A moment of sanity cleared her mind. “What if these boxes collapse?”

“I’ll go down a happy man.”

He put his mouth over a pulse point in her throat and made a sound that reminded her of a growl. Sanity flew straight out the proverbial window again. His hands ignited her skin. His mouth titillated her nerve endings. She couldn’t think and didn’t want to think. For the first time in her life, she wanted to just be. She wanted to just feel. And with Blackie, she did.

Afterward they lay limp in each other’s arms. When Blackie regained his breath, he groaned and said, “Sweet lord. I’ll never feel quite the same about French roast.”

Julie burst out giggling, he joined in, and they laughed until tears trickled down their cheeks. When their mirth subsided, he held her in his arms as if he cherished her, and Julie closed her eyes on a wave of pleasure that ran far deeper than the flesh. No one had ever made her feel as important as Blackie did. He stirred to kiss her hair.

“I love you, Julie Price. I didn’t think I’d ever love anyone again, but I do, and the way I feel about you is far more powerful than anything I’ve ever felt before.”

“I love you, too.” Tears filled her eyes again, only this time they weren’t caused by unbridled mirth. “Oh, Blackie, I love you, too.”

Julie always lowered the shop thermostat at night to keep her heating bill down, and even with Blackie’s body pressed against her, she soon started to feel cold. He must have felt the chill on her skin.

“Come on. We need to find our clothes. I don’t want you to relapse.”

They got up to collect garments. It was then that Julie realized Blackie still wore his socks. Otherwise he was completely nude, and she was amazed by his musculature. He looked like a man half his age. A very sexy man. He had a stocky build that lent itself well to showy ripples and bulges. “How on earth do you stay in such great shape?”

“Walking. Hiking. Watching what I eat. I’ve been lucky, I guess.” He handed over her bra. “You’re absolutely beautiful. I should have kept my head long enough to tell you that.”

Julie felt a blush warm her cheeks. When they were completely dressed, Blackie attempted to tidy her hair. He finally gave up and smiled. “Why do you dye it?”

“How do you know I dye it?”

He laughed. “Honey, the hair on your head doesn’t match your down-yonder roots.”

“Oh!” The heat in her cheeks intensified. “I dyed it dark after the divorce. I felt as if all the light had gone out in my life. I was so sad and blue all the time. You know? And the dark color with a blue streak just seemed right. I told myself that when my broken heart healed, I would go back to my natural color, but until I met you, I didn’t think I’d ever feel happy again.”