She pulled away. “I think we should head back.”

“Grace, I’m sorry if I stepped over the line.”

“It’s…” She waved her hand as if to brush the kiss away, and the gesture hit him like a punch to the gut.

“You work for me, Deke. And without my brother’s extra pair of hands, I can’t risk messing up and having you leave me shorthanded.”

Her words sobered him. Work. She was all about work.

Sliding from the boulder, he held out his hand to help her down. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed by her decision, but he understood. She’d been looking out for her family for years before he came into her life. Wasn’t he here because of that same loyalty to family? Grace wasn’t the type to throw caution to the wind and start something with him that might affect the family business in a negative way. Made him admire her all the more for her stand, while at the same time, his heart wavered with a funny ache.