“Of course not.” He kissed her forehead. “You’d be shocked to hear just how much I’ve been thinking of our kiss and wanting to do this again.”
Tears sprang to her eyes again. This time when she smiled, it was full. Slowly, she slid her hands down his chest. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear those words.”
“How long?” He moved his hand slowly down her neck.
“Since we first met.”
Surprised, he pulled back slightly. “For ten years? Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I enjoyed being your friend, and because... I didn’t think you could ever feel the same way about me.” She shrugged. “Besides that, I knew you couldn’t settle down in one place, and that’s the kind of man I’m looking for.”
Colt’s thoughts came to a screeching halt. How had that slipped his mind? She was right. He would leave Last Chance in a year. He couldn’t commit to a woman, not when he was a wanderer.
Groaning, he rested his forehead against her neck. On his temple, he felt her erratic pulse. Why had he forgotten about those things he wanted out of life? Even if she kissed like an angel, and he would always love her as his friend, he could never marry her.
Could he wipe out everything that has happened between them? How could he work in the barn every day and see her sitting working on a wagon without wanting to hold her and kiss her sweet lips?
“Oh, Blaze.” His heart broke. “I can’t believe... I lost my head.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve been so selfish that I haven’t considered the consequences of our actions.”
She kissed his head. “This isn’t your fault, it’s mine. I went to the masquerade party, hoping you wouldn’t recognize my disguise because I wanted you to see me and desire me as a woman.”
He lifted his head and looked into her tear-filled eyes. His heart wrenched. “And now that I have these feelings, I won’t be able to just turn them off. I want you, Blaze, more than I’ve wanted anybody before.”
A tear streaked down her face. “But you don’t want me enough to settle down, do you?”
His chest tightened more as frustration built inside of him, making him want to scream. “For now, we’ll go back to being friends. That’s all I can promise for now.”
