“He doesn’t have to be. Callum made his intentions clear. He just wants my forgiveness for not showing up to Mum and Dad’s funeral.”

Graham’s eyebrows shot up. When he turned his head to meet her eyes, his blue eyes had darkened. “Is that it? He’s not sorry that he left you or played with your feelings?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think he actually cares. He just wants my forgiveness and that’s it. I could just say that I do forgive him and make him leave, but he’ll be back for his best friend’s wedding.”

Graham took his feet off the coffee table and placed them on the carpet. His eyebrows furrowed. “Wedding?”

Peyton sighed. “That last-minute booking Aunt Brenda made was Marissa Reynolds’ wedding and Callum’s the best man,” she revealed.

“Wow,” Graham breathed.

“Yeah, wow,” she agreed and rested her head against the back of the couch. “I never expected this, Graham. I never thought he’d come back. Why did he have to?” she asked softly, staring at the couch cushion that separated them.

“Come here,” Graham said as he took her hand and brought her closer.

Peyton smiled as she settled her head in his lap, Graham’s hand stroking her head. It was too much for her. She hadn’t anticipated Callum’s return. She had only just got her life together since his departure and her parents’ deaths.

“I don’t think that I’ll be strong enough to face him again. I have to just ignore his being back. I didn’t go to the hotel today because I was scared I might run into him in town,” she said, staring at their beverages on the table.

“You don’t have to be scared, Peyton. You didn’t do anything wrong. It was him.”

Graham’s right. Callum’s the one who left me. I didn’t. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to be his.

Peyton turned her body until she was facing Graham. He gave her a sincere smile, his dimple deepening. She smiled back at him. If she’d ever loved someone unconditionally, it was Graham. Not Callum or Jay. Just Graham. They had a friendship no one could ever understand. They shared so much pain. If it hadn’t been for him, she would have lost herself right after the funeral. He had healed her.

“Sometimes…”

“Yeah?”

“Sometimes I wish I’d never fallen in love with him. Never kissed him. Never told him that I loved him. I wish it hadn’t been him,” Peyton confessed.

Graham wiped the tear off her cheek. “I sometimes wish that, too. Then I wouldn’t have seen you on that bench crying. But if it hadn’t been for him, I would have never been as close as I am with you. Never forget that I love you, Peyton.”

She blinked away her tears. Graham was never one to show his emotions around people. Peyton had been one of a few who Graham let close. But in this moment, Graham had shown a vulnerable side to himself.

Sitting up, Peyton placed her hand on Graham’s chest, leant forward, and kissed his cheek. “I love you, too, Graham.”

It wasn’t a love that had blossomed overnight. It was unconditional. It was a friendship bonded by an undeniable connection. He came first in her life. Not Callum. And not even the hotel mattered more than Graham Scott.

The morning sun hitting her eyelids caused Peyton to let out a soft groan. Slowly, she opened her eyes to find herself staring at Graham’s naked chest, his hand on her hip. Peyton watched him, the calm expression on his face as he slept. She smiled knowing that this was only one of the rare times where he wasn’t worrying over the family farm.

She looked down to see her palms on his chest. It wasn’t uncommon for them to fall asleep while watching a movie, but Graham’s partially naked chest was a first for her. She had spilt red wine on his shirt before they’d slept. So it wouldn’t stain, Peyton had placed it in the tub and let it soak in stain solution.

A knock on the door echoed through the quiet house. As silently as she could, Peyton slipped away from Graham’s hold. He stirred for a moment before his breathing evened. Peyton scratched her head and let out a yawn. The cold hardwood floors made her wince as she walked towards the front door. After unbolting the chain and the lock on the handle, Peyton opened the door and was startled.

“Callum,” she said, shocked.

His eyes stared at the pyjama shorts and tank she wore before meeting her startled glance. “Good morning, Peyton,” he said with a tight smile.

“Why are you on my doorstep so early in the morning? Can I help you with something?” Peyton asked.

“Marissa called me last—”

“Peyton, is someone at the door?” Graham asked, stopping Callum from continuing.

Peyton stilled at Graham’s question and watched Callum’s eyes widen in surprise. She heard Graham’s footsteps move closer until he stood next to her. Callum stared at Graham—no doubt taking in his naked chest and making assumptions—before he looked back at Peyton.

She ignored the way his jaw tensed and turned to Graham. Then she smiled before saying, “Morning.”

“Morning, Peyton,” he said sweetly before he placed a kiss on her cheek.

She felt Callum’s eyes on her, but she didn’t care. She knew what Graham was playing at. But she did, however, blush at him. If this was how Graham treated women, then they were lucky.

Callum let out a cough, interrupting them.

“Callum, I heard you were back in town. How are you?” Graham asked.

Peyton turned and met eyes with Callum. She couldn’t decipher the almost angry look in his eyes.

“I’m good, mate. How’s the farm?”

Their small talk just adds to the awkwardness of this morning.

“Good,” Graham said, placing an arm around Peyton’s waist. “Have you had breakfast, Callum? I’m just about to make us some. You’re welcome to join.”

Both Peyton and Callum flinched in surprise. Callum shifted uncomfortably in his place. Looking down, Peyton noticed that he was standing on the veranda rather than the doormat, and that made her smile for a moment.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass. Listen, Peyton, could I talk to you for a moment?” Callum asked.

“Okay. I’ll get breakfast ready before I grab a shower,” Graham said. Then he squeezed her waist and left her alone with Callum.

“So, it’s you and lavender boy,” Callum said blankly. It was a nickname Callum had given Graham when they were kids. It was a nickname Peyton had never really liked.

“None of your business,” she stated firmly. Though there was nothing between Graham and her, Callum had no right to question it.

“You’re right. It isn’t.”

Peyton tucked her hair behind her ear and then crossed her arms, waiting for an explanation to his early morning visit. “Again, can I help you with something, Callum?” she asked with an irritated tone to her voice.

“Will you be at the hotel today? I stopped by yesterday but you weren’t there. Marissa called and sent over some drafts of the dance floor, some selections on silverware, and other ideas,” he said.

“Wait.” Peyton uncrossed her arms. “Why didn’t she just email them to me? Why is she going through you?” she asked, slightly offended.

“I almost lost them The Spencer-Dayle, so I owe it to them to make sure everything is ready. And Marissa wants constant updates and having Oscar up my ass will get her them. So, will you be at the hotel today?”

This time, it was Callum who folded his arms over his chest. She noticed that he was wearing a green, long-sleeved shirt. It was cool out, but she wasn’t sure if it really warranted a long top.

Peyton closed her eyes, knowing that what she said next would affect the next few weeks of her life. She would be working close with the man who had broken her heart and betrayed her trust.

“Yeah. I’ll be there at around eleven,” she answered.