She nodded at that.

Brian touched her hand. "In other words, they suck as your parents, but they're doing what I asked. And you'll cash that check. For me."

Liza blinked, but the tears fell anyway. "I love you, Brian."

"Me too."

"Then get better, okay?" She wrapped her arms around him tight.

"You won't be able to visit me for a while," he whispered in her ear.

Throat clogged, she nodded. "But I can call for updates? They'll talk to me?"

"I promise."

It wasn't easy, but she let him go and watched him walk away. Someone, a nurse maybe, met him outside the door to take him back to his room.

Her chest hurt, her eyes burned, and she prayed he possessed the strength to get through this and make it on the outside. Time would tell, but this was an unexpected yet unbelievably good first step.

And for that she owed Dare her thanks.

Alone in the dark, Liza walked to her car, leaving the rehab center and her brother behind. Summer heat and humidity surrounded her as did a mixture of relief for her brother and a sense of purpose for herself.

She might be as alone as she was before, but she wasn't the same person as a few short weeks ago. She looked at her life, taking stock. She'd miss her brother. Even when Brian had been drinking and out of control, he'd still been in her world, the one person with whom she felt truly connected. And as for friends? She'd claimed to have them in the city, but she hadn't spoken to the girls in a while. They had no idea what was going on in her life. How could she call them friends and claim it was enough anymore?

She couldn't. Since Dare had introduced her to his friends and family, she'd seen the possibilities inherent in intimate human connection, in letting people in. And even though Faith and Kelly were part of Dare's world, Liza had no reason to believe they'd abandon her just because she and Dare were no longer together.

The insecure girl inside Liza rose up, wondering if they'd all just babysat her and put up with her for Dare's sake, but the adult she'd become refused to believe it. They weren't her parents, who made her feel worthless and inadequate. They'd been good to her and she refused to succumb to more self-doubt or pity.

Still, tears stung and she decided she'd definitely done enough crying lately. She opened her bag and looked for her keys, pausing to use a tissue and wipe her eyes. Grabbing the remote, she hit the unlock button.

Her car made the usual beeping sound and the outside lights flashed. Liza looked up-and right into Dare's eyes.

He waited, leaning against the side of her car, and of course, he looked good. Steady, sexy...

"Hey." He raised a hand in greeting.

"Hi," she said, startled to see him.

He looked good enough to eat in his faded jeans and light blue T-shirt that showed off the muscles in his arms. She swallowed hard, trying not to stare even when all she wanted to do was crawl into his embrace and never leave.

Instead, she waited, as he did, awkwardness settling around them. Not the awkwardness of the days after Brian's last phone call. Those had been filled with a sense of sadness and despair. And there was no lingering anger from their last meeting. But there was discomfort stemming from not knowing what to say or do. And that was something they'd never had between them.

So Liza stepped up and took control. "I don't know how to begin to thank you for what you did for Brian. For bringing him here." She shook her head, still amazed, a lump in her throat.

He'd pushed himself off the car but still stood out of reach, watching her intently. But she couldn't read his expression.

"Brian had to be willing to come with me. And he was."

She nodded in agreement. "But he wouldn't have done it on his own. So thank you."

Dare inclined his head. "You're welcome."

She bit the inside of her cheek, debating how far to take this conversation and then decided what the hell. She might as well find out everything she wanted to know. At least she'd have answers to satisfy her in the long lonely days and nights ahead.

She clenched her hands into fists at her side. "Why did you do it?" she asked, meeting his gaze.

Dare smiled grimly. "Your brother asked me the same thing."

"And? What did you tell him?"

Dare let out a harsh breath. "Short, easy answer? I did it for you. Seeing if I could talk some sense into your brother was the least I could do after the awful things I said to you."

A muscle ticked in his jaw, the only evidence of emotion she'd seen. So Cara was right. He'd been kicking himself for how he'd treated her.

Liza swallowed hard, knowing his reasons didn't satisfy the longing inside her. "Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful. Eternally so. But you don't owe me anything." Obligation was the last thing she wanted him to feel. If she couldn't have his love-the one thing, the only thing, she wanted from him-then she didn't want anything at all. "People say awful things in time of crisis. I understand that."

His lips quirked upward a tiny bit. "Thanks, but you need to know how sorry I am. Hurting you like that, humiliating you in front of friends and family..." He ran a hand through his hair and looked away, obviously ashamed.

"It's okay," she said, giving him the forgiveness he needed. "Your stress level was through the roof and you took it out on the nearest person. Me. It's over and done."

"No," he said, practically cutting her off to correct her. "I took it out on the person closest to me and I don't mean in proximity."

Liza narrowed her gaze, unsure of what he meant. "I don't understand."

"Because I'm not saying this right." He shook his head and groaned. "Bear with me, okay?"

This was new. Dare Barron, off balance and unsure. Touched and curious, she nodded. And waited.

Finally, he met her gaze. "I didn't find Brian just to make it up to you. I did it for me, because I needed closure."

She nodded. "I can understand that."

"And I expected us to have an argument, which, in my mind, was years and years in the making."

"Did you and Brian fight?" Liza asked, horrified by the possibility.

Dare laughed at that. "He was in no condition for it, and once I really looked at him, saw him...I didn't want to. For years, I hated him. But when I got to the hotel room I realized I couldn't hate him anymore."

He sounded as stunned as she felt and hope sprung up inside her for the first time. If he didn't hate Brian, did that mean they had a chance?

"Why not?" she asked.

Dare met her gaze, his eyes clear and focused. "Because Brian already hated himself enough for both of us. He's been punishing himself for years, trying to drown his pain in alcohol and other addictions."

"It hasn't been easy to watch," she whispered.

"But I can see now why you felt so compelled to help him."

"You can?" Her voice rose in disbelief.

But Dare also saw the hope shining in her eyes, and as he stared into the face he loved he hoped and prayed she understood what his breakthrough meant. That the damage he'd done wasn't permanent and that he hadn't come around too late.

He stepped closer. Reaching out, he stroked one finger down her soft cheek. "You, Liza McKnight, have a huge heart and I was wrong for finding fault with that."

Her eyes dilated at his touch, giving him hope that if her body hadn't written him off completely, maybe he could still win over her mind.

"Thanks," she said softly.

"For what? Realizing something I knew from day one?" He shook his head. "Don't thank me for being a jerk."

To his surprise, Liza laughed. "You took care of me when I had no one. The last thing I'd call you is a jerk."

"That was a pleasure." He smiled at her and she smiled back.

More hope, he thought, and plowed ahead. "I realized something else when I was with your brother." He drew a steadying breath. "All that anger I was holding on to and directing at him? That was just my way of not turning it on myself."

"Because you still blamed yourself for not helping Stuart Rossman," she said. "That's normal. Human. And so is the fact that you can't look at me without being reminded of Brian and of that night. I get it. I do." She drew a shuddering breath. "So let's part ways now, with all this goodwill between us." Her hands shook as she tried to pull her purse off her shoulders, obviously ready to bolt.

Dare didn't panic. He had no intention of letting her go. "Sorry. Not parting ways. Never again."

"What?" She raised her gaze to meet his.

Dare had done so much talking, he was sick of his own voice. He grabbed her forearms and pulled her forward, sealing his lips over hers. She stiffened in surprise, so he licked her lips to ease her tension. It worked. She moaned. Her lips parted and she let him inside.

So much better, he thought, as she relaxed into him with her body, then gave of herself with her mouth and her tongue, meeting him sweep for sweep, thrust for thrust.

Until she suddenly pulled away, pain back in her darkened eyes. "I can't do this anymore. The push and pull, the confusion, the sex for the moment-"

"Whoa. Slow down," he said, staring into her dark gaze, and in that moment he saw everything he needed.

She was trying to save herself more pain, because she was afraid he'd pull away again. She wanted more than she thought they could have. She was wrong.

He wanted it all and so did she. "I love you, baby. Now and forever."

"Don't say that." She shook her head and tried to pull away. "Don't promise forever when you can't mean it." She started to shake and he wrapped her in his arms, the place where she'd be safe and wanted from now on.

"Didn't I tell you I only do relationships?" He brushed her hair off her cheek. "While you were exchanging money with a loan shark-and don't for a minute think I didn't want to be there-I settled things with your brother, right?"

She nodded.

"And while you were driving here and seeing Brian, I went to the cemetery and made my peace with Stuart Rossman and my past."

"You did?"

"Yeah," he said gruffly. He'd never forget what happened, but it was time he let go of that anger. "I might see the department shrink if I ever feel that dark place threatening. But I won't blame you ever again. I won't leave you ever again."

She hiccupped in his arms and he grinned, then tipped her chin upward and brushed his lips over hers. "I know you don't trust people. And I realize you don't believe anyone in your life will stick around, but I'm asking you to trust me."

Liza's heart beat hard against his chest. While he waited for an answer, he inhaled and took in her intoxicating scent, drawing strength from the fact that she hadn't pulled away.

"You're right. I don't trust. Experience has taught me otherwise. And I realize now part of the reason I began the relationship with Timothy back in college was because his possessiveness made me think he loved me. And when that went bad, I cut off any and all relationships except the casual ones." She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek in her palm. "Until you."

"I can be pretty charming when I want to be."

He winked at her and she groaned. "You're a bulldozer," she said on a light laugh. "But that charm of yours was hiding as much pain as I had inside."

"You're the only person who's figured that out about me." Another reason they were a perfect fit. But she hadn't accepted his declaration.

And he wasn't having it. "So? Where do we stand? Are you going to make me buy a condo and live alone, wishing I hadn't made all those mistakes? Or are you going to-"

"I love you too, Dare Barron." She kissed him then, hard, fast, and all too briefly. "When I walked out of my brother's room, I promised myself if he could find the strength to go forward, then so could I. But I couldn't let myself believe in us. I thought you helped Brian because that's what you do. Help people."

He shook his head. "The only person I want to think or worry about right now is you. I love you, baby, and I will never hurt you that way again."

She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm going to hold you to that, you know."

"I should hope so."

"Know what I want to do now?" she asked.

"Tell me." He'd give her anything she wanted and more.

Her smile lit up everything inside him.

"I want to drive home, crawl into bed, and sleep for a good long while."

He chuckled at the simple request. "Sounds good to me. As long as I'm in that bed with you."

"Come home with me," she murmured. "Move into my house and forget about looking for a place to live." She stared at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

"Only because you asked so nicely..."

She laughed and kissed him, clinging to him for so long, he wondered if they'd ever make it to their cars for the trip back to Serendipity.

Not that he cared. As long as he was with Liza, Dare would be happy anywhere.

Epilogue.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND.