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“You don’t have to drive me. I can go alone. I’ll talk to Caity and her fiancé and be back in time to make that cake.”

Covering her hand with his, he ran the pad of his finger across her skin. “No. We go together.”

Don’t do it. Don’t get attached. But when he tugged her closer, she went. Cupping her cheek, he touched his lips to hers… soft, reassuring. She loved the solid press of him against her, the way he made her feel safe when he was the last person who should.

He hated Kyle, and yet here he was, leaving his safe place to join her. She could only guess at how much that move was costing him.

She studied his tense features. “If it ever gets to be too much, just tell me, okay?”

But Oliver was already pulling away. “I’ll be fine. Let’s go. The sooner we find him, the sooner we can both move on.”

Move on…

Move on was exactly what both of them needed to do. The words gave her indigestion, regardless.

Oliver’s world had been flipped upside down because of her brother. Finding Kyle would help him get back to the life he’d once led. After years of suffering, he deserved to be happy. There was no room in his life for her—she’d always serve as a reminder of the pain her brother had caused.

She followed him to the car.

Would Oliver go back to California when this was all over? Pick up surfing again or learn a new hobby? Would he want to return to his job at UCLA or to start somewhere fresh?

They’d only been driving a few minutes, but she couldn’t hold back any longer. “Do you think you’ll go back to teaching?”

Oliver didn’t look away from the road. “I’ve been thinking about it more lately. After the accident, I’d get violent headaches if I stared at a screen or a book too long. The doctors said it would get better, and it has, but I haven’t done any research or published in years. My buddy at Trinity College keeps recruiting me to be a visiting scholar. It might be a good reintroduction back into academia.”

“That’s who rented you the house?”

“Yeah. He’s on a research sabbatical abroad.”

“Maybe you can resume your podcast. The ancient Greek semen practices episode really drew me in.”

His booming laughter warmed her from the inside out. “That was everyone’s favorite episode. It put my podcast on the map.”

“You’re now renowned for your discussion of semen. You should be proud of that.”

“In a strange way, I am.”

“What were you like as a kid?” she asked as they drove.

“A history geek—something my parents encouraged. We first went to Greece when I was eight or so. Everything about that place fascinated me. It still does. Studying its history, teaching it and seeing others get inspired… I loved it.”

“I hope you can resume soon.”

A shadow passed over his features. “I’m not the same person I was before. I’m not even the same man.”

“You look—”

His headshake cut her off. “I was always happy before. Happy as a kid. Happy as a teen. Happy as an adult. I loved life. Adored adventure. Seeing new places, trying new foods. I ran and biked and hiked and surfed and skied, and I always judged my friends whenever they’d get sad or depressed.” His gaze cut to hers. “I thought, just get over yourself. Stop being pathetic. Go outside and exercise. And now look at me. I am bitter and angry and I hate it, but I can’t let it go. I’ve tried and I can’t.”

His knuckles were stark white as he gripped the wheel, every muscle in his face tense as he stared ahead. The admission had been difficult—maybe more so because it was to her. As much as she wanted to reach for him, she kept her hands in her lap. Oliver wouldn’t accept the sympathy. Somehow, he’d twist it into pity.

She kept her voice matter-of-fact. “I do look at you, Oliver. I see someone who went through a lot, someone trying to find himself again. You’ll get there.”

His shoulders relaxed. “I hope so.”

Although he didn’t speak after that, his knuckles on the wheel loosened.

The man who couldn’t manage to leave his house was now driving her to Galway. Would face Caity and the fiancé with her—help her find Kyle for Netta, not for his own revenge.