“You don’t believe him.” Neither did Brett, but he was understandably biased in cases like these. He’d heard his own father make similar promises when his sister had been in remission.

And then she’d relapse again.

First thing in the morning he was going to use some of his investigative skills and do a thorough online check on Ted Burbank. Before the day was done he’d know if the man had so much as ever gotten a speeding ticket.

And he didn’t kid himself about why, either. Yes, he’d do what he could to keep Nora safe, but there was no way he could keep track of every abuser of every resident they’d ever had at the Stand.

It wasn’t technically legal, either, with him having access to the residents’ personal information.

No, he was doing this for Ella.

Because he knew her well enough to know that she’d blame herself if something happened to that young woman and her son...

“I’ve never met Nora’s husband,” she was saying. “But based on what I’ve read, and seen with her, I don’t believe a word he said. If he was truly sorry, he’d get himself into some kind of program. And he’d want Nora to stay someplace safe until he was confident that he had his issues under control.”

Which was exactly what Chloe was telling Ella she was trying to do.

And he was back to where he’d started—knowing that getting her to cooperate with his plan wasn’t going to be easy.

Knowing, too, that his idea was their best shot at reaching their goal—getting Chloe back home with Jeff. Though their ideas of what it would take to fix the situation were different—he and Jeff believed that Chloe needed time alone to find herself, while Chloe and Ella hoped that the separation would prompt Jeff to acknowledge his anger issues and seek help—the time apart was key. And the only way that Jeff was going to be able to give Chloe that time was to see her again and assure himself that their love was still there. As it stood, the last time they’d been together had been angry. If they could spend some time together and then separate on good terms, Jeff’s chances of giving Chloe what she needed were far greater.

And yet, to help his friend, Brett had to put his own emotional health in the direct line of fire.

A line he’d told himself he’d never approach again.

Brett took another sip of wine, uncomfortably aware that he could well be facing the challenge of his life.

* * *

EITHER SHE NEEDED more wine, or she needed to go home to bed. Ella was wiped out.

“So, are we done here?” she asked as she finally finished her glass of wine. One glass was all she’d had. Over the space of an hour.

She could afford to have another and stared at the bottle as though it would tip itself over above her glass.

“No.” Picking up the bottle, Brett poured a little more wine into each of their glasses. More than half the bottle remained. “I called you here to discuss an idea, and I haven’t yet told you about it.”

She thought back. They’d discussed Chloe and Jeff. It had felt as though they were on the same page for the first time since this whole thing had begun. Except that she knew Chloe’s bruises were Jeff’s fault. And knew that her brother needed help.

And they hadn’t actually decided what to do for the other couple. Hadn’t discussed ways to help.

So how had more than an hour passed?

And why had she let it? She’d promised herself she wasn’t going to get sucked in by Brett’s magnetism again.

“What’s the idea?” she asked.

“Each day that passes without your brother knowing where his wife is, or understanding why she’s gone, he gets a little more desperate. Not as a sick man with control issues, but as a man in love with his wife, who’s just had his life disrupted and isn’t sure it’ll ever be right again.”

“I know—that’s where you came in. I’d hoped you’d help him see why Chloe left so that he can get help, and his world can be right again.”

She still wasn’t convinced that Jeff didn’t have a very real and dangerous problem.

“I don’t want my brother falsely accused,” she said. “But I don’t think Chloe imagined all of this. When you listen to her over a period of time, you hear how the fights escalate, and I think she’s right to be concerned. I was concerned,” she admitted. “I’m the one who suggested she get out of there. She thought she could stay with him and help him to see that he needed help. I was scared to death that if she did, Jeff would really hurt her. To the point of her needing a doctor or the police being called, and then there’d be no going back.”

“But if the situation continues as is, especially now that Sara’s involved, he could start looking like he’s stalking her when in reality he’s just a desperate man trying to save his marriage.”

“Regardless of what’s happening, she needs time apart from him to get herself straightened out, Brett.”

“I agree.”

Okay. Good. She met his gaze. Almost smiled at him. That intimate, it’s-me-and-you smile that they’d shared when other people were around.

“The other problem is that Cody’s birthday is coming up, and Jeff has every right to see his son for his birthday.” Brett’s words stole the smile before it could escape.

Jeff could push things. Get the law involved. And win his birthday party with his son. But at what cost?

They’d be right back where they started.

“I asked Jeff if he’d be willing to give Chloe total silence, no phone calls, no attempts to see or speak with her, if we could arrange a weekend away first—the five of us—to celebrate Cody’s birthday. A weekend would give him enough time with Chloe to celebrate their son’s birthday, but also for them to reconnect. Just enough to reassure him that he and Chloe aren’t becoming strangers.”

The five of us. They were the only words she heard.

For a few wonderful years it had been the four of them. And then she’d gotten pregnant, and it was going to be the five of them.

Now here they were, all these years later. And Chloe and Jeff’s baby made the fifth, not hers.

The five of them...

“El? I promise I’d stay out of your way.” Brett was talking faster than normal.

This really meant a lot to him.

Which told her he thought it would work.

And since it meant him having to spend time with her, he must think it was the only thing that would work.

“Jeff has agreed to leave her alone,” he said, meeting her gaze. “That means he’s not going to come off looking like a stalker.”

He knew where she hurt. And how to work her.

He’d said he didn’t want to hurt her ever again. He’d had tears in his eyes at the time. The night he’d told her he was walking away from their marriage forever.

She’d believed him then. And believed him now, too.

A weekend in his company.

She didn’t know if she could handle it.

She loved the man. Always had. And knew now that she always would.

But he wasn’t good for her.

“El, will you talk to Chloe? At least see what she thinks about the idea?”

She didn’t feel as though she had any other choice.

“Okay,” she said.

And drank her wine so she didn’t have to look at him again. Make eye contact. Feel that special connection between them.

How could she, and take care of herself?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A CABIN IN the woods, with private lagoon access, a dock, pontoon and speed boats and a fire pit in a huge backyard, had seemed like a good idea at the time.

Private enough that if Chloe and Jeff had it out, there wouldn’t be outside witnesses, and yet with enough to do to keep them all occupied for the one day and two nights they’d be spending together.

Because the soonest they could all get together was on a Friday night, and to give Chloe and Jeff an entire day together without long drives eating into that time, Brett had agreed to the two nights. The night of the arrival, Saturday together with the birthday dinner that evening, followed by a quick departure on Sunday morning. The itinerary wasn’t ideal, but Jeff was happy and everyone else was satisfied.