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Despite what he’d said about still wanting to be friends and not wanting anything to mess that up, it had already been messed up. They’d had sex, kissed, and she’d caught feelings, things could never really go back to the way they’d been before.

“I’ll be staying with you tonight, Alannah, you won't be alone,” Jax said from the driver’s seat of the car as he parked across the street from her building. She appreciated that, she hadn't been back to the underground parking garage since the incident, and she wasn't ready to face that yet.

She also appreciated Jax stepping up in his big brother’s absence.

Jake just walking away wasn't what she’d expected him to do regardless of whether he’d been willing to give them a shot.

You're not worth it.

Not worth it.

The insidious little voice kept whispering those words, and she was afraid that the more she heard them, the more she would believe them. With everything else she had on her plate to deal with, the last thing she needed was for her self-worth to take another plummet.

“Appreciate it, Jax,” she said, fighting a yawn. Apparently, she’d slept for almost twelve hours after passing out in the shower on the boat. She shouldn’t be so tired, but her body felt as though she hadn't slept at all.

“Look, about, Jake, he?—”

“I'd rather not talk about it.” Alannah added a smile to soften the words, but right now she was holding onto an avalanche of emotions by a thread. One single thread. It wasn't going to take much to make her lose her grip on that thread.

“Okay, honey, but I'm here if you change your mind.”

With a nod she hoped conveyed her appreciation, they both climbed out of the car. Her body felt heavy as they crossed the street and headed into the lobby. Normally, she’d make sure to spend a little time chatting with the doorman, but today all she could manage was a watery smile.

Trudging alongside Jax, they headed into the lift to head to her floor. Usually, she took the stairs, they were a good little workout to start or end her day, but there was no way her legs could handle six flights with how she felt.

When they stepped out of the lift, Alannah felt like she was in a fog, all that hope she’d felt when she realized fire man was dead and they’d survived had vanished like a puff of smoke when Jake rejected her.

Rejected her.

Like everybody else in her life.

Because you're not worth it.

Why would you ever think you were?

Lifting her head to tell Jax that she realized she didn't even have her keys, they’d gotten blown up along with her purse and all her identification on her yacht, Alannah froze.

Someone was standing outside the door to her apartment.

Not someone. Jake.

Jake was standing there.

Only he didn't quite look as put together and in control as she usually saw him.

As soon as he saw her, he straightened, his eyes locking on hers like a heat-seeking missile and refusing to look away.

“Wh-what are you d-doing here?” she stammered.

Jake was the last person she expected to see tonight.

Her plan had been to get home, take another hot shower, change into something more comfortable than the hospital scrubs she’d been given to wear home, order takeout, then fall into her bed for much-needed sleep.

Nowhere had she factored Jake into her night.

“Telling you I'm an idiot,” he replied.

“An idiot?”

“You're worth it. You're worth the risk. You're worth everything.”

Those words were exactly what she needed to hear … four hours ago in her hospital room. Now …

Now they didn't feel real, they felt like he was just panicking and telling her what he knew she wanted to hear. How was she supposed to believe that he’d changed his mind in a matter of hours?

“You two should talk inside,” Jax said, giving her a nudge.

Talking was the last thing she wanted to do. Shower, food, bed. That was what her body needed, she didn't have the emotional energy left for a conversation, but Jake was looking at her with hopeful eyes and she found she couldn’t say no.

After all, how long could this conversation take?

“Fine,” she muttered.

Her worry about keys was unfounded since Jake seemed to have a set.

He unlocked her door and held it open for her.

Somewhat reluctantly, she entered, dropping down onto her huge, fluffy, leather couch.

It cocooned her like a soft cloud, and while not quite as good as her bed would be, it felt nice to be sitting on something comfortable instead of the sand and dirt on the island.

“I'm sorry I hurt you,” Jake said without preamble as he dropped to his knees in front of her. “It’s not you who isn’t worthy, it’s me.”

“What do you mean?” she asked totally confused.

“I didn't save you.”

“I'm sitting right here.”

“But if you hadn't gotten yourself out of the smoke man’s hold, I wouldn't have been able to save your life. You would have died. A horrific death. And it would have been my fault. I would have failed you.”

Jake had a real thing about failing.

Just like she did about not being worthy of love and affection.

Together, their problems could tear them apart, drive a wedge between them, or they could help each other heal. Learn to see themselves the way the other saw them.

“It wouldn't have been your fault, Jake,” she said softly.

Reaching out with tentative hands she grasped his, relieved when he quickly held onto her like a lifeline.

“I know you promised to protect me when you were five, but I never, not even at four, thought that meant you could shield me from all pain.

I just thought it meant you'd always be there. That I'd never have to be alone again. You’ve given me that every day since.”

“I'm worried I'm not worthy of you,” Jake admitted, his gaze drifting away before steadfastly returning to meet hers.

“Because you think you have to protect me from everything, but that’s never what I needed, Jake. I just needed you. I just want you. But I don’t think I can go back to just being best friends.” Jake had been honest with her, so she owed him the same.

She owed him the truth. The entire truth.

No holding anything back.

“I realize that we’re taking a big risk, I realize that if it doesn't work out then our friendship could be ruined. But I don’t care. I want to take that risk. I don’t want to live with regrets, and I certainly don’t want to live without you in my life.”

“I told you on the island we’d find a way to make it work no matter what happened. I should have held to that promise instead of bailing on you out of fear.”

“At least you came back, at least you're facing your fears instead of running from them. I don’t want to run from my feelings, Jake. I want to embrace them. I understand that maybe you don’t feel the same way.”

“Feel what way?”

It was time to say the words and pray she wasn't about to get rejected. “I’m in love with you, Jake Holloway.”