"Will you please look at me? " She slowly lifted her gaze. The
tenderness in his eyes tested her determination. She wanted to throw
herself into his arms and never let go.
"Yes? " she asked quietly.
"Do you love me? " He squeezed her thigh until she finally answered
him. "I won't lie to you, Cole. Yes, I do love you, butţ" He cut her
off. "How many other men have you told you loved them? " "I haven't
told any other man that I love him." He grinned. "Good. That's all I
wanted to know." There was a definite swagger in his gait as he walked
away. She watched him swing up into his saddle. He took the reins,
rode to her side, and then, before she could ward him off, his hand was
behind her neck and he was pulling her toward him. His mouth took
absolute possession, his tongue thrust inside, and he kissed her
passionately.
When he finally lifted his head and saw the bemused look in her eyes,
he nodded with satisfaction. "Listen to me, woman. That's how I want
to be kissed every morning. I want a whole lot more than that, but
we'll start with a kiss."
"For how long, Cole? " She didn't realize she'd spoken the thought
aloud until he answered her.
"For the rest of our lives, and yours is going to be real short if you
keep having such crazy thoughts."
"You can't possibly know what I'm thinking."
"Sure I can, " he boasted. "It's like looking in a mirror." He shook
his head in self-deprecation. "My brother Adam used to tell me I'd get
it all back."
"Get what back? " "My attitude, " he answered. "I'm the one who never
wanted any strings, and it's galling to know you feel the same way."
"I do feel that way, " she cried out.
"All you're doing is striking first."
"And what does that mean? " "You're so certain I'll leave you, you're
taking action first and leaving me. Isn't that right? " He wouldn't
give her time to answer, but plunged ahead. "Well, I've got news for
you, baby. That isn't going to happen. I'm not going anywhere, and
neither are you. I meant what I said. It's forever, Jessie, and I
seem to recall you gave me the same promise." She didn't believe she
could be any more miserable than she was at this very moment. Memory
served her well, and she knew that even the most fervent promises were
empty. He loved her now, yes, but in time he would change his mind.
"I don't want you to stay with me because of what happened. I asked
you for one single night, and you gave me that."
"Are you going to thank me now? " His tone suggested she not comply.
"It's time to go.
" "You're trying my patience, " he whispered.
He didn't say another word to her for almost an hour. He kept looking
back over his shoulder to make sure she was all right, and she noticed
that his expression grew more hostile with each glance.
She knew she had hurt him, but it was for the best to end it now. She
told herself she was simply protecting herself and her son, because if