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became clearer and clearer in his mind. Seeing her at the beach had shaken him to the core.
    Hell.
    Since they’d been briefly engaged, he’d met Sally. He’d had a baby, and farewelled Sally. For near on six years, he’d been raising Ivy as a single man, and he’d had barely a moment to think about women. But seeing Maddie again had made him understand. She’d always been there. Lurking in his mind, hovering in his memories, making him aware of just how his life could never be perfect.
    Because she was married.
    Happily married, if the Goddamned pictures were to be believed.
    He closed his eyes and breathed in, as though he could bring her scent and image to mind. She’d been perfect. So perfectly groomed, untouchably regal, that he’d been afraid to go too near her.
    How had she left him, and married so quickly? He shook his head. If she hadn’t, he wouldn’t have got drunk and slept with Sal. He wouldn’t have Ivy. And Ivy was the greatest gift in his life. Whatever had been between him and Madeline, he wouldn’t change a thing if it meant not having Ivy. He set the beer aside, and ran a hand through his hair.
    Madeline would leave again, and he could get on with pretending she didn’t exist.
    When a small silver convertible pulled up in front of his house, and Madeline stepped out, he wondered for a moment if he’d somehow conjured her out of the nothingness with the sheer force of his concentration.
    She was wearing jeans, but not comfortable jeans like he spent most of his days in. These were clearly expensive, fitted to her slim frame like a glove. She’d teamed them with a black roll neck and a light brown jacket. The moment she straightened from the vehicle, her eyes met his.
    And he felt as though he’d been shocked by a mega volt of electricity. His whole body seemed to thrum with awareness. Remembered pleasure, and impossible to forget pain.
    Madeline crossed her hands across her chest, holding herself tight in the mid section, and Harrison guessed she felt it too.
    He cleared his throat and stood, walking with slow determination towards her.
    “What are you doing here, Maddie?”
    She was quiet. Her eyes scanned his face, her mouth slightly parted, as she seemed to be fighting for breath. “I…” She closed her eyes for a fraction of a second. “I… wanted to see you. May I… I mean… I don’t want to interrupt, of course. May I come in for a moment?”
    Harrison didn’t budge. He crossed his own arms across his muscled chest and glared at her. “Why?”
    Oh, the anger. How his body reverberated with anger at her. Eight years and he still felt blindsided by the way she’d left him, only hours after making him the happiest man on earth.
    She uncrossed her arms and took a deep breath, appearing to calm herself. “I think we should talk.”
    “Talk?” He looked at her with abject confusion. “Why?”
    Madeline felt like an idiot. This had seemed so simple, from the quiet desolation of the ranch. Now that she was here, looking at the beautiful little home he shared with his wife and child, Madeline felt like an object out of time.
    “I’m going to be in town a while, Harrison.” She shrugged, as though the effort wasn’t killing her. “I don’t want it to be awkward.”
    “Town’s a big ol’ place, Maddie. It doesn’t have to be awkward if we don’t see each other.”
    She swallowed hard, and lanced his eyes with her own. “Is that what you want?”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets. “What?”
    “Do you want me to go? Do you really want to never see me again?”
    He narrowed his glorious eyes. “You’ve been gone eight years, Madeline. What makes you think I haven’t got used to that?”
    “Because….” Her heart was heavy. She had no right to look at him and want him as she did. He had a family. She couldn’t expect him to give her the time of day. “You’re right.” She nodded thickly. “It was just a stupid thought.”
    She reached down for the handle to