Poignantly, passionately, Cole began to touch her. And when she lay unclothed before him, bathed in the soft, muted glow of the lamp, he bowed his head at her beauty and wanted to shout with the joy of knowing she belonged to him.

“I love you so much,” Debbie said, and lifted her arms.

“Thank God,” he answered, and took what she offered.

*  *  *

Cole couldn’t breathe and he was hot as a two-dollar pistol. He opened his eyes and knew the reason why. Sometime during the night, he’d discarded his covers and used Debbie instead. She was wedged lengthwise beneath him, sleeping the sleep of the innocent.

He smiled and yawned, then rolled over to face her and ran his hands through her hair, tousling her curls into even more disorder. The proximity of her backside was too tempting to resist as he cupped her in the palms of his hands and shook her from side to side.

“Hey, sleepyhead. It’s late. I need to get up.”

“Okay,” she muttered. “Be careful. See you this evening.” Then she snuggled her chin against his breastbone, intent on getting at least another hour’s sleep.

He grinned. “Debbie, open your eyes.”

She groaned, mumbling something about paying him back, and then gasped at her first sight of daylight.

“My gosh!” She elevated herself instantly, propping her arms on either side of his torso as she stared blankly around the room. “How did this happen?”

“You don’t remember?” He leered and wiggled his eyebrows.

She blushed all over. “I remember plenty,” she muttered, and started to move when his hands caught her hips and slipped her back onto a very interesting and sensitive spot that decided to make itself known.

“Oooh.”

“My sentiments exactly,” he groaned, and thrust upward.

Her eyes closed, her head tilted, and her hands grabbed hold of his shoulders to keep from falling forward. Awareness centered into one spiraling point of heat and pleasure that tightened and tightened until it burst, spilling Debbie forward. She collapsed into his arms.

For long, heart-pounding moments she was held within his strength. When her breathing resumed its normal pace and her sanity returned, Cole rolled her over beneath him, leaned up on one elbow, flicked a curl out of her eyes and whispered, “Good morning, my lady.”

She blinked. His lady! What she wanted to be was his wife. Last night had been magic. She remembered everything…including the fact that Cole Brownfield had finally said he loved her. For now, it was enough.

“Good morning,” she said. “ I like the way you wake up.”

He leaned his head back and laughed and laughed, his teeth a band of white against his dark, tanned skin. California sun had been good to this man.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m glad I could please.”

“Oh, you pleased…very much.”