Chapter 103

Dean paused, bending to tie a shoelace.

Lillian was welcome to believe what she liked. He even deserved it. He’d hurt her without meaning to, would have taken advantage. He wasn’t proud of either fact even though Lillian always had sex rather than wedding bells in mind. In truth, as attractive as she was, Dean disliked her.

He stood and gazed down the path, then inspected the slope. Ferns and stinging nettles. No way could he make his way up here.

Why had he ever slept with women he disliked?

The sudden thought assaulted him. A few years ago, he wouldn’t have worried. Now, even if he weren’t with Jay, he doubted he’d ever again sleep with a woman he detested. That resolve might be stretched were he ever in that position, but wasn’t a man allowed to change?