She pulled back, doubt overcoming the instant of happiness. “Ethan, is this what you want? Or are you doing this for me?”
He shook his head. “No, I have a duty to my family, my father. I always knew the vineyard was a temporary escape. It’s running well and doesn’t need me. But my father does. And you need this too.”
She searched his face, looking deep into his eyes for the truth. What she saw there was raw emotion, honesty, and conviction. He was committed and wanted this. They weren’t empty words. Did she dare hope it could be true? That everything she had wanted could be that easy? Could she turn back time? And what would Kira think, her stepson marrying Delaney and foiling her plans. And what about William, Ethan’s father? He wasn’t happy before about their engagement. Would he be happier now?
“What about your father? What will he think?”
Ethan avoided her gaze. “What do you mean? He’ll be thrilled. He’s been wanting me back in Houston for a while now. And if I’m married? Even better.”
“What will he think about me? He wasn’t happy about us before. I know he told you to break off our engagement.” She folded her hands in front of her, hands twisting painfully.
“My father doesn’t run my life. We’re a package deal. You and me. If he wants me back, then he takes us both.” Ethan made a sound of annoyance. “I thought you’d be happy about this. It solves all of our problems.”
“So, you’re asking me to marry you?” Her voice was quiet, barely audible over the roaring of the waves.
“Of course. Isn’t that the point?” He sounded gruff, almost angry and impatient.
“After one week? You know what people will say, will think about this.”
He turned from her and ran his fingers through his hair. “Delaney, I don’t give a damn what people think. And they sure as hell won’t say it. Besides, it’s not like we never knew each other. Come on, we were engaged.”
He spun on his heel and narrowed his gaze at her. “I thought you’d be happy about this. I thought you loved me. You loved me once.”
She bit her lower lip. The word love had not been mentioned by either of them until this point, the monstrous elephant in the room taunting them. Had she loved him before? She thought she had, but so many things had changed. They had changed.
“Ethan, I don’t know what I felt back then. And now, well, this is all happening so quickly. Don’t you think we should slow things down?”
“Don’t you think you should have thought of that before you jumped into my bed?” The words hit like pistol shots.
She refused to back down, not this time. It was too important. “Like you’ve never slept with someone you weren’t in love with. Please, Ethan. I’m not stupid. This has nothing to do with love. The same issues are on the table.”
“No, they’re not on the table. They’re only there if you make them an issue. No one else gives a damn about your father, his crimes, or even you.” He grabbed her shoulders again. “Listen carefully. You’re old news, Delaney. That was then, this is now. People have moved on. But maybe you haven’t. Maybe that’s the real issue. Maybe you have to live like a martyr, punishing yourself, wearing fucking sackcloth and ashes to make amends when no one else even cares.”
He stepped back, a dawning realization on his face. “Or maybe you don’t care enough about me to want to try. Maybe you don’t love me.”
“Ethan, don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know how I feel right now. Everything is happening so fast. I just can’t change direction like that. I came here to survive the wedding and hopefully not get ripped to shreds. Now you’re offering me marriage. I need time.”
“Time? So, you want to date, see if we’re a good match?”
“Is that so unreasonable? You said it yourself. We’ve both changed. Maybe we don’t work anymore. What can it hurt to take some time?”
He sighed. “I don’t know. I only know I finally feel right, feel complete again. As if my life is back on track.”
She laid a hand on his arm. “Do you regret the past five years?”
He looked at her hand. “Yes, I do.”
She arched a brow. “Really? You regret Hermitage Vines?”
“I regret they happened, that we were apart for those years.”
“Have you considered that maybe we weren’t strong enough back then, if something like my father’s crimes and gossip could tear us apart? Maybe I wasn’t strong enough back then.”
He slowly pivoted. “Are you saying you’re stronger now?”
“I’m saying I think I am and I’d like to try again with you. But I’m not committed to marriage yet.” She hugged herself tightly, withdrawing into herself, drawing the shell she had carefully erected all those years ago around herself to protect her. Unfortunately, Ethan had already slipped past her defenses and the wall couldn’t keep him out this time.
“You’re still holding back, Delaney. Afraid you’ll get hurt again.” His words were like a battering ram, breaking down her defenses quicker than she could build them up.