“And Mom doesn't like anyone cutting her flowers, so I cut up her magazines instead. Do you like it?”

“Everyone has their own music; they just don't realize it.”

“Ethan seemed to revel in Carter's most hated tics. He'd set them to music. The light bounce of notes, starts and stops, of Ethan's song, it was the music of Carter's Tourette's, and Ethan had made it beautiful. He'd made Carter feel beautiful for having them.”

“You had a right to vent. I was behaving like a mother hen.""A very sweet mother hen with too many chicks.""I promise to back off." He offered her another bite of pizza. "But I can't promise not to worry.""Fair enough." She kept her hand on his. "It's natural to worry.But you have to trust,too.""You know what I've decided?" He plumped up a pillow and stretched out beside her. "You're even more of a rebel than I am.""You think so?""Yeah.""Next you'll be loaning me your Harley.""I could be persuaded." He linked his fingers with hers.She stared at their joined hands and sighed. "This is nice.""Yeah.I was just thinking the same thing." He leaned his head back and began chuckling."What's so funny?""I've been a bear for the past week. I'd have happily snapped off anybody's head who dared to cross me.""I know what you mean.Fortunately, there was nobody around for me to snap at. I had to content myself with yelling at the talking heads on TV." She paused. "How're you feeling now?"He looked over at her. "What a difference a week makes. The thunderstorm's gone. The cloudy skies. The nasty rain. I'm all sunshine and blue skies and sweet-smelling flowers, thanks to you.""Me,too." She set her wine on the nightstand and leaned over to brush a kiss over his mouth. "I'm so glad you're here,Wyatt.This has been the longest week of my life."His arms came around her,gathering her close.Against her lips he whispered, "Speaking of which, you make me weak.""And you make me..."His kiss cut off her words.As they rolled together, one word played over and over in her mind.Content.Wyatt McCord made her feel content. And safe.And absolutely, completely, thoroughly loved.”

“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.”

“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.”

“If you wouldn't mind driving my truck across the tarmac,I'd like to unload the medical supplies and deliver them to the clinic on the way to Delia's.""Good idea.Let's kill two birds."Marilee shook her head. "Please.I'd rather not talk about killing any birds."Wyatt paused and touched a hand to her cheek.She felt the heat all the way to her toes.He stared down into her eyes,and his lips curved into a killer smile that had those same toes curling with pleasure."My fearless,independent adventurer. You handle a plane like you were born with wings.I've watched you patch up battered, bloody cowboys without flinching. But you can't even think about harming a bird."She couldn't say a word.Her throat was dry as dust.With a thoughtful look he rubbed a thumb over her lower lip,then turned away and headed toward her truck.Marilee remained where she was, absorbing the aftershock of his touch. She'd thought he would kiss her.Had wanted him to.Desperately. Instead, all he'd done was touch her.And that had been enough to reduce her to a weak, trembling mass of jelly.She was going to have to do something about these jumbled hormones.She sucked in a deep breath and got to work hauling the cases of medical supplies.By the time Wyatt drove the truck close to the plane,she was in control and able to work alongside him without sighing like a girl with her first crutch.But just barely.”