By the time she returned to White Pines to pick up Jenny, she had a thundering headache and a chip on her shoulder the size of a longhorn. The sight of Harlan waiting on the porch for her, a pitcher of tea ready, along with more of Maritza’s culinary treats, brought tears to her eyes. She lingered in the car for a moment for fear he’d see how despondent she was and try to jump in and fix things for her. After a day like the one she’d just had, it would be too easy simply to let him.

Even though she’d taken the time to gather her composure, Harlan wasn’t fooled. He took one look at her and reached out to gather her into his arms. She hesitated only an instant before accepting the comfort he offered.

“Bad day?” he asked.

“Is it that obvious?”

“To me, it is. Want to talk about it?”

She wrapped her arms a little tighter around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “No, but this is nice.”

Too nice, she reminded herself sternly. Too easy. It was a dangerous trap. With a sigh, she pulled away. “Thanks.”

“You could stay right where you are,” he said. “These are mighty broad shoulders. Might as well make use of ’em, if you’ve got troubles.”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” she said, and forced herself to step away from what he was offering.

When she would have turned away, his voice stopped her.

“Janet?” he said in little more than a whisper.

She lifted her gaze to his and felt her heart skip a beat at the blazing heat in his eyes. She swallowed hard. “Yes?”

“Jenny’s off with Cody again. They’re going to be a while. Care to take a chance on another kiss?”

She almost wished he hadn’t asked at all, that he’d just swept her back into his arms without giving her any say in the matter. But she couldn’t deny that a part of her was glad he’d reassured her of Jenny’s whereabouts first.

“I can’t,” she protested halfheartedly, even as she swayed toward him.

He stroked a finger along her cheek. “Talk about mixed messages, darlin’.”

She shook her head ruefully. “I know. I’m pitiful.”

“Never pitiful,” he argued. “Strong, sassy, impossible, maybe, but never pitiful.”

His touch on her face lingered. There were a hundred questions in his eyes, but only one that really mattered: had she meant yes or no? Both, depending on whether he asked her head or her heart, she decided.

And just this once she was going with her heart. She stood on tiptoe to lift her lips to his. Her touch was tentative, but it was all it took to set passion blazing. So much tenderness. So much heat, she thought as he held her head still and plundered her mouth.