When they’d finished dinner and washed up the dishes, she walked with him to the living room. They paused and stood in the center of the room as he studied her and she met his eyes. Her belly flip-flopped at his intense gaze. He looked her as if she was a treasure he wanted to protect.

But at the same time he looked at her like a man who wanted a woman. A look of passion and need was in his gaze that couldn’t be disguised.

He reached up and ran strands of her long hair through his fingers. “I want to kiss you, Renee.”

She bit the inside of her lip as her own need expanded inside her. She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and offered him a smile. “I want you to.”

His warm breath feathered across her lips as he lowered his mouth to hers. The intensity of the moment was filled with a kind of fire that made her burn inside.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as he brought his mouth to hers, and it was like magic sparked between them when their lips met. She felt as if her mind was spinning and stars glittered behind her eyes. She fell into the kiss, her head whirling, her heart pounding.

His taste made her want more of him and she made sounds of need and pleasure. He deepened the kiss and she gave a soft moan.

She reveled in his embrace, the feel of his hard chest against her breasts and the warmth and comfort of his arms around her. She strained to somehow get closer to him, to become a part of him.

A deep, rumbling groan rose up in him and he kissed her hard before drawing away. He still held her in his embrace and she loved the feeling of security she experienced in his arms.

She opened her eyes and stared up at him, her lips moist from his kiss, her breathing a little fast.

He gently brushed hair from her cheek as he looked down at her, and his expression turned serious. “I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I first saw you at the Cameron’s place, but I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t want to take advantage of you in a vulnerable state.”

For a long moment she looked up at him, studying the sea green of his eyes. “When I was a young girl, living with the Camerons, I had the biggest crush on you.”

The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile. “Is that so?” he said in a lazy drawl.

She returned his smile. “When you saved my life, you became my hero as well as my crush.”

“I thought you were pretty cute.” He slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “And you’ve grown up to be one hell of a beautiful woman.”

She placed her hands on his chest, reached up on her toes, and kissed him. His lips were firm and he returned her kiss, his kiss as hungry as hers. Searching, longing, and filled with desire. She gripped his shirt in her hands as she pressed her body tight to his. She didn’t think she could get enough of him.

Judging by the hard ridge she felt against her belly, she knew he was as affected as she was by the moment.

He drew away again and she felt his rapid heartbeat against her palm and his chest rose and fell with the increased pace of his breathing.

“It was a mistake to kiss you because it only makes me want more. A lot more.” He slid his fingers through her long, glossy hair. “I want so much more of you than that. But it’s too soon.”

She closed her eyes, letting her breathing slow. When she opened them again she found him watching her. Her voice seemed a little shaky. “You’re right, it’s too soon. All of this with Jerry has been so emotional. I’m feeling everything right now… Hate and anger for him, and strong feelings for you. But I shouldn’t take things so fast no matter how right it feels with you.” She brushed her fingers along his shirt collar. “And Dan, it feels so right.”

“It feels unbelievably right.” He lowered his head and gave her a firm, hard kiss then stepped back. Her palms slid down his chest and then he took her hands in his. “How about watching a movie and getting our minds off of certain things?”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Not that she thought she could get her mind off of wanting to experience more with Dan. She gestured to the front door. “Why don’t we watch the storm first?”

He took her small hand in his big one and they went outside onto the covered porch and closed the front door behind them. Patches of warm yellow light spilled from the house onto the porch.

The sky was dark, the occasional crack of lighting illuminating the trees and outbuildings for seconds before everything went dark again. The air smelled fresh and clean as wind pressed her clothing against her body and her hair rose up off her shoulders. A gust of wind sent a mist of wetness onto the porch and she smiled at the feel of warm summer rain on her skin.

As they watched the storm, he squeezed her hand and looked down at her. She met his gaze and smiled. They stood on the porch a while longer and she watched bolts of lightning slicing the sky as thunder rolled across the valley.