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regret it.”
    “I don’t know,” Sam said. “But something inside me says you won’t.”
    Sebastien sighed and shook his head. “I hope you’re right.”
    Sam watched him walk away down the hall, ignoring the ache that came every time he realized the pain he’d caused his sons by being the imperfect father he’d had to be alone.
    But nothing would be solved by avoiding Joanna.
    He had to press on. He had to know.

4
    J o woke with a tremendous headache . She sat forward, rubbing her head for several minutes as the bright, Caribbean sun streamed through the window, lighting up the room.
    Like Sam had lit up her life the moment he’d walked into it. She knew he’d be coming by soon. He’d probably want to know she was okay after fainting in his arms. She didn’t remember exactly what he’d said that had triggered the intense headache and the fainting that followed it, but she did remember him saying they were much more than lovers.
    And she had three sons.
    A deep, soul-weary ache moved through her at the thought of it. Three sons she didn’t remember, growing up without her. It was like a nightmare that never ended, one she couldn’t wake up from. What had happened to her? Was she the type of woman who would leave her kids?
    She shook her head as tears fell onto the bedspread. She didn’t think she was. At least, she didn’t think she was the type that wouldn’t come back. She knew she was a solitary person, had always gotten by on her own ever since she woke up from her coma. She hadn’t needed as much human interaction as her coworkers, had been happy to go home alone for peace and quiet at the end of the night.
    But she still didn’t think she’d run from a family, even if the thought of one made her slightly nervous.
    Still, what a thing to learn in your late forties. Children.
    She thumped her fists on the sheets impotently. Should she go meet them? What could she say? They, like Sam, would want to know where she’d been, and she had no information.
    The phone at the side of her bed rang and she picked up with a long sigh, not feeling like talking to anyone. “Hello?” she asked, expecting room service or maintenance. She was surprised to hear Sam instead.
    “Hi there, ready for some breakfast? I have a big day planned for us.”
    She hesitated. A part of her worried that coming here had been a mistake, that she could only hurt Sam by being around him, but not being able to share memories with him. Yet just hearing his smile through the phone made hope rise up in her and the prospect of being with him seem nearly irresistible.
    “What did you have in mind?” she asked.
    “Just a day on my yacht, wining and dining you. Nothing serious, I promise. I know you need a break after last night.”
    She nodded and then realized he couldn’t hear that through the phone. “I do. Thank you for understanding.”
    There was a short pause. “No problem. I know it’s been hard for you.”
    She fought off the tears that were rising again. “It has. It’s okay, though. When do you want to leave?”
    “Now. I’m outside your door.” She heard a knock at the door and laughed at his audacity. Had he always been this persistent? She wished she could remember everything between them.
    “Fine, I’ll change.”
    “Wear a swimsuit,” he said, a hint of a laugh in his deep, rich voice. She could hear him behind the door now.
    “Stalker,” she teased.
    His laugh boomed and she giggled as she set down the phone. She felt surprised at the sound coming from her. It still felt like it hurt to smile. It felt like she hadn’t smiled until she’d been reunited with Sam.
    She jumped up to get ready for the day. She pulled on a figure-hugging blue swimsuit with flattering ruching in the front, put a gauzy cover-up she’d bought at the gift shop over it, and grinned at the mirror. She even fluffed her hair a little for good measure. It felt a little like a first date, and she had the butterflies in her stomach to