Hoping Megan would go back to sleep for a while, Dean went outside to call Seth. "Hey, buddy, where are you?"

"I just got into Point Judith, why?"

Dean swore under his breath. "I need a favor. Are you coming back to the island today?"

"I'm afraid not. I've got Homeland Security coming to do an inspection next week that I'm totally not ready for. I'll be in the office the rest of the day, but I'll be back over tomorrow. Why? What do you need?"

"It's kind of embarrassing, and now it's even more embarrassing because I'm going to have to get my sister to do it for me."

"Please tell me that you're not talking about—"

"Don't say it; please do not say it."

Seth howled with laughter. "What are you, fifteen?"

"It's an issue for Megan, not me. She doesn't want it all over the island, and you know it will be if I get them."

That seemed to stifle some of Seth's laughter. "Well, do be sure to let me know what Nikki has to say about this."

"I'm sure you'll find it entertaining."

"No doubt," Seth cleared his throat. "So, um…I saw her last night."

"Where?"

"At the Beachcomber after she babysat for you guys."

"That brat! She was supposed to go right home."

"I know this is a newsflash to you, Dean, but she's a full-grown adult."

"She is still my baby sister."

"Who you're sending to buy condoms for you today," Seth once again dissolved into laughter. "Not such a baby anymore, huh?"

"Shut up," Dean growled. "I hope you behaved yourself with her."

"The word condom never came up. Not that I would've minded…"

"You're very funny."

"I just don't get…"Seth stopped himself.

"What?"

"Nothing; it doesn't matter."

"Tell me; come on, Seth.

"Why do you think that guy who supposedly can't wait to marry her never shows his face on the island?"

"He's finishing medical training. You know how that can be."

"All I know is that if she were mine, wild horses wouldn't keep me away."

Dean winced. "You ever think about just telling her that?"

Seth released a bitter laugh. "Right, like I can compete with Dr. John Cena and all their history. That'd be a suicide mission."

"Well maybe if she knew, it'd make a difference."

"It wouldn't, and she's never going to know, you got me, Dean? Don't say a word to her. I mean that."

"I never would, but you should. What've you got to lose?"

"Her friendship and that would be truly unbearable."

"I'm sorry it's so hopeless," Dean said with a sigh. "I have a whole new appreciation for how hard this must be on you."

"It is what it is. Hey, I gotta split, but do let me know how the rubber run goes, huh?"

"Go to hell," As Seth laughed at his own joke, Dean slapped the phone closed. His stomach clutched with nerves when he realized Nikki really was his only other option. His father would do it for him, but he couldn't ask him. Even at almost thirty-five, he just couldn't. Swallowing hard, Dean flipped open the phone and called Nikki.

"Hey, brat, what are you doing?" Dean considered telling her about their mother's visit that morning, but decided against it. He wanted to forget the whole unfortunate encounter.

"I'm heading into work, why?"

"I need another favor."

"You want to go out again tonight?"

"No, not exactly."

"Then what do you need?"

"I need you to, um, well…If you could go to Gold's," Dean said, referring to the island drugstore, "and just, you know…"

"What, Dean? Spit it out, will ya?"

"I need you to buy condoms for me. A lot of them."

Dead silence.

"Nikki?"

"You have got to be kidding me."

"I can't do it! It'll be all over the island in ten minutes, and Megan can't deal with that."

"Get Seth to do it for you!"

"I already did. He is off the island until tomorrow."

"So then just abstain for one night!"

"Nikki, please. I'm desperate here."

"You can't ask me to do this. It's too embarrassing."

"How do you think I feel about asking my baby sister to do this for me?" He let out what he knew was a pathetic wail. "Nikki…I need you."

"Don't do that. Don't you dare play the need card."

"Pretty please, with a cherry on top?"

She let out a swear that shocked him to his core. "Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "But you'll owe me forever, do you hear me? There's no statute of limitations on what you'll owe me."

"I understand."

"I don't think that you do. For the rest of your natural life, anytime I say, 'Jump,' you say, 'How high, Nikki? How high can I jump for you?' Anytime I snap my fingers, you come running. Any. Time. Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"I'll need at least a hundred dollars."

"What the hell for?"

"It is for buffer items, you buffoon. I can't just go in there and buy a gross of condoms and walk out."

"So you're going to soak me for a year's supply of nail polish and tampons?"

"That's the very least of what you'll owe me."

"Fine, I'll bring it to the pet clinic."

"You can pay me later. I can't look at you right now. Meet me at noon behind the Beachcomber, and do not look at me. Just take the bag, give me the money, and walk away."

"I love you, Nikki. Have I mentioned that to you lately?"

"Screw you."

Holding back a laugh, he said, "Get the extra-large ones for me, okay?"

"I hate you."

Dean returned to Megan's and found her and Kyle still sleeping. He checked his watch and decided this would be a good time to take care of something else he'd been putting off. Taking his keys off the table, he tiptoed out of the apartment. In the driveway, he rolled the motorcycle to the street before he kick-started it. Driving along the south coast, he noticed dense fog—an island staple in June—clinging to the horizon as the sun fought to break through. Dean pulled into the parking lot at the South Point Light and killed the engine. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his brother Elias, who was on speed dial, along with Tye, Braun, and Nikki.

"Hey, man," Elias said.

"Did I wake you up? You sound kind of rough."

"Nah, just a late night, but I'm on the way to the studio now. What's up with you?"

"This and that. How're you? How is the recording going?" After years of struggle and toil, a small Nashville label had recently signed Elias.

"It's the most fun I've ever had in my life."

"That's awesome. Been a long time coming."

"You know it. So, Nikki emailed me that you're on the island. What brought that on?"

"Did you hear that Dad is selling the marina?"

"No way!"

"Yeah, I'm doing some repairs for him and toying with the idea of relocating my life, and maybe keeping the place in the family."

"Are you serious? You won't go nuts stuck on that island?"

"A few things have changed for me lately."

"What could've possibly changed to make that place look good to you?"

"I actually met someone—someone you know, in fact."

"Who?"

"Megan Wright."

"Oh, really? Wow."

"I hear you've got some history with her."

"Dean, wait. You don't understand—"

It took everything Dean had to keep from yelling at his brother. "You're damned right I don't understand," he managed to say calmly, even though he churned inside. This whole thing made him sick.

"It was Baron. He started it and told us to go along with him or else."

"Or else what?"

"He was like a god in high school. No one wanted to piss him off. When he told us to do stuff, we did it."

"How could you be part of something like this, Elias? After everything Dad was always hammering into our heads about how to treat women?"

"Believe me; it's eaten at me over the years. I never felt good about it."

"What you guys did to her ruined her life. Do you realize that? It ruined her."

"It was high school. How could it ruin her life?"

"Because she's never shaken it! The whole island thinks she's a tramp, and until last night, she'd only had sex twice in her life!"

"God," Elias said softly. "I had no idea…"

"You are going to fix it."

"What do you mean?"

"Here is what I want you to do."

Dean's next stop was Baron Corbin's body shop. The place looked well-kept and, judging by the cars lined up out front, it was busy. At the front desk, Dean asked for Corbin.

"Who should I tell him is calling?" the dowdy-looking receptionist asked.

"An old friend."

She got up and went through the door to the work area, returning a few minutes later with Baron, who was greasy, dirty and thirty pounds overweight. His hairline had receded into unattractive baldness. The 'god' who'd once been able to intimidate a legion of boys into going along with his every plan had clearly fallen a few notches in the twelve years since graduation. From the quirk in his lips, Dean could tell that Baron recognized him.

"What do you want?"

"Can I have a word with you outside?" without waiting for Baron to reply, Dean turned and went out the door.

"I heard you were back in town," Baron said as he followed Dean outside.

Dean kept his back to the other man, planning to give him the benefit of the doubt. Baron snickered. "You and Megan Mattress, huh? Have you ever seen knockers quite like those?"

Screw the benefit of the doubt. Dean spun around and plowed his fist in Baron's doughy face. Knocked to the dirt, Baron flopped around like a fish out of water. Blood poured from his nose. "What the hell was that for?" he sputtered. "What the hell is your problem?"

Dean reached down with one hand and hauled Baron to his feet. Speaking right into his fat, red face, Dean said, "What you did to her—that's my problem."

Baron tried to wriggle free. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do." Dean tightened his hold. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

Baron wiped at the blood on his face and winced when he connected with his bloody nose. "I'll have you arrested."

"No, you won't." Dean released him abruptly, and Baron stumbled backward. "Do you have any idea what you did to her? What your stupid-ass-she-rejected-me-so-I'll-make-her-pay crap did to her life?"

"I rejected HER!"

"Oh, rewriting history now, huh?" Dean raised an eyebrow. "She didn't want you, so you trashed her all over town."

"That is not what happened."

"My brother Elias confirmed her account. Right now, he's contacting everyone else who was involved." The bead of sweat that appeared on Corbin's brown pleased Dean. "Are you married, Baron?"

"Yeah," he muttered, sending a nervous glance at the office, where the receptionist watched them anxiously through the window.

"Is that your wife in there?"

"So what if it is?"

"What version of this story do you want her to hear? Mine or yours?"

"Are you threatening me?"

"You bet your ass that I am. Here's what you're going to do."

Dean returned to Megan's bearing a handful of wildflowers he'd picked by the side of the road. She was on the floor with Kyle, who was engaged in a battle with the baby gym propped over him. When she saw the flowers, her eyes went soft with emotion. "They're beautiful," she said, getting up to find a vase. "What's the occasion?"

Dean came up behind her, nuzzled her neck and planted as kiss on her warm skin. "To say thank you for the best night of my life."

"Oh,"

"What?" he asked. "It wasn't good for you, too?"

"You know that it was."

"But…?"

She turned to him, her face unreadable. "I can't stop thinking about the things your mother said."

Dean wanted to scream with frustration, but he showed her none of that. "Forget it; she can't get to us unless we let her, and I have no plans to let her."

Megan linked her hands behind his neck and brought him down for a kiss. Running her tongue back and forth over his lips, she had him fired up and ready in two seconds flat. He groaned. "That's more like it."

"Did you take care of our problem?"

"All set."

Pressing against his straining erection, she said, "Who is doing it? Seth?"

Dean was having trouble thinking, let alone talking. "He's off-island."

"Then who?"

"It might be better if you didn't know."

Her face slackened with shock. "Tell me you did not ask your sister."

"It was either that or wait for Seth to get back tomorrow." He cupped her bottom to pull her in tighter against him. "I didn't think that would work for us."

"I'll never be able to look at her again."

"Sure you will." Remembering the meeting with Nikki, he checked his watch.

Megan gasped. "What happened to your hand?" She ran her fingers softly over purple and swollen knuckles. "Did you hit someone?"

"Of course not; I just banged it on something."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "On what?"

"I think it's when I ran up the stairs earlier and it connected with the rail. It was stupid." He kissed her nose. "Don't worry about it."

Hands on hips, she said, "I want to know who you hit and why."

Taken aback, Dean studied her. "Is this the kind of wife you're going to be?"

"Yes, now, who'd you hit? It wasn't your mother, was it?"

Dean laughed and then squirmed under the heat of her glare. "It was a misunderstanding."

"Was it over me?"

"It wasn't anything like that."

"You're lying, Dean. I'm not a child who needs you to protect me."

"Maybe I need to protect you." He rested his hands on her shoulders and tried to massage away the tension. "Please don't make me tell you about it. It's over and done with."

Megan studied him for a long moment. Then she went to the freezer, retrieved an ice pack and wrapped it around his hand. She look up at him with those potent eyes. "Don't keep things from me, and do not lie to me; ever."

"Okay,"

"Those are deal-breakers for me, Dean. I mean it."

He swallowed hard. "I understand." Caressing her cheek, he leaned in to kiss her. "I need to go meet Nikki, and after that, would you want to go to the beach for a while?"

"I don't like going to the beach."

"You live on an island. How can you not like going to the beach?"

She shot him her now-familiar withering look. "I'm not big on giving out cheap thrills."

"I'll be there to scare the mean boys away."

"They'll still be gawking."

"So let them gawk. They can't touch you if you don't let them—and you know I mean that entirely figuratively."

"And you'll be just fine with the gawking?"

"I'll just ignore it."

"Well," she said, "I suppose you can't punch anyone else today with your hand all bruised and battered."

He flashed his most charming grin. "I've still got a mean left hook."