“No. I have sympathy toward a lot of people, including you. But I haven’t wanted to date any of those other people. Not for five years. I do want to date you. You’re trustworthy and straightforward and loyal.”

He shook his head and looked ready to disagree.

“Most of all, you . . . fit with me,” she said. “It’s mysterious. I’d never have expected it, and I can’t explain it. We’re totally different, and yet we fit.”

“You can’t let yourself care about me. If you do, you’ll only end up hurt.”

“I don’t believe that has to be true. But even if it is, I’m willing to pay that price.” After Chase, she hadn’t been ready to open herself up to the kind of pain she’d endured when she’d lost him. Until now. This step scared her. But she wanted this even more than it scared her. She moved closer, reaching up to intertwine her hands behind his neck. “Will you give a relationship between us a chance?”

“I want to be with you, but I can’t.”

“Why?”

“If I let you down the way I did my brother, I won’t be able to go on.”

“‘It’s better not to love anyone new than have them taken from you,’” she said, mirroring the words he’d spoken to her weeks ago. “I understand. We have the same fear. I’ll face it for you if you’ll face it for me.”

“If I’m going to keep my promise to your dad, I have to be able to concentrate. I can’t let anything, including you, distract me.”

“As we figure out where this treasure is buried, I will not distract you.”

“You can’t help but distract me.”

Her lips twitched up at the edges. “If that’s the case, is the level of distraction I present really going to change whether we’re together or not?”

He exhaled raggedly. She could feel his coiled control.

“We’ve lost people we loved. We’ve learned that life is short. Too short not to give this a try.” She outlined his ear and charted a delicate trail down the side of his neck. It was glory to touch him. “No matter what happens, I think we’ll be okay so long as we communicate honestly.”

“I don’t know what your dad was thinking when he asked me to make that promise. I’m definitely not good enough to be your protector.”

“My dad was crazy smart. I think he knew exactly what he was doing.” Her vision slid to his lips and paused there while her heart thundered. Under heavy eyelids, she met his gaze.

Desire sharpened his expression. Color rose on his cheeks. In the next instant, his strong hands sank into her hair, and he took her mouth in a kiss.

Joy vaulted inside her.

With a groan, he pulled her close.