Brazen

her father's debts still outstanding.

She'd already put in some calls to headhunters in various states where she thought both she and her father could start over. She'd liked Arizona, maybe too much, considering, but she couldn't get on with her life if she was constantly worrying about running into Mac. Of course, it was a big state, but the memories there would be overpowering.

She pressed the answer button that released the door latch downstairs and spoke into the intercom. 'Come on up, Dad.' She unlatched the door, opened the lock and waited.

Two knocks sounded seconds later. 'Don't be so formal,' she called as the door slid open wide.

'Hello, Sammy Jo.'

At the sound of that deep voice, her heart slammed against her chest and she glanced up. Since she wasn't asleep and couldn't be dreaming, that had to be Mac standing in the small entryway, and oh, was he a welcome sight. Dressed in tan slacks and a white linen collared shirt, he was imposing, refined and still an extremely sexy man.

She might be so happy to see him she wanted to jump into his arms, but his very appearance reminded her why she had to keep her distance. He wasn't her Mac. The man standing in her doorway seemed as out of place in her casual apartment as he was in her life.

She didn't recognize him dressed like this, but wasn't that the point? What did she know of Ryan Mackenzie, The Resort owner?

'How did you find me?' she asked. What are you doing here? would have made her seem too eager. Sam just wasn't sure she was ready to lay her heart out for him to trample again.

He shrugged. 'Being an owner has its advantages.'

At her obviously confused expression, he grinned. 'I checked your registration card at the hotel.'

'I see. And you're here to…?'

'Explain.'

Anger quickly followed, and she cocked her head to the side. 'The way you let me explain?'

He winced. 'Maybe I deserve that, but I didn't come all this way to be turned away, Sammy Jo.'

The sound of his voice caused a yearning deep inside her soul. She'd probably hate herself later, but she asked, anyway. 'Then what did you come for?'

'You.' He stepped inside. He stood so close, everything else faded. The blare of the car horns outside and the hum of her air-conditioning unit receded. His unique scent worked to heighten her awareness as well as her memories. 'I made you a promise and I didn't keep it.'

She recognized the husky undertones in his voice, and she struggled against the automatic arousal that swept through her body. 'What promise was that?' she asked.

'I told you we'd use all twelve. We still have some left.' He grinned, a charming smile meant to disarm her.

Unfortunately, they'd passed the point where sexual innuendo worked to lighten the tension. 'Interesting you should pick that point, Mac. Seems I was right. Sex was about the only honest thing we shared. Everything else between us was a lie.'

His hurt gaze cut deep. 'You might have convinced yourself of that, but it isn't true.'

'No? I don't even recognize you dressed like that.' She fingered the collar of his expensive shirt. 'And minus the mustache, I'm facing a stranger.'

'External things, Sammy Jo. And just one damned convenient excuse so you can protect yourself from me.' He circled her wrist with his fingers in a grip so gentle, the gesture caused tears to pool in her eyes. 'You don't need to, you know.'

Was he right? Was she protecting herself from this man who, until he'd uncovered her deception, had never done a thing but give her pleasure and make her happy? Yes. Because she was afraid. How did she know what had been real between them and what had been part of their fantasy? How did she distinguish between reality and the facades they'd presented in place of the truth?

He reached forward and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, one that must have fallen out of her ponytail. His fingertips grazed her neck and she trembled, closing her eyes. The gesture gave Mac hope.

It had taken him more time than he'd wanted to arrange things at home, and three days had passed before he could arrive with the news he wanted to give her. Even if he didn't look like himself, he was still the same man she'd fallen in love with. He only hoped she'd realize that fact.

Nothing much he could do about the mustache now. He'd taken one look in the mirror and remembered her words. 'Don't ever shave that mustache… At least not while I'm around.' Then he'd conjured her image, his Sammy Jo with another man and he'd reacted… to prove to himself she wouldn't be in his life anymore and to give himself some semblance of control, something he hadn't felt since she'd fallen into his arms at the bar.

'You came for me,' she said at last, sounding surprised. Wide-eyed, she met his gaze.

Damn, but he loved this woman, and he owed her more than he'd given so far. When this was over, she'd never doubt him again. An explanation was the least he could give her. What happened afterward was her decision.

He lifted her hand, drawing her fingers through his. 'The Resort started out as a small bed-and-breakfast,' he said slowly.

'Really?'

He nodded. 'It was my father's, along with acres and acres of surrounding land. The Resort was like a dream of his. Only, thanks to a heart attack, he didn't live to see it. We grew up comfortable.' Needing to touch her, he kept their hands entwined, his thumb drawing lazy circles around her palm. 'The money came later, when I sold some of the land to build the hotel and turned it into something big. Of course, the times and the economy had a lot to do with its success.'

'I'm sure you're being modest, just as I'm sure your father would have been proud.'

'Of the business, yes. Of how I paraded around flaunting my newfound wealth? No.' He wasn't thrilled with himself and his behavior in the earlier years. It was humiliating how fast he'd taken to money and how quickly he'd forgotten his roots.

She remained silent so he continued. 'I had only myself to blame when women guests started throwing themselves at me, and I guess it went to my head. By the time I realized it wasn't me they liked but my status and money, the damage had been done.'

Clear, curious eyes met his. 'Who hurt you, Mac?'

'That's the strange part. No one woman in particular. No one meant enough to me.' Until you. He pressed a kiss against the top of her hand. 'It was the life and the fact that these women were capable of carrying on an affair while their husbands were staying in the same hotel that turned my stomach. So when I met you and you liked me for who you thought I was, I didn't correct you. And by the time I needed to come clean, you had backed off emotionally.'

She stood quietly, obviously respecting the way he needed to explain. But she pulled their hands against her cheek as she waited.

'I guess my views were jaded. I just didn't realize how badly until I turned on you. You paid for something you hadn't done, Samantha.' He untangled their hands and walked toward the window overlooking a park, putting space and emotional distance between them. He'd had his say. The rest was up to her.

Like the first time, she had to come to him.

* * *

Sam watched him stare out the window and beyond, to the grassy park below. Mac was wrong. He wasn't the only one to blame. She'd been selfish and unfair. By coming to him with an agenda, she'd set him up without knowing the background and baggage he'd brought with him to this relationship.

And yes, they'd had a relationship. Despite what she'd told him, she hadn't been able to convince herself steamy sex was all she and Mac had shared.

She paused a few feet behind where he stood. He'd managed what she thought was impossible; he'd diminished the anger and hurt. Instead she felt even more love for this special man.

'I'm equally to blame, Mac.'