“Will you light the fire?” She stood as he did. “I’ll get the food out of the cooler.”

Before she moved, he wrapped her in a hug and pressed a soft kiss on her hair. “I’m so glad you came tonight.” She let go of all the tension in her neck and shoulders, burrowed into him, and held on tight. She closed her eyes and sighed.

He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “Are you finally starting to relax?”

“If I relax any more, I’ll be asleep.” Snuggled up against him seemed like a great place to rest and recharge.

“I’d say I’ll take you inside and put you to bed, but if I get you anywhere near a bed you won’t be sleeping.”

She leaned back and stared up at him, amusement at his bluntness making her smile. “Is that right?”

He traced a finger along the side of her face. “You’ve been haunting my dreams. I know I’ve been really stupid, demanding explanations for things I never bothered to simply ask you about. I broke my promise to your boys. I’m sorry. I’m going to fix that. I really love having all of you here. I want you to spend more time here, so I can show the boys the ranch and you and I can be together.”

She pushed away, but her hands held his waist and his remained on her shoulders. “I’d like that.”

“From the moment I met you, and despite my completely wrong impression of you, I saw and felt something growing between us. I can’t deny the strong, deep feelings I have for you. Missing you these last many days has shown me that not having you here made me miserable. Ask anyone in my office or down at the stables, I’ve been impossible to be around.” The honest admissions touched her and showed her that he really meant everything he’d said.

Every time she’d tried to concentrate on work the past week and a half, she’d only get distracted and think of him. The boys had begged her to take them back to the ranch so they could hang out with Luke. They liked him. But she held back, not wanting to throw herself and the boys at Luke if he didn’t want to see them.

But he did. And that was the best news she’d received in a long time.

“I’ve missed you, too,” she admitted. “I have strong feelings for you, Luke, but I also have two boys to think about, and so do you. It’s not just me you’re asking to come into your life. They come with me. I told you before, I don’t get involved with men. So if you’re in, I need to know it’s not some casual thing, because with you, I want more. And if you’re in, I’ll expect it.” It wasn’t easy to put herself out there like this, but she wanted to start over with Luke, so they had a real shot at what she hoped they both wanted.