Connor’s frown deepened.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed on his friend, knowing Connor well enough to realize he had something to say. And whatever it was, it wasn’t good. “What?”
“Maggie was here.”
Air halted in his lungs. “Where?”
“She left. But she saw it.”
It. The kiss.
Connor’s words felt like a gut punch. Like someone had taken a fist and driven it so hard into his stomach that he almost keeled over. “Did she see me step away?”
“No.”
Fuck.
Ethan shot across the bar.
Maggie should know that he only loved her. But she had wounds. Wounds that were so deeply etched inside her that she could have misinterpreted everything. Read something into it that wasn’t there.
He sprinted outside and scanned the parking lot. He didn’t see her car. She was gone.
Shit. It was like he’d gone back in time, and he was at the damn bar in Coronado. Would she run from Deep River too? Disappear on him again?
No. History wasn’t going to repeat itself. He was going to talk to her. Explain things.
He pulled out his cell and tried her number. She didn’t answer.
Quickly, he sent her a text.
Ethan: I need you to call me, Maggie. It’s not what you think.
But he didn’t wait for a response. When he reached his truck, he slid behind the wheel and sped to Polly’s house.
Every minute that passed had the knot in his chest pulling tighter.
Eleven years ago, she hadn’t given him the chance to fight for them. This time, things would be different. He was going to walk into that house and Maggie was going to hear him out. She was the only woman he loved, the only woman he’deverloved, and she’d realize that nothing and no one could ever threaten that.
He slammed his foot on the brakes outside Polly’s house.
Her car was in the drive. She was home. Thank God.
He raced out of the car and up the path, slamming his fist to the door.
“Maggie.”
Something sounded inside. Footsteps, but not moving toward the door.
He knocked again. “Maggie. Please. We need to talk about this. I’m not letting you disappear again.”
Silence now. No footsteps. No voices.
He tried her number again. She didn’t answer, but he heard her phone ringing from the other side of the door. She was in there. And she was close.
“Maggie, please.” One more second of silence, and he tried the door. Unlocked. “I’m coming in.”
He stepped inside the house. His heart stopped.
