s stupidity.

They knew enough that Rafael had made a fool of her and would develop the land, but then Bryony had been prepared to give up that fight. So the outcome would be the same, only Bryony wouldn’t have the man she loved.

Bryony waved but turned back to the water, not ready to deal with them yet. Mamaw and Silas had both fussed over her ever since she’d gotten back home. She was exhausted and what she really wanted was to go to sleep for about twenty-four hours, but every time she closed her eyes, she heard Rafael’s words. They wouldn’t go away, she couldn’t make herself stop hearing them no matter how hard she tried.

And she was damn tired of crying. Her head ached so badly from all the tears she’d shed that it was ready to explode.

Her cell phone rang in her pocket and she picked it up, just as she’d done the other twenty times that Rafael had tried to call her. She hit the ignore button and a few seconds later, heard the ding signaling that she had a voice mail. One of the many he’d left her.

What else was there left for him to say? He was sorry? He hadn’t meant to deceive her? Was she supposed to forgive him just because he forgot what a jerk he had been? How could she be sure he hadn’t made it all up just to get her to shut up and not make noises that would scare off his precious investors?

If he kept her quiet enough for long enough then the deal would be sealed.

She didn’t like how cynical she’d grown. It would never occur to her before that anyone would be so devious, but Rafael had taught her a lot about the world of business and the lengths that some people would go for money.

She hoped he made a ton off his precious resort and she hoped it kept him warm at night. She hoped it made up for all the sweet baby kisses he’d miss.

The thought depressed her. Money was just paper. But a child was something so very precious. Love was precious. And she’d offered it to Rafael freely and without reservation.

She felt like the worst sort of naive fool.