“Aww! Yep. He’s gorgeous.”

“I’m not an animal lover, and I’m more interested in the dog’s story.”

Later, when she got teary-eyed over a sad turn of events, he regarded her with disbelief. Then he offered his forearm so she could use his shirt to wipe her eyes.

At the conclusion of the movie, she broke into spontaneous applause. It had been a long time since she’d felt so incandescently . . . light. Some of this lightness could be attributed to the discovery of the map. But much more of it could only be attributed to the man beside her. Wonderful, heartbreaking Luke with his hawkish nose, hard cheekbones, scuffed boots, and leave-me-alone aura.

Both of them were leaning back, resting against her sofa. She rolled her face toward him and found that he was already watching her. A pulse of connection joined them. Awareness.

“I enjoyed it,” he said.

“You hated the movie.”

“But you liked it. And I was here with you. So I enjoyed it.”

A huge admission, coming from him.

Her body physically ached with yearning. The chemistry between them was a force of nature. Stronger than the river running relentlessly through her property. It could not be stopped. Nor diverted. Nor diminished.

“Are you and Derek together?” he asked.

The question took her aback. She hadn’t expected him to go there. “No. He asked me out, but I’ve been procrastinating.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while.”

What did that mean? She tried and failed to read his mind. “I’d like for you to tell me something, Luke.”

He waited.

“I want to know how you feel about me,” she said.

Time passed. Right when she was sure he wouldn’t answer, he said, “I’d do anything for you.”

Her heart tugged upward like a helium balloon.

His eyes went smoky, but then he pushed to his feet. “I should go.”

She scurried in front of him, blocking his exit route. “No. I think you should stay.” She sensed the importance of this moment. Whatever happened next would impact their future. For better. Or for worse.

God, she prayed, please. If they were going to have a relationship, she needed his dam to break. “Did you just say you’d do anything for me?”

A battle waged in his face. “Yes. I’d do anything . . . sacrifice anything for you. Your well-being is the most important thing to me.”

“Luke.”

“The fact that you’re in this world makes this place worth living in. For me.”

She’d . . . she’d suspected he felt that way. But to have it confirmed was blowing her mind. She needed to be careful. How she handled this meant everything. “I feel the very same way about you.”

“You’re the patron saint of lost causes. If you’re into me, it’s because you pity me.”