He moved so close that the tips of his boots touched hers. Dipping his head, he stared into her eyes. “I love you, Elise. When you dumped me at uni, I convinced myself I needed someone who depended on me. I can’t regret that decision, because I got Sammy out of it. But I won’t be a fool a second time. You’re the woman for me. Behind that defensive smokescreen of yours is a woman who is loyal to a fault.”

She swallowed noisily, far too rattled to respond. Harry was serious.

“Shall we? You aren’t afraid to lose, are you?” Without giving her a chance to respond, Harry indicated the shooting field. “Sammy, come here. We’re going to have a competition. I need you to be the judge.”

The lad scampered back and sat on the wall where Harry indicated.

“Can I smile if I’m the judge?” Sammy asked.

“Yes, just make sure you watch the target to see who hits it. No playing favorites.”

“Okay.” Sammy smiled sunnily.

Harry drew a line on the earth with the heel of his boot.

Elise stole several glances at him, her mind utterly numb. By the time they lined up to take their shots, her hands shook so badly she doubted she’d hit the hay bale. She raised her gun and tried to focus before she squeezed the trigger. Bang.

The bullet hit the outer ring of the target, proving how much Harry’s words had rattled her. Squinting, she pulled herself together.

Bang. Bang. She nailed the target. If not dead center, at least both of her bullets hit inside the core ring.

Harry beat her easily and holstered his weapon, his eyes radiating joy. “Did you let me win?”

A lump formed inside her throat and made it difficult to swallow. With all her heart she wanted this man. Yet, she had prayed this day would never come. She had bolted from London to avoid it.

A breeze rushed over the mound and cut through her running clothes. She shivered and snatched her jacket off the wall. Instead of putting it on, she stared at the puncture mark over the breast.

Before she could stop him, Harry pressed a kiss on her mouth, a very nice kiss, one that made her knees bend and her brain spin. Her heart screamed to accept him and take her happiness, but how could she live with herself if she did?

Closing her eyes, she clenched her fists and steeled herself for what she had to do. “I can’t marry you, Harry.” Her words sounded as brittle as a bag of crisps.

He folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you resisting the inevitable? You love me. You love my son.”