“You’re goddamned right I did, and I’m none too pleased that I didn’t hear about it from you.”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?”

“Sunday?” she asked with a grin.

“So we’re going to keep secrets in this marriage of ours? Is that how it’s going to be?”

“We’re not technically married yet.” She loved to wind him up, and judging by the stormy look he gave her, the comment was a direct hit.

“You’re actually going to get me on a technicality?”

“I’ve learned about such things from the best lawyer I’ve ever known.”

“No strippers.”

“Yes, dear.”

“I mean it, Kara. No one touches this sweet body except for me.” To make his point, he cupped her breast and teased her nipple.

“Do you really think I’d let anyone else touch me the way you do? Especially knowing what happened to you the last time you were engaged?”

He sighed deeply. “No, I don’t think you would, but the thought of it… It makes me crazy, Kara. I don’t want to be like that, but I can’t help it.”

She brought her lips down on his and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. “You have nothing to worry about where I’m concerned. I’m all yours. Forever and always yours.”

Cupping the back of her head, he dove into the kiss like a man who’d been starving until she came along. Another thing she loved about him was how much he wanted her. She kept expecting their ardor to wane, to burn itself out, but it only burned brighter the longer they were together.

“I don’t know how I’ll survive until next June when I can put a second ring on your finger,” he said when they came up for air.

“That’s a formality, Dan. As far as I’m concerned, we’re already married in all the ways that matter most.”

“I thought you said—”

“Forget I said that. I’d never, ever want you to feel insecure about me or us.”

“I don’t. Not really.”

Those two little words he added on at the end exposed the truth.

She took him by the face and stared into his glorious eyes. “I will never, ever, ever do to you what she did.”

“And I will never, ever hook up with one of your sisters the way he did.”

“Please don’t have those worries until June. I’d hate to think of you feeling like that between now and then.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating—I’m sort of glad now that Kelly hooked up with Matt, and that your ex did your best man before the wedding. Both of those awful things led us to exactly where we belong—with each other. And nothing has ever been like this for me.”