“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I handled this badly from the beginning.” He drew back enough to stare into her eyes. “Please forgive me for not getting it right. I should have told you how I felt before I left. When I was in LA, I should have made it clear I was coming back, because I need you and want to be with you always. Only you, Dena. Always you.”

She was still gasping like a fish when he leaned in and kissed her. At the first brush of his mouth on hers, she flung her arms around him and hung on. He loved her! Her!

He kissed her with enough love and passion to heal her shattered heart. Warmth spread through her. Not just because he was a hunky guy who had quite the erection, but because of what he’d said.

He raised his head. “I am so sorry I hurt you. Please believe me.”

“I do,” she whispered. “It’s okay. It was awful, but I understand what happened.” She brushed her cheeks before smiling at him. “We need to work on our communication skills.”

He grinned. “Yes, we do. How about this? I’m not going back to LA without you. In fact, I’m not going anywhere without you. I’ll work around your school schedule. You’re the only woman in my life, and that’s how it’s going to stay.”

Wow. Just wow. “So you’re staying in Wishing Tree?”

“I’m staying wherever you are, if that’s all right.” He took both her hands in his. “I love you, Dena Somerville. Now and for the rest of my life.”

“I love you, too.”

He went still. “You do?”

She nodded. “I couldn’t seem to stop myself from loving you.”

He kissed her again. “Did you really give away my room?”

Oh, no! “I did. I didn’t think you were coming back, and the Pinkertons have been phoning every week to ask if there was a cancellation.”

He surprised her by smiling. “I deserved that. I’ll call Steve and see if I can bunk with him.”

She reminded herself he’d said he loved her and she believed him. “Did you want to stay with me?”

His eyes darkened. “Are you ready for that? I’ll wait if you’re not. No matter how long it takes.”

“You can stay with me.” She felt herself flush. “I’d like that a lot.”

He stroked her cheek. “We’ll have to remember to be quiet, what with the Pinkertons downstairs.”

“That’s never been a problem for me before. This should be interesting.”