“That’s because I don’t fucking know you.”

My face falls. “Spence.”

“You’re too late,” he barks, and my heart drops. He’s so hurt.

“Baby.” I step under the water and wrap my arms around him. “I love you. I’m so sorry. I had to work this out by myself, and it took longer than I thought it would. I couldn’t get a flight, and then I spent all day calling you. Why didn’t you a

nswer your damn phone?” I blurt out.

He stands rigid, his hands down by his sides.

My eyes search his and I cup his cheeks. “Can we talk and work this out together?”

“The time for talking was last week, Charlotte. You’ve put me though fucking Hell.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I’ve been to Hell and back myself.”

He gets out of the shower in a rush. “I don’t want to fucking see you.”

“Don’t say that,” I plead as I reach for him. “I missed you.”

He stares at me.

I stand on my tiptoes and softly kiss his lips. I take his arms and wrap them around me. “I love you, Spencer Jones. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making this up to you.”

“How could you do this to me?” he asks quietly, his voice breaking. “I didn’t know she was married. I swore that to you.”

“I know.” My eyes fill with tears. “You have no idea how hard this has been on me, Spence. I’m so devastated at how things turned out.”

“You think I fucking liked it?” he cries.

“I know that, too. I don’t know how to get over this, but I do know that I can’t live without you. I tried and I couldn’t.”

He stares at me.

“Let me stay, spend the week with you, and we will try and…” I pause as I articulate my feelings. “We’ll try and work through this together.”

“No.”

“No pressure to get back together. I just need time with you,” I plead, and I try to pull us back under the water.

He frowns, as if remembering something.

“What?” I ask.

“I think I threw your engagement ring over the cliff.”

“What?” I frown. “You had an engagement ring?” My heart freefalls from my chest as I imagine him waiting with it and my eyes fill with tears. “Oh my God, Spence, I’ve ruined everything.”

“Yes. You did. In spectacular fashion.”

I feel a tiny bit of his resistance begin to cave, and I lean up and kiss him softly. Our lips linger over each other’s and my tongue gently slips through his open mouth.

“I love you so much,” I breathe.

Our kiss deepens, and I feel the emotion run back through us like a lifeline.

“Spence.” The bathroom door opens, and Julian comes into view. His face falls when he sees me.

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