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"I’ else to say, and she knew it

His focus shifted, frolass Her expression was drawn, pained Sorroas feeling his grief, opening her heart to hiht’ve been different from Keri, but she was no less extraordinary

Billy wanted to open his heart in return, but he also wanted to put her at ease, so he shifted back to the original question "I always liked the country ue about it, over where to spend our vacations" He shook his head, re more downscale than the Marriott"

"She’d have loved the lodge," Sorrow said in a flat, deadpan tone

"Sorrow," Billy whispered, chiding her He put his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her to face hi this close he saw the flecks of gold in her eyes Her lashes were thick and brown He iaze shifted to her ht brought with it a revelation He was alive again, and it was time to seize back his life And that ht

Which meant he needed to steer her from these somber topics "Come sit by the fire," he said, his voice hoarse

She nodded, but the look she gave hi down, she wandered in front of the fireplace A shadows on her face

He read the question in her eyes She’d want to know if he was ready to hts, and he had to credit her courage as she asked, "Do you think you’ll everWas a person ever done ? The ansas complicated, but it was one his heart finally understood

"I will ht those words before, but now, for the first time, he truly felt them "It’s been over three years since her accident She’d want me to move on" For the first tiht Keri--tough, smart-as-a-whip Keri--would have kicked his ass fro "She’d want ain"

"But do you…can you…" Sorroas struggling for words

"Let’s find out" Billy cupped the back of her head and leaned down And then he kissed her

Twenty-six

Billy’s strong arms were around her, and she felt herself pulled onto her toes, her heart soaring even higher than her body

After spending so ood finally to feel hi the stubble of his jaw, stroking his hair, squeezing the thickeach texture,against her already, pressing hot and insistent along her body, and a whimper escaped her throat Her desire was i, an ache in her belly She wasDa soh they’d broken up, the newness, the revelation of this other man made her feel dirty and hot

Because whatever she’d fantasized about Billy, it hadn’t been this He was so gentle and kind in life, she’d expected a gentle, kind kiss But this…this kiss was anything but hesitant He was de

She felt his size as a visceral thing, his heat and strength ie man--he was broad and solid in his sheriff’s uniform--but when he’d opened the door shirtless, she’d had to force herself not to stare Thewhat she’d seen with her eyes He was so firm and sure, and she felt so small in his arms She felt safe

She felt taken

They kissed with desperation, and still it wasn’t enough She wanted Billy to take her, to take it all

She’d had questions for hier rehs, the tightness in her breasts All she wanted was to leap into his arency

A tinore it, wanted it to go away She couldn’t stop kissing hiers along his scalp, twining his hair into her fists Her heart pounded till she felt she ht not catch her breath She wanted him completely, wanted completion She wanted Billy to kiss her forever

But the ti

Finally, slowly, he parted from her and touched his forehead to hers "Da deeply, she pulled away When their eyeswicked and naughty, like a shared secret, but as the tirewback, she slapped a hand to her forehead "Sorry"

"Don’t worry The potatoes ht around her shoulders, walking her slowly into the kitchen "You and I are far froo, and the feel of hi deep inside her Sorroanted another kiss, and more than another kiss She’d show him what she was really made of

When she’d arrived and seen photos of his wife, it’d scared her Losing a spouse so young--a person ht was, how could she ever compare to such a pretty, sophisticated, powerful woman?