I didn’t answer Liam right away.My heart was racing, palms cold, throat tight. Cassie in his bed. Naked. It clung to my thoughts like smoke I couldn’t blow away. But when I looked into Liam’s eyes, I didn’t see lies.

I saw torment. Regret. A man who would rather bleed than break what we had.

“I believe you,” I finally said, softly. “Because love without trust isn’t love at all. And I love you, Liam. So yes, I believe you.”

The breath he released was jagged and loud, like ...