"Perfect. Do I get to sample it before anyone else does?"

Beverly winked at her. "I won't tell."

"Won't tell what?" Alaina asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"That Emma is going to sample the roast before dinner."

"No sampling without me." She stepped up beside Emma and inhaled deeply. "Oh, Beverly, that smells divine. How soon do we eat?"

"In about half an hour. Griff should be here by then."

"Where is he anyway?" Alaina asked Emma. "Why didn't he come with you?"

"He said he had something to do first."

"Like what?"

"I didn't ask."

Alaina shook her head. "You have a lot to learn about being nosy, Em." She turned to Beverly. "You said he'll be here in half an hour?"

"Yes."

Emma noticed Beverly didn't look at either of them when she answered. "Beverly? Do you know where Griff is?"

"Alaina, would you make the salad?"

A chill skittered down Emma's spine. Beverly had abruptly changed the subject, which told Emma that Griff's mother knew exactly where he was. She touched the older woman's shoulder. "Beverly, where is Griff?"

Sympathy filled Beverly's eyes when she looked at Emma. "Jana was killed eleven months ago today. Griff is at the cemetery."

It'd been two weeks since her scene with Griff over the master bedroom. He still hadn't opened that door at the end of the hall. She shouldn't be surprised that he'd gone to the cemetery to visit his dead wife, but she was. She felt they had grown closer the last two weeks. The s.e.x was still scorching, yet she thought they had more than s.e.x. She worked alongside him at the restaurant, even though it was little more than framework so far. They watched TV together in the evenings or hung out with his brothers and Alaina. They would prepare gourmet meals together. He loved to cook almost as much as she did. He'd put on some of the weight he'd lost after Jana died and looked even s.e.xier now.

Sometimes they talked for hours. She enjoyed listening to his stories about growing up with his brothers and the mischief they caused. No longer the quiet, sullen man she'd met a month ago, Griff smiled and laughed now. He had a quick wit and a great personality. She couldn't help falling a little more in love with him each day.

She thought Griff was starting to care for her too. Apparently she was wrong. No one would ever take the place of Jana in his heart.

Forcing a smile, she faced her friend. "Alaina, if you'll make the salad like Beverly said, I'll mash the potatoes."

She turned away again before the pity in Alaina's eyes caused her to burst into tears.

Griff knew something bothered Emma the moment he kissed her. She'd lifted her lips for his kiss when he walked into the kitchen of his parents' house, yet her lips hadn't softened beneath his the way they usually did.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Just a little crampy." She laid her hand on her abdomen. "My second day is always the worst."

Griff understood what Emma meant. Jana had really suffered with her periods. "I remember how bad Jana always felt-"

"Please don't compare me to your late wife."

Her sharp tone surprised him. "Is something else wrong besides cramps?"

"No." She handed him a basket of rolls. "Take this to the table please."

Only his mother coming in the kitchen stopped Griff from questioning Emma further. The general chaos coming from the dining room meant he wouldn't get the chance to talk to Emma until they were alone again.

She was quiet during dinner, speaking when someone spoke to her but otherwise remaining silent while she ate. As the meal stretched out to dessert, he grew more concerned about her. She always jumped into the middle of every conversation, ready to give her opinion whether someone wanted it or not. The longer she remained quiet, the less he liked it.

He didn't believe her silence came from cramps. Something else had to be wrong.

Emma, Alaina and his mother gathered up the dessert plates and took them in the kitchen. Griff wondered how quickly he and Emma could go back to his house so they could talk in private.

Alaina and his mother came back in the dining room without Emma and carried more dishes out of the room. After the two women made the third trip, Griff rose and went into the kitchen. Emma wasn't there.

"Where's Emma?" he asked Alaina.

She straightened from loading plates into the dishwasher and faced him. His stomach plummeted at the anxious look on her face. "Alaina. Where is Emma?"

"She went back to your place. To pack."

If she had said there was a purple gorilla in the garage, Griff couldn't have been more shocked. "Pack? For what?"

"She asked if she could stay with Rye and me until Sat.u.r.day when Kelcey gets here."

She was leaving him? "Why?"

"She just said she couldn't stay with you anymore."

His whole world had fallen apart and he had no idea why. Griff hurried out the back door and to his van. The tires squealed as he tore out of his parents' driveway. He drove the mile to his house the fastest he ever had. He didn't bother to park in the garage, but left his van in his driveway and ran into the house.

"Emma!"

She didn't answer him. He hurried through the house, looking in every room as he pa.s.sed it. He came to a dead stop in the bedroom's doorway. An open suitcase laid on the bed, bras and panties inside it. He whirled around to see the closet door stood open. Emma was inside, pulling tops from the hangers.

"What are you doing?" He heard the panic in his voice, but couldn't stop it. He didn't want her to leave.

She came out of the closet and began folding the tops to put in the suitcase. "I think that's obvious."

"Why are you leaving?"

"Because I can't stay here anymore."

"But why? Are you angry at me? Did I do something wrong?"

She brushed by him without answering. Griff stood still, unsure what to do. He didn't know whether to follow her or wait until she came back.

She returned a few moments later, carrying items from the bathroom. Griff waited until she'd dumped them in the suitcase before he grabbed her arm and turned her toward him. She kept her head lowered as if she didn't want to look at him. "Emma, talk to me. Why are you leaving?"

Finally she lifted her chin. Tears glittered in her eyes. "Where were you this morning, Griff?"

His heart dropped down into his stomach. Someone had told her he'd gone to the cemetery. "I...had an errand to run."

"Where?"

Unsure what to say, he didn't say anything.

"You went to Jana's grave, didn't you?"

Lying would be stupid when she already knew the truth. "Emma, she was killed eleven months ago today. I had to visit her."

She shook her head and released a sigh. "Of course you did."

"Emma, please try to understand-"

"I don't understand, Griff. We sleep in here instead of the master bedroom. Jana's clothes still hang in the closet. When are you going to let go of her?"

"It isn't that easy."

"I know that. I know she was your whole life. I'm not unsympathetic to your pain, please believe that. But she's gone. I'm not." She jerked her arm away from him. "I can't do this anymore, Griff. I can't compete with the memory of your wife." She laid her hand over her heart. "I am completely in love with you. I didn't plan to fall for you, but I did. I want to be with you forever, but you'd rather live in the past than let it go and be with me."

Breathing became more difficult as his heart started to pound. He didn't want to lose Emma. "I don't want you to go."

"Why not? Do you want a life with me or just a woman to f.u.c.k?"

He couldn't have a life with Emma, not when he still loved Jana. Unsure again what to say, he remained silent.

Her tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks. Emma swiped them away. She returned to the closet, came out with several pairs of jeans and tossed them in the suitcase. "I'll get the rest of my stuff later this week."

She closed the suitcase and lifted it from the bed. Griff stood in the doorway, blocking her path as she tried to leave. "Don't go."

"I have to." Her voice cracked on the last word. More tears flowed down her cheeks. "Please move."

He reached out to touch her face. She tilted her head so he couldn't. Short of tying her to a piece of furniture, he couldn't make her stay. He stepped out of the doorway and into the hall.

She brushed by him, the flowery scent he now a.s.sociated with her trailing behind her...and leaving him more alone than ever.

Thirty minutes later, Griff heard the slamming of a car door a moment before his back door opened and closed. Rising from the couch where he'd been nursing a gla.s.s of whisky to dull his pain, he turned to see his brothers walk into the living room. Both of them wore scowls on their faces.

"You are a G.o.dd.a.m.n idiot." Dax walked up to within inches of Griff. "You've f.u.c.ked up anything you could've had with Emma. What the h.e.l.l is wrong with you?"

He didn't have to ask how Dax knew what had happened with Emma. She would've told Alaina, who told Rye, and so on. "She left me."

"And you blame her for that?" Dax pointed down the hall. "Is that door still closed to the master bedroom?"

Griff's anger flared at Dax sticking his nose where it didn't belong. "That's none of your business."

"The h.e.l.l it isn't! You lost Jana. I hate that. But you met Emma, who is gorgeous and s.e.xy and smart and crazy about you. You need to go over to Rye's house right now and beg her to forgive you for being such an a.s.s."

Griff looked at his other brother, who was uncharacteristically quiet. Rye normally jumped in as peacemaker when his brothers fought. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Because I agree with Dax. You are an idiot."

Rye spoke again before Griff could even sputter. "I know how much you adored Jana. And I know it's only been eleven months since you lost her. But Emma came into your life at a time when you really needed her. She's been good for you, Griff. You've put on weight. You smile and joke the way you used to. Your face lights up when you see her. You may not be ready to admit you love her, but we know you do." He clasped Griff's shoulder. "Love doesn't have a timetable, Griff. You knew Jana most of your life. You've known Emma for a month. You fell in love with both women."

Griff looked from Rye to Dax and back again. He thought of how happy he'd been since Emma came into his life. He enjoyed talking with her, cooking with her, making love with her. Even sitting silently together while they'd watched TV made him happy and content.

His brothers were right. Emma had brought sunshine into his world when he believed he'd live in darkness forever.

Something seemed to melt deep inside and drift away...that part of himself determined to hold onto Jana, no matter what.

"So?" Dax asked, still scowling. "Are you going to see Emma?"

Griff shook his head. "No."

"Griff-"

"Leave me alone, please. I need to think."

"What the h.e.l.l do you need to think about? She-"

"Dax, stop it," Rye said, laying his hand on Dax's shoulder. "Let's leave him alone, like he asked."

Dax didn't look happy, but he didn't argue any longer. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the room.

"Call me if you need me," Rye said.

"I will. Thanks."

After his brothers left, Griff slowly strolled down the hall. He stood outside the door to the master bedroom for long moments, staring at it. Finally gathering his courage, he pushed down on the lever and let the door open.

He stepped inside the room. The few times he'd been in here, he'd sensed Jana's presence. He waited, but that didn't happen this time. He was the only one in the room.

Turning to his right, he picked up the picture that had been taken on their fifth anniversary. He touched her cheek, the way he always did when he looked at the picture. "You'll always have a part of my heart, Jana. I hope you know that."

Griff opened a drawer in the dresser and laid the picture on a stack of Jana's underwear. Squeezing his eyes shut, he closed the drawer on the picture...and his memories.

Slipping his cell phone from its holder on his belt, he searched for a number in his favorites list.

"I need your help."

Thanks to Rye, Emma knew Griff would be out of town Wednesday to arrange for more supplies to be delivered for the restaurant. That gave her the perfect opportunity to collect the rest of her things from his house. She'd done her best to avoid him the last two days, even though she'd yearned for a glimpse of him.