Grace used her arm to wipe the sweat away from her brow. It was late July in Georgia and the heat was almost unbearable. She had grown up in it so she was a little bit better off than those that were from the North, but physical labor in close to one hundred degree heat was draining.

An old friend, Francis Dillon, who she had gone to school with, had tracked her down and begged her to help her on a dig during the summer break, and Grace had wanted nothing more than to have an excuse to be away from New York for the summer, so she had jumped at the chance. Now she was almost wishing she had thought twice about it.

Almost, she had avoided the Stevenses as best she could. She hadn't seen Bryce again, knowing that if she did she would most likely cave to his offer. Cassie and Rainer had met her frequently for lunch, but Bryce must have spoken to both of them because neither one of them had ever mentioned his name, nor had he showed up unexpectedly at any of their meetings.

It was hard to believe that it had been a year since she had been in England, a year since she had been in Bryce's arms. Sometimes, when she awoke from a dream of him it felt as if it was only a few days ago. The move to Georgia to dig up the Mississippian Culture was a welcome break from the stress of possibly having to see him.

The Mississippian Culture was prevalent in North Georgia and the subject was one she had studied extensively, as well as focused one of her many internships on, so she was well versed on the mound building society that dated between 800 and 1500 AD.

The site had been discovered when BAES construction had broken ground for a new development. The owner of BAES, Brian Alexander, had immediately contacted the University of Georgia where Francis worked and requested that they do the dig quickly, so that his project was not delayed longer than necessary.

Brian had more than enough money to throw around to get the job done. The only catch was that Francis had planned her wedding and honeymoon for most of July and she needed someone she trusted to take her place for the month.

"O.K. let's call it a day!" Grace called. It was still early, but at four in the afternoon the heat was too oppressive to do anything else, and the last thing she needed was a bunch of grad-students with heatstroke.

The next hour was dedicated to securing the site and putting away the tools of the trade. Brian had ordered a security guard to watch the site so she wasn't that worried about theft. Grace gave a small smile at the thought of Brian. She was having dinner with him that evening, he had wanted an update before Francis arrived the following day.

Brian Alexander was a very handsome man. He was large and had a head of premature grey hair that was a striking foil for his deep blue, almost violet eyes. He had come out to the site to help for a few days and she had had to refocus some of her female students, especially when he had taken off his shirt. If Grace's heart had been intact she would have drooled just like the rest.

But your heart isn't, is it? She shook the thought off as soon as she had it.

In Brian, she sensed a kindred soul. He too, had had his hardships that left scars, she recognized the signs. She looked at her watch realizing that she had very little time to get cleaned up. She was meeting him at his house for dinner. Normally, she would have never have done such a thing but she liked Brian.

An hour later she rang the doorbell to his house. It was one of those McMansions that were so popular, and it was very nice but it had no personality.

"Grace," Brian greeted when he opened the door, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I thought we would grill out this evening. The heat seems to be easing off some." He was right the temperature had dropped considerably and Grace had worn a sundress so she was much cooler than she had been earlier in the day.

"Sounds good, what can I do to help?"

"Why don't you pick out some music while I put on the steaks and open a bottle of wine?" he suggested.

"I'll just have water if that's alright?" Grace moved towards the sound system he had pointed out to her. She skimmed his CD collection, he had eclectic taste in music but she was drawn to the Jazz. She put a few different CDs in the tray and went out to the back porch where Brian was standing by the grill.

He had already set out a salad and was grilling corn on the cob to go with the steak.

She slid into one of the chairs and gave a sigh.

"Long day?" He looked over his shoulder and grinned.

"I don't know how you do it in construction?" She grinned back.

"You get used to it. Could be worse, you could be in the Army. Now that was hard. You rarely get conditioned air in third world countries."

"The Army huh, well that explains those well-defined muscles that the girls were all drooling over the other day." Grace couldn't help teasing him.

"But not you?" He quirked an eyebrow as he flexed his bicep.

"I am full of admiration but past the state of drooling over handsome men."

"So I am handsome?" He raised and eyebrow and Grace rolled her eyes.

As he flipped the steaks, Grace listened to the sizzle. "Nope, not falling into that trap, I'm sure that your ego is healthy enough without my two cents." Grace watched his muscles bunching under his t-shirt as he moved. He was wearing cargo shorts and sandals. He was indeed a very striking and powerful man.

"What did you do in the army?" Grace asked, curious all of the sudden.

"I was a Ranger until I was shot."

Grace's eyes grew wide. "You were shot? I'm afraid to ask where?"

Brian gave a hearty chuckle. "I believe you're flirting with me, Dr. Winston."

Grace sat straight up in her chair astounded. "Am I really?" When had that started happening? She never flirted, especially not with handsome men.

"You seem surprised?" Brian placed the steaks on the table then sat across from her.

"I've never been a flirt. I've always been uncomfortable in situations involving flirting." Grace shook her head. The only thing she could think of that had changed was Bryce. He had changed her view on sex, relationships, love, and as corny as it seemed, life. When your heart was gone you had nothing to lose.

Grace started to cut up her steak deep in thought, unaware of the expressions chasing across her face.

"Who was he?" Brian asked, leaning back in his chair watching her.

"Does it matter?"

"It might help you to talk."

"No, it wouldn't." Grace shook her head. "The pain of unrequited love is never going to ease or disappear, so what would be the point? I'll just pull out the good memories every once in awhile and remember."

Brian gave a sad smile looking into his wine. "Sometimes that's all we have. Perhaps your love is doing the same thing, reliving the memories."

"Is that what you do too?" Grace was curious if it could be the same for men.

His eyes met hers with an incredible sadness. "Sometimes."

"Then that gives me hope that men can feel as deeply as women can."

They were silent, listening to the strains of Jazz coming from the house. It seemed to fit the mood. Grace allowed herself, just for a minute, to remember Bryce and what it felt like to be in his arms, his wicked grin and his heart stopping kisses.

When she felt the tears prick at the back of her eyes she sat up straight, "Look at us, we're a sorry pair. Tell me more about yourself, where you grew up, do you have a large family?"

"That subject isn't much better." Brian poured himself another glass of wine. "Why don't you tell me about your family?"

"I think I'll pass on that subject too."

They looked at each other and then busted out laughing. "We are a sorry pair." Brian gave a lopsided and self-effacing grin that was so unlike his regular charming one that it caught at Grace's heart. She knew she had a friend for life in that moment.

After that they talked about anything and everything. They were determined to make one another laugh and ease some of the pain.

Grace stayed on the dig for another two weeks. She had dinner with Brian most nights and Francis had made several comments about relationships and love. Grace tried to assure her that they were just friends but she wasn't buying it.

"Grace?" Brian asked over a hand of cards a few days before she was set to leave.

"Yes?" she said absently, looking at the cards she had been dealt. She and Brian had both discovered a fondness for card games, and Grace was determined not to lose to him again.

"You're leaving on Friday?" he played a card that Grace had been hoping for.

"Yes, why?"

"I have some business in Savannah and was wondering if you wanted to keep me company? I know that's where you're from, when was the last time you were there?"

Grace looked at him sharply.

He held up his hands. "Like a sister, nothing more, a little get away before you go home."

He played another card she wanted and she threw hers down in disgust.

"I have to be in New York on Monday." She thought hard. Savannah, she hadn't been back since before college. There were not a lot of happy memories there, but maybe with Brian she could make a few.

Throwing caution to the wind and deciding to ignore the little voice in the back of her head that was warning her not to go, she agreed.