Chapter 2

Aiden stalked downthe sidewalk to the beach, Mabel yipping at his heels. How could Grams do this to him? He’d finally gotten to a place where he wasn’t thinking about Felicity all the time, and Grams had to go behind his back and hire her.

His strides grew longer as he walked toward the shore. He did not need this in his life. Reminders of what happened five years ago. Reminders of what Felicity threw away so carelessly. They’d had something good together. Loved each other. She was the one who had walked away from it all, without even a glance back.

Mabel ran on top of the wet sand, her little feet going so fast they became a blur. “Watch it,” he said as a wave came in. Mabel barked at the water and ran from the foamy wave. He couldn’t help but smile at his dog.

Grams had rescued her from the pound before Aiden bought the resort. It had been a bad time in his life, and Grams had been trying to help. Much to his surprise, it had worked. Mabel was such a loveable dog, her good nature and lively spirit helped him get through it. And now Felicity was here, bringing all those horrible memories back with her.

Didn’t Grams realize what seeing Felicity would do? Anger tensed his shoulders and he leaned over, grabbed a large stick and threw it. Mabel ran and tried to pick it up but one end was too heavy. She tugged on it, dragging it, leaving a line in the wet sand. She wagged her whole body after she managed to get it back to him.

He rubbed her head and scratched under her chin. “Good girl.” He plopped down on the sandy beach, the sun warming his skin. This resort had been good for him. He needed to get away from the city. Away from everything that reminded him of Felicity. And now Grams had ruined it.

The thing was, he didn’t even know why she would do such a thing. He thought he’d been better lately. Sure, in the past, he’d been depressed. But he was starting to get his life back. He was happier. Still not ready to date again, but he had accepted that. He liked his life. There was nothing wrong with throwing yourself into your work. Plenty of men did it. Even married men.

He lay back, closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the water. Mabel barked at him for a moment to get up, but when he didn’t, she hopped on his chest and curled up. He stroked her fur and tried to get his emotions under control.

A shadow crossed over him and he peeked at who had disturbed him. Grams. She sat cross-legged beside him. “How are you doing?”

He wanted to snap at her, ask her how she thought he was doing, but guilt made him bite his tongue. Despite what she’d done, he loved his grandmother. He couldn’t imagine life without her. He rubbed Mabel’s head. “I never expected to see her again.”

“I know,” Grams said. “But it’s time.”

He sat up and Mabel jumped off him. “Time? For what? We’re not getting back together, if that’s what your brain has concocted.”

Grams sat silent.

“Grams?”

“You need to talk to her.”

Grams was delusional. “Whatever for? She left. She’s the one who wouldn’t take any of my phone calls, remember? She broke off all contact. And now that it’s been five years, what in the world would I want to talk to her about?”

A breeze blew, and Grams took in a deep breath. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

“The time for talking is long gone.” Aiden picked up a seashell and turned it over in his hand. The shell was cracked and looked like it would break in half if given the slightest pressure.

“In her mind, she was stood up at her own wedding,” Grams said quietly.

“I know, but if she had only listened, I would have explained everything. But no, she was too pig-headed to even talk to me.” He closed his hand around the shell and squeezed. It cracked. For some reason, that was satisfying to him.

“You hurt her deeply.”