He noticed that she hadn’t bothered to get herself a coffee, although she knew she could help herself at any time. Not typical, either.

All of a sudden, she said, “Let’s do it now.” It? Do it? Despite the high school vernacular, he wondered if she’d meant what he thought she meant. If she was referring to what they’d promised each other last night.

Clearly she did. She got up, grabbed his hand, hardly giving him a chance to put his mug down, and led him, unprotesting, up the stairs, Bandit in pursuit. “Do you have time for this?” she asked.

“Time? Of course! For you… For this.”

Inside her room, he closed the door to shut Bandit out. Then he took hold of her arms and they tumbled onto the bed together. He stroked her, she stroked him, between deep, passionate kisses. Their clothes came off with little effort. He whispered a question about birth control. Should he get a condom?

“Yes. I’m on the pill, but it’s never a bad idea.”

He left the room and quickly returned with a packet of condoms. And then it started… He brought her to a long drawn-out climax, kneeling between her legs, thrilled at her gasps and moans. Followed by more kisses, more excitement. He worshipped her breasts with his hands, his mouth. She poised herself above him—and, as he later put it, the rest was history. Their history.

Yes, they had a history and, he now believed, a future. He was prepared to dismiss past expectations, past hopes, in favor of a growing sense of future hopes. And love…

CORD LAY IN bed beside her, arm resting lightly across her waist. She glanced at him, feeling an unfamiliar contentment. She’d certainly made love before, but she’d never felt so…invigorated.

Was this it? Was Cord the real, the enduring, love of her life? Not merely an adolescent fantasy anymore. And yet, was that fair to him? She didn’t know how serious he was, what he wanted from her, what he was willing to give her. Other than great sex.

Or what she was willing to give him.

A lot to consider here. Was she prepared to take a life-altering chance—if this was a chance? Relinquish not only her job, which she was prepared to do, but her dream of working with Emma? Her long-established life in Seattle?

Shallie realized that Cord had no intention of leaving this ranch, this town. Painted Pony Creek held his history, his work, his friends and his community.

But even if Cord seemed ready to make a commitment, there was always risk. The risk of being hurt, of disappointment and betrayal, she reminded herself, remembering why she’d left Rob. He’d betrayed her in the most basic way—by being unfaithful.