“I was never in any danger, Cal." Cora's tone was patient."So you say.But you admitted that the heavy snow brought down a tree right beside your tent. You could be lying out there right now, pinned and gravely wounded,and we wouldn't have a clue.""Cal,I always have my cell phone under my pillow.""A lot of good that would do if you were crushed beneath a tree. The calendar may say it's springtime, but somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature. If it isn't a tree falling,it could be an avalanche. And there you are, all alone in the wilderness,at the mercy of any number of dangers."Cora gave a long,deep sigh. "You know I'm not going to give up my excursions. It's where I do my best work.I love it too much to ever stop.""And I'm not going to stop worrying. I've been doing it too long.""Now,children," Jesse said with a laugh. "There will be no fighting at the table.”

“It's hard to imagine you working as a waitress in some college-town bar, Aunt Cora. Were you wearing Coot's overalls back then?"The older woman put a hand to her hip. "I'll have you know I was once considered quite a babe."While the others were grinning, Cal rushed to her defense. "Still are to me, Cora."Then,realizing what he'd just said, his face reddened.His discomfort wasn't lost on the others.Amy and Marilee exchanged meaningful looks, while Jesse,Wyatt, and Zane jumped at the chance to start teasing him."Careful,Cal." Jesse winked at his cousins. "Next thing you know,Aunt Cora will invite you to her studio to pose for a portrait."Wyatt chuckled. "Just remember to keep your boots on,Cal.”

“Emergency One.What's the problem?""It's my heart."The familiar deep voice had her pausing mid-stride. "Wyatt?""Yeah.I meant to ask you to call me when you got home so I'd know you were safe. Now I've been having heart palpitations worrying about you all alone on that long stretch of highway.""Pretty good timing,rebel.That highway is just a memory now.I'm already inside my apartment and heading toward the bedroom.""I'm betting you set a new speed record."She laughed. "And broke a few speeding laws along the way.But I'm home now,safe and sound. I hope this eases your worries about me.""Yeah.I can sleep now.But I still wish you'd agreed to bunk out here with me. Good night,Marilee.”

“In a hurry to escape he let himself out of the house and walked to the truck. Before he could climb inside Marilee raced down the steps.Breathless,she came to a sudden halt in front of him.At the dark look in his eyes she swallowed. "Please don't go,Wyatt. I've been such a fool.""You aren't the only one." He studied her with a look that had her heart stuttering.A look so intense, she couldn't look away. "I've been neating myself up for days,because I wanted things to go my way or no way.""There's no need.You're not the only one." Her voice was soft,throaty. "You've always respected my need to be independent.But I guess I fought the battle so long,I forgot how to stop fighting even after I'd won the war.""You can fight me all you want. You know Superman is indestructable." Again that long,speculative look. "I know I caught you off guard with that proposal. It won't happen again. Even when I understood your fear of commitment, I had to push to have things my way.And even though I still want more, I'm willing to settle for what you're willing to give,as long as we can be together."She gave a deep sigh. "You mean it?""I do.""Oh,Wyatt.I was so afraid I'd driven you away forever."He continued studying her. "Does this mean you're suffering another change of heart?""My heart doesn't need to change. In my heart,I've always known how very special you are.It's my head that can't seem to catch up." She gave a shake of her head,as though to clear it. "I'm so glad you understand me. I've spent so many years fighting to be my own person, it seems I can't bear to give up the battle."A slow smile spread across his face, changing it from darkness to light. "Marilee,if it's a sparring partner you want,I'm happy to sigh on. And if,in time,you ever decide you want more, I'm your man."He framed her face with his hands and lowered his head,kissing her long and slow and deep until they were both sighing with pleasure.Her tears started again,but this time they were tears of joy.Wyatt brushed them away with his thumbs and traced the tracks with his lips. Marilee sighed at the tenderness. It was one of the things she most loved about this man.Loved.Why did she find it so hard to say what she was feeling? Because,her heart whispered, love meant commitment and promises and forever after,and that was more than she was willing to consider. At least for now.After a moment he caught her hand."Where are we going?""Your place.It's closer than the ranch, and we've wasted too much time already.""i can't leave the ambulance...""All right." He turned away from the ranch truck and led her toward her vehicle. "See how easy I am?"At her little laugh he added, "I'm desperate for some time alone with you."Alone.She thought about that word. She'd been alone for so long.What he was offering had her heart working overtime. He was willing to compromise in order to be with her.She was laughing through her tears as she turned the key in the ignition. The key that had saved his life."Wyatt McCord,I can't think of anything I'd rather be than alone with you.”

“Do you remember the time we tied a lasso to a tree limb and decided to swing across the creek like Tarzan?" Wyatt tipped up his frosty bottle and took a long pull."Yeah." Zane was already laughing. "As usual,you two decided that I'd be the one to try it out first.That way,if it broke,I'd be the one tossed into the creek.""It stands to reason." Jesse chuckled. "You were the youngest. That's just the price you had to pay to hang out with us.""And," Wyatt added, "you were always willing to go along with whatever we decided." Zane shook his head. "Not when I used it to fly across the creek.""And not when I followed him," Wyatt said with a laugh. "But Jesse, assured that it was safe,grabbed hold and was flying through the air when the branch snapped."Amy looked over at her husband. "You landed in the creek?""Yeah? On the day after one of our biggest storms,with the water spilling over its banks and rushing so fast it carried me downstream half a mile or more."She put a hand to her mouth to cover her shock and saw Cora do the same.Wyatt laughed. "He was lucky Zane and I had our horses tethered nearby.We chased along the banks of the creek until we could get far enough ahead to toss him a tree branch to catch. By the time we hauled him out,he looked like a drowned rat and was spitting mad.""I had a right to be.I swallowed half the creek."Zane laughed. "But think how lucky we were that it happened to you instead of me. At least you could swim."Marilee's eyes rounded. "They had you test the rope when they knew you couldn't swim?"Wyatt was laughing even harder. "We figured it was one way for him to learn.""How old were you?"They thought a minute before Wyatt answered. "I was eight,so that would make Jesse ten and Zane seven.""You could have all drowned.""Yeah.Looking back,we were lucky to have surrived so many foolish adventures. But," Wyatt added, "I wouldn't have missed a single one of them."of them”

“Marilee lay perfectly still,waiting for her world to settle.She had to fight the unreasonable urge to weep.Wyatt's face was pressed to the hollow of her throat,his breathing rough, his damp body plastered to hers.He nuzzled her neck. "Am I too heavy?""Umm." It was all she could manage."You all right?""Umm.""Did anybody ever tell you that you talk too much?""Umm."He brushed his mouth over hers. "If you hum a bit more,I might be able to name that tune."That broke the spell of tears that had been threatening and caused her to laugh.She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Have I told you how much I like your silly sense of humor?""No,you haven't." He rolled to his side and gathered her into his arms,nuzzling her cheek,while his big hands moved over her hip,her back,her waist, as though measuring every inch of her. "What else do you like about me?""You fishing for compliments?""Of course I am.""Glutton. Your sense of humor isn't enough?""Not nearly enough.How about my looks?""They're okay,for a footloose rebel.""Stop.All these mushy remarks will inflate my ego." He gave a mock frown. "How about the way I kiss?""You're not bad.""Not bad?" His hands stopped their movement. He drew a little away. "That's all you can say?""If you recall,tonight was the first time we've kissed.I haven't had nearly enough practice to be a really good judge of your talent.""Then we'd better take care of that right now." He framed her face. With his eyes steady on hers, he lowered his mouth to claim her lips.Marilee's eyelids fluttered and she felt an explosion of color behind them. As though the moon and stars had collided while she rocketed through space. It was the most amazing sensation, and, as his lips continued moving over hers,she found herself wishing it could go on forever.When at last they came up for air, she took in a long,deep breath before opening her eyes. "Oh,yes,rebel.I have to say,I do like the way you kiss.""That's good,because I intend to do a whole lot more of it." He lay back in the grass,one hand beneath his head. "Now it's my turn.Want to know all the things I like about you?""I'm afraid to hear it." Marilee lay on her side,her hand splayed across his chest."Besides your freckles,which I've already mentioned,the thing about you I like best is your take-charge attitude."She chuckled. "A lot of guys feel intimidated by that.""They're idiots.Don't they know there's something sexy about a woman who knows what to do and how to do it? I've watched you as a medic and as a pilot, and I haven't decided which one turns me on more.""Really?" She sat up. "Want me to fetch my first-aid kit from the plane? I could always splint your arm or leg and really turn you on."He dragged her down into his arms and growled against her mouth, "You don't need to do a single thing to turn me on. All I need to do is look at you and I want you.""You mean now? Again? So soon?""Oh,yeah.""Liar.I don't believe it's possible.""You ought to know by now that I never say anything I can't back up with action.""Prove it,rebel.""My pleasure."There was a wicked smile on his lips as he rolled over her and began to kiss her breathless,all the while taking her on a slow,delicious ride to paradise.”

“And you're thinking I just tossed out some casual phrase that you've heard from dozens of guys? Or maybe one in particular,who mattered enough to turn you into a cynic?"At the intensity of his tone she looked up. "Yeah.Something like that.After all, McCord,your reputation precedes you. You're not exactly shy with women. I'm sure you've used plenty of lines like that to get what you want."His eyes,steady on hers,were hot and fierce.His voice was equally fierce. "I'll admit that when I first saw you, my initial reaction was purely physical. A healthy combination of testosterone and lust.What guy could look at you and not feel what I felt? You're beautiful, and bright and independent.And did I mention beautiful?"That brought a smile to her eyes."But the more I got to know you,the more I realized you weren't just a pretty package.I started learning that you were someone special.Someone I wanted to treat very carefully.""And now?""I'm still battling lust."There was that grin,sending an arrow straight through her heart."But there's more here.Much more." He stared at her mouth with naked hunger. "I've waited a long time for this,but now I'm going to have to kiss you.And when I do,I can't promise to stop."She stood very still,heart pounding. "How do you know I'll ask you to?""Careful.Because unless you tell me to stop,you have to know where this is heading..."In reply she stood on tiptoe to brush her mouth to his,stopping his words. Stopping his heart.He drew in a deep breath and drew her a little away to stare into her eyes. "I hope you meant that.""With all my heart.""Thank God." He dragged her against him and covered her lips with his.Inside her mouth he whispered, "Because, baby,I mean this."She'd waited so long.So long.And it was worth all the time she'd spent waiting and wondering.Here was a man who knew how to kiss a woman and make her feel like the only one in the universe.This kiss was so hot,so hungry, she felt the rush of desire from the top of her head all the way to her toes.And still it spun on and on until she became lost in it.He changed the angle of the kiss and took it deeper until Marilee could feel her flesh heating, her bones melting like hot wax.She wanted to be sensible,to move slowly, but her mind refused to cooperate. With a single kiss her brain had been wiped clear of every thought but one.She wanted this man.Wanted him now.Desperately.When at last they came up for air, she put a hand to his chest. "I need a minute to catch my breath.""Okay." A second later he dragged her close. "Time's up."Her laughter turned into a sigh as he ran nibbling kisses down her throat until the blood was drumming in her temples.”