She searched his face. Did he regret what had happened? Was that it?

Gathering what little pride she had and feeling the need to save face, she said, “Things…happen during the heat of the moment.” It was a question as much as a statement.

Beneath his furrowed forehead, Chase’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what you think? I kissed you in the heat of the moment?”

She didn’t know what to think, and they stood sizing each other up like two strangers meeting on a trail.

“I–I’m not blaming you,” she stammered at last. “The fire… You could have lost everything. The cattle. The ranch…”

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. “And what you said? About this being your home. Was that in the heat of the moment too?”

“I meant what I said,” she whispered. “But…” She turned her head away.

“Emily, look at me. Talk to me.”

When she finally worked up the nerve to look at him, she had to blink away the tears to see him clearly.

He took a step closer. “Tell me to my face that what happened meant nothin’. That it was in the heat of the moment.” He took another step forward. “Tell me you don’t want to finish what we started.” This time, he’d moved so close, she could feel his warm breath.

“I can’t say that,” she said. “Because…it would be a lie.”

A spark flared in his eyes. He studied her as if to make certain he’d heard right before holding out his hand. Heart pounding, she gazed at his hand for a long moment before placing her hand in his. Groaning, he pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. She laid her head on his bare shoulder and refused to think about anything but the feel of him. Palms pressed against his bare chest, she inhaled his manly scent and felt like she was floating on a cloud.

“God, Emily. I waited so long for this,” he whispered in her hair.

Fingers on her chin, he lifted her face to his and nuzzled her on the forehead, nose, and cheek. Finally, he kissed her fully on the lips.

Standing on tiptoes, she worked her arms around his neck and kissed him back with the same intensity. The same sense of urgency. “I don’t want you to hate me,” she murmured between kisses.

“I could never hate you.”

“When I came here, I had no idea that—”

“I know,” he said. “I know.”

“You don’t know,” she whispered back.

“Shh.” He touched a finger to her lips and then cupped her face in his hands. “I know enough. What’s important is where we go from here.”

She gazed at him in awe and wonder. Why had it taken her so long to know what was now so utterly clear? She now knew without a doubt that she loved this man with her whole heart and soul. With the realization came dismay. For love required honesty. Openness.