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A ht her chin, cupped it lightly with his fingertips, and turned her head to face him Rose’s first iht, and he made no move to control or force her

Heart haray eyes as he studied her face, seeing all the flaws—the salty tear streaks, the little scars from the hard life she’d lived, and the stain that spilled like wine from her temple to her jaw

He shook his head “You’re not pretty, Rose You’re beautiful I thought so the first time I saw you—you ”

“Baloney!” The word eed as a whisper

He shook his head again For the space of a heartbeat, she feared Tanner was going to kiss her But to his credit, he didn’t She was too raw, too fragile to accept that Instead he simply released her and put his hand on his knee

“Rose,” he said, “sometimes I don’t think you have any idea who you are or what you’re worth That’s why it’s all too easy to believe jerks like Garn Prescott who see women only as objects to be used Don’t listen to them”

She looked away, not wanting hi to her She could feel herself cru apart inside As the tears came, she pressed her hands to her face Her shoulders shook

“Rose,” hefor her “Oh, damn it, Rose!”

He pulled her close and held her Only then did she realize how much she’d needed it

CHAPTER EIGHT

TANNER HELD HER AS IF HE WERE CRADLING AN INJURED BIRD HE could feel her woentle pressure of her curves against his body as she breathed He could hear the little catch of her breath as she struggled to hold back full-blown sobs

The subtle fragrance of her skin crept into his senses It would be the ht, to crush her close against hih of Rose to be aware of the barriers she’d thrown up and to know that pushing those barriers could shatter her

Could this tender, ee rifle and fired a bullet at his head?

Holding her now, it didn’t seem possible Yet the lawman in him couldn’t rule it out Rose was full of surprises, and she was getting to him in more ways than one His body had already responded to her nearness He was rock hard and ready inside the prison of his jeans Much more of this torture and she would become aware of it Then he’d be in trouble

He was about to ease her away from him when she spoke “I don’t understand it Why do the worst men consider h to fight therateful? What is it?”