“He can’t help it. He’s also really ugly,” the other guy said. “I’m much better-looking.”

She leaned against the table and glanced between them. “Why should I take your word on that?”

“I’m telling the truth. Ask anyone.”

They were flirting, she thought, not the least bit interested, but pleased that she felt comfortable in the situation. To think of all the time she’d wasted hiding out in Lexi’s guest room.

Someone else approached. Someone she recognized immediately.

“Is there a problem?” Nick asked.

She saw the other guys take a step back.

“No,” the first one said. “Not at all.”

Nick ignored him. “Izzy?”

“I’m fine, but these two seem like they need help finding their seats.”

“I’ll take care of that.”

She wasn’t exactly sure what he did but suddenly she was alone at the table.

Aaron sidled up. “That was very macho.”

“I know. Impressive.”

“I’m sure it was. Now let’s dish. Steve is the director of finance. That’s good, right? I mean he’s successful?”

“You’re not just in it for his pretty face?” she teased.

“That, too. I’m so excited. I hope this works out. I’m ready for a real relationship. Oh, and you should head up to the house. The guys are really putting away the wine. They’re going to get rowdy pretty soon and you don’t want to be here when that happens.”

“Are you worried about me? That’s so sweet.”

“I know. I’m an incredible human being. Be sure to tell Steve if he asks.”

“I will,” she promised. “Have fun tonight.”

“It’s what I do best.”

IZZY TOOK A LONG BATH. As she soaked in the large tub, she listened to music and hummed along with the songs.

This was good, she thought. She was adjusting. Happy, even, which she wouldn’t have thought was possible just a couple of weeks ago.

She got out of the tub and used her favorite scented lotion, then pulled on bikini panties and an oversize Dallas Cowboys T-shirt to sleep in. She’d just walked into the bedroom when the door to the hall opened.

Her first thought was that Nick had finally come calling. Anticipation flooded her body, making her thighs a little shaky.

“Don’t you knock?” she asked, smiling as she spoke. Then she turned and caught sight of the man standing just inside her room.

It wasn’t Nick. The shape was all wrong, as was the way he moved. She figured it had to be one of the guys from the retreat, but didn’t know which one.

Irritation replaced eagerness.

“You have the wrong room,” she snapped. “Turn around and go back where you belong.”

“Hey, baby.” The man’s voice slurred slightly. “I thought I’d come say good-night personally. You’re with the staff, right? This is a full-service kind of place.” He moved toward her. “And in the morning, you won’t even know it was me.”

“Jackass,” she muttered, moving away from him. “I’ll break your nose. That will make you easy to identify.”

She wasn’t afraid. Not really. She was more annoyed than anything else. He was drunk. Guys did stupid things when they were drunk.

He reached for her. She sidestepped him, but bumped into the dresser. For a second she was off balance and he grabbed her arm.

She yelped as she kicked out at him. Her bare foot caught the chair instead of the man. It hurt a lot, but she kicked again and this time landed a direct hit on his thigh.

He swore and grabbed her hair. “Bitch.”

“Tell me about it,” she said, letting him pull her against him.

When she was close enough to do serious damage, she jabbed him with her elbow, using as much force as she could. He grunted and released her. She jabbed again and spun to face him. Then she was grabbed from behind and lifted out of the way. Someone else joined the fight.

Izzy stood on the far side of her bed, trying to catch her breath, watching Nick pummel her attacker. She couldn’t tell exactly what was happening. There were a few thuds, several groans, then silence as a body hit the floor.

She rubbed her arm where the guy had bruised her.

“I’m really hoping you won,” she said.

Nick moved to her side. “I did. You okay?”

She stared into his face and wished she could see his eyes.

“Fine.”

He brushed her shoulders, then down her arms. He paused on her left one. She thought he might be examining the growing bruise. He swore.

“Anything else?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. He didn’t have time.”

Nick turned away. There was another thud followed by a crunching sound.

“What did you do?” she asked anxiously.

“Broke his nose.”

“I threatened to do that.”

“Good. I hope he thinks you did.”

She stared at the shape on the floor. The fear for herself was gone. “Are you going to get in trouble for that? You can’t go around beating up people.”

“I can when they walk into your room and attack you. Besides, they all sign a release. Short of hanging them, I can do whatever I want.”

He cupped her face in his hands. His fingers were warm and strong as he stroked her skin.

“I’m sorry,” he told her. “I’ll make sure all the doors are locked. No one else will get in.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

“It’s not. You’re in my house. You’re my responsibility.”

She cared a whole lot less about that than the feel of his skin against hers.

“What are you going to do to him?” she asked, trying to distract herself.

“Dump him in the barn and let him sleep it off. I’ll take all his clothes. He’ll wake up feeling like shit and naked. That should teach him.”

“I don’t think you should be too hard on him. I mean, hey, it was me. I’m fairly irresistible.”

He chuckled. “The Izzy defense?”

“It works in a court of law.”

“Because you’re a wild temptress?”

“Think you can resist me?”

“I’m doing my best.”

“Maybe you should stop working at it. Sometimes giving in is a good thing.”

The fingers stroking her skin stilled. “Izzy…”

“You talk too much,” she whispered, then raised herself up on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.

He kissed her lightly, then stepped back.

“You should have the surgery.”

The unexpected statement stunned her. “What?”

“You heard me. Have the surgery. You’re ready. What’s stopping you?”

She was offering him sex and he wanted to tell her to go ahead with an operation that could leave her totally blind?

She didn’t know which made her more mad-his dismissal of her invitation or his butting into her personal business.

“Get out,” she said. “Get out and take the jerk with you.”

“Why are you mad? It’s time. You know it’s time.”

“Get out!”

He grabbed the body and dragged it out into the hall. She slammed the door behind him and threw herself on the bed.

“Jerk,” she muttered, not sure which of the two men she meant.

THE NEXT MORNING Izzy debated not helping with the retreat. She was supposed to demonstrate the rope bridge, but wasn’t sure Nick deserved that. Let him deal with the corporate clients on his own.

But instead of staying in bed, she found herself showering, then dressing. While the thought of letting Nick down helped her battered ego, she still liked Aaron. And she was intrigued by the thought of the rope bridge. She would just ignore Nick.

Aaron was waiting for her downstairs. “He’s thirty-three and came out ten years ago after a disastrous six-month marriage to a woman. Why do they even bother to try? Anyway, he works in finance. He likes the same movies as me, we both love to cook and he’s totally yummy.”

She followed him outside to the Jeep they would take to the event area.

“Good kisser?” she asked, thinking Nick was an amazing kisser. Wait. No. He wasn’t. She was mad at him and wanted nothing to do with him.

“Excellent.” He drew out the word to seven or eight syllables. “I really like him. I don’t want to get too excited, though. That road always leads to heartache. I just…” He started the Jeep. “I really like him.”

She smiled. “Then you should enjoy yourself.”

“But? Aren’t you going to warn me to be careful? To not trust too easily? To avoid handing over my bank account numbers or house keys until I’m sure?”

She turned toward him. “It sounds like you already know everything you should be doing. I’m the girl who just goes for it, consequences be damned.”

“Does that work for you?”

“It did until the explosion.”

Which was the wrong thing to say. Now she was thinking about the surgery again-surgery she didn’t want to have. Being in the dark forever. Could she do that? The thought of it terrified her.

Aaron patted her hand. “You’re a brave little soldier.”

“Not really.” A brave little soldier would have scheduled the surgery.

Fortunately, they’d arrived at the site before she could depress herself.

She climbed out of the Jeep and sensed someone at her side.

“Nick,” she said calmly.

“I didn’t think you’d show.”

“Why wouldn’t she show?” Aaron asked. “What happened? Are you two keeping secrets? Did you fight?”

“Some guy got into my room last night,” she said, telling only part of the truth. “He was drunk. Nick took care of him.”

“Who was it?” Aaron demanded. “What bastard did that? Can you hold him so I can hit him? Or get someone bigger than me to hit him?”

“I broke his nose,” Nick told him.

“That’s not the part that should be broken,” Aaron muttered. “Are you okay?”

Izzy assumed Aaron was talking to her. “I’m fine. He was a jerk and I suspect he’s learned a lesson.”

There was a long silence. She didn’t know if Aaron and Nick were exchanging looks or secret codes and she didn’t care.

“Where’s the bridge?” she asked. “I’m ready to intimidate the hell out of these guys.”

Nick put his hand on the small of her back. “Straight ahead, toward that big tree.”

She saw vague shapes and started walking, doing her best to ignore the feel of his palm and the heat from his skin. She was still annoyed with him and wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of responding.

Someone stepped in front of her.

“Hey, Izzy,” the man said. “I’m Jeff. We met last night. I heard about what happened and wanted to tell you I’m sorry. We all are. We’re not like that.”

“One of you is.”

“You’re right. When he gets out of the hospital, he’ll be fired. I know it’s not much, but it’s the best we can do.”

“Hospital?” she asked, feigning surprise. “For what?”

Jeff chuckled. “He fell or something. Broke his nose. Woke up naked in the barn.”

“Oh. How horrible. I hope he’s okay.”

“I don’t know and I don’t care. I just wanted you to know we’re all sorry.”

“Thanks.”

He stepped out of her way. She continued walking.

“He was nice,” she said. “I wonder if he’s single. We could go out. Get married. Have a couple of kids.”

Nick didn’t say anything. Izzy glanced back at him.

“No comment?”

“I hope you’ll be very happy together.”

The wrong thing to say, she thought, annoyed all over again.

They stopped in front of a tall tree.

“Rope ladder up about twenty feet,” Nick said as he helped her step into a harness. “The rope bridge swings a little. If you feel yourself starting to lose your balance, drop into a crouch. Lower your center of gravity. Ethan, a mountain-climbing buddy of mine, is in the other tree. He’ll talk you in.”

“Is he cute?”

“Adorable.” Nick seemed to be speaking between clenched teeth. “Maybe you could take them both on at once.”

“Because you’re not interested.”

“Dammit, Izzy, would you just climb the tree?”

She wanted to tell him no. She wanted to stalk away. But there were a group of guys watching her. They all knew what had happened the night before and it was up to her to show them what strength of character meant. It was up to her to demonstrate what a girl could do and challenge them to be men enough to follow.

She started up the tree. The rope ladder made it easy and she climbed until Nick yelled at her that she was there. Then she felt her way onto the rope ladder.

“Who’s next?” she yelled down.

No one answered.

She laughed. “Come on, guys. This is team building at its best. Face death with the person in the next cubicle. Are you really prepared to be shown up by a girl?”

“I’ll go,” someone muttered. “It can’t be that hard.”

“Hey, Izzy.”

The voice came from in front of her. “You must be Ethan.”

“I am. Come on. I’ll talk you in. It’s about twenty feet. The bridge sways the most in the middle. Keep a steady pace.”

She couldn’t really make out the details of the rope bridge, but she did have a sense of the ground being way down below.