Mollie scrunched down on the bench with a moan as she took a sip of champagne. “Madison’s going to kill me.”

Madison was in a mood anyway. She’d been a bridezilla from the moment Jackson had put a ring on it, but Mollie had figured when the actual day came around, her sister would relax.

Nope.

She’d been pissed about the flowers being ivory instead of true white to match her dress. Had bitched about the fact that Lily, one of her bridesmaids, had styled her hair in a way that was too close to the bride’s style.

Then Madison had vented about how the bracelet Jackson’s mother had shyly presented as Maddie’s “something old” was dumpy.

That one had gotten under Mollie’s skin. Mrs. Burke was the closest thing to a mother that either of them had. Their own mother had died of an overdose years ago, and Mollie would have given a kidney to have a surrogate as lovely and kind as Jackson’s mom.

“Maddie won’t kill you,” Jackson said, putting an arm around the back of the park bench and smiling down at her. “She loves you, even if she doesn’t get your whole triple-major, science-camp vibe.”

Mollie withheld a snort. That was an understatement. She loved her sister, but the closest Madison ever got to science was her monthly chemical peel.

Still, Mollie felt a fierce need to make sure that Jackson Burke knew she was an adult. “I’m twenty. I do not go to science camp.”

He lifted an eyebrow, and Mollie pointed her champagne flute at him. “Okay, I used to go to science camp. But I’m not the one who used the word ‘lactation’ in relation to a mermaid.”

“Hey, you’re not the only one who took bio in college.”

“But you were a communications major. Journalism,” she said.

He gave her a surprised look, and Mollie looked away, mentally kicking herself. That was exactly what Jackson Burke didn’t need—another groupie stalker.

She snuck another glance and saw that he’d slumped even farther, matching her own crappy posture, and Mollie was surprised to see that he looked…exhausted.

“Are you okay?” she asked. Because she couldn’t not ask. Not after she’d seen the weariness around his eyes, the slight tension in his shoulders.

Jackson turned his head so their eyes locked and he frowned before returning his attention to the mermaid. “Nobody ever asks me that.”

Her heart squeezed at the lost note in his voice. It was strange to think of someone as big and important as Jackson Burke being lonely, but somehow…somehow she knew he was. Even here, among all these people, he was somehow alone. Apart.

Like her.

“Let’s just say that it’s been a long day,” he said quietly. “A long year, really. But yeah—yeah, I’m okay. I’m great.”

He gave her a half grin, and Mollie smiled back even as she got the sense that he was trying to convince himself as much as her. Why else would Jackson Burke be out here with her staring at a mermaid fountain when there were five hundred guests, most of whom were far more interesting than her, waiting for his attention?

“What do you think—should we get back before they miss us?”

“Miss you, you mean.” Mollie frowned down at her nearly empty champagne glass. It was making her feel warm and fuzzy—and making her say things she shouldn’t.

“Hey now.” He moved his knee to the side so it nudged hers. “None of that. I missed you.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, well, I suspect you’re just uncommonly nice.”

He laughed at that. “Mollie, hon, please don’t tell anyone that. You’ll kill my reputation.”

They were quiet a moment longer, both staring at the mermaid and her weird water-spouting nipples. Neither moved.

Mollie knew why she didn’t want the moment to end. But why was he still here?

She ventured another glance. Saw how his eyes locked on the rippling water in that way people had when their bodies were in one place but their minds were far, far away.

Finally he tipped his champagne glass to his lips and finished its contents in one long swallow before standing. He held out an elbow in a gentlemanly manner. “Let me walk you back?”

She looked away. “I’ll be there in a few.”

His arm dropped and he sighed. “You promise?”

Mollie’s smile was fleeting. “I promise.”

“Good. Because I’ll have you know I saw several guys who seemed all too happy about the fact that you didn’t bring a date tonight. I definitely see dancing in your future.”

Mollie rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to do that, you know.”

“Do what?”

“Be so nice to me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it. But promise me that when I go back there you’re not going to bribe some young buck to dance with me.”

Jackson tilted his head back and laughed. “Young buck? What is it with you and your animal comparisons?”

This time her smile was genuine. “Let’s just say animals can be more…interesting than humans.”

What she’d really wanted to say was that animals could be nicer than humans. From the way his smile dimmed, she suspected that he knew it—maybe even felt sorry for her. And that was terrible.

Mollie tilted back the rest of her champagne. The second she was done, Jackson stepped forward, plucking the flute from her hand. Before she realized what he was about, he’d lifted his huge hand—his huge, game-winning, touchdown-throwing hand—and wrapped it firmly around her elbow, lifting her so that they were chest to chest. Or actually nearly eye to eye, thanks to Mollie’s long legs and high heels.