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“So I figured,” he continued, “we ought to end this little business trip in a more memorable way.”

She could hardly keep her eyes open. The tapping rain and Matthew’s lulling accent were causing her to fall deeper and deeper into the dream she wanted to live in forever—the dream of being held in Matthew’s arms.

“What did you have in mind, then?” she asked, slowly blinking up at him, though she couldn’t focus on his eyes any longer.

Matthew licked his lower lip with a growing smile, and Winnie officially lost her mind. “I think you know, Miss Knox.”

That nickname. Where once she’d despised the two words, now, her heart soared because of them. It was something only they shared. And now, it spoke measures of the change that had occurred between the two of them.

Slowly, he released his hold of her hand, though she kept it against his chest, and he reached forward to caress her cheek, allowing his fingers to slide back to the nape of her neck.

Chills sailed across Winnie’s skin in droves, like water flooding the sand on a beach at high tide. She drew in a steadying breath, but it did nothing for the world spinning around her.

He leaned closer to her, inch by inch, her eyes on his until she could no longer see straight, and they drifted to a close.

For what seemed an eternity, she waited blindly, her lips parted, her heart reaching across the empty space between her and Matthew until finally, the warmth from his breath graced her lips, and his mouth pressed against hers.

Satisfaction she’d never known before filled her soul. She’d imagined what it would be like to kiss Matthew, to have his sole attention on her, but those dreams and imaginings paled so far in comparison to reality.

His lips were soft, yet firm, the whiskers of his beard tickling her mouth as he tipped his head to the other side and kissed her again. His heart thudded against her hand, and she pressed her palm flat against his chest to feel it better.

In response, Matthew removed his grip from the branch beside them, using both hands to cup her face in a gentle cradle that caused her legs to weaken.

Winnie had never felt such security, such peace in a person’s embrace before, and that only intensified as their kiss grew. Soon, his arms wrapped around her, strong and firm and comforting.

She slid her own arms around his neck, feeling the movement of his upper back as he shifted his hold of her again and again, as if he was afraid to let go for too long.

In truth, she had that same fear. She didn’t want him to let go of her—ever. Being in Matthew’s embrace, being the recipient of his kiss, was everything she’d ever wanted.

Before, with Prince, she had flown.

Now, with Matthew…she soared.

Matthew was holding back, though he didn’t want to. He wanted to release everything within him into this kiss—his emotions, his fears, his feelings for the woman before him.

What he wouldn’t give to keep her there in his arms forever. What he wouldn’t give to share with her the feelings growing in his heart—feelings that were as real as they were confusing.

How had he been so wrong about her? How had they argued and fought for so long, only to now share their feelings for each other in such a way that would surely complicate their working relationship?

Then again, how could he care?

These moments with Winnie in his arms, her soft touch on his back, her smooth lips against his, were greater than anything he’d ever experienced. He couldn’t be parted from her any longer. He couldn’t pull back. He couldn’t stop what was occurring between them because what if it didn’t happen again? What if the planning for the festival got in the way of everything, destroyed the relationship budding between them?

The thought sobered him, and soon, the kiss weakened. He cursed his brain over and over again, trying to fight against it, but Winnie must have sensed his slowing down, as well.

A single moment later, they pulled apart, their breathing heavy as they tried to catch up from the exhilaration of their kiss.

He rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and praying for clarity, for peace, until finally, he dropped his hands from around her.

With a sigh he looked to the horses that had wandered out into the rain. “We should probably get back. It doesn’t look like the rain is about to stop anytime soon.”

Winnie nodded in silence. Was she as disappointed as he was to have their kiss end?

Together, they made their way out into the fields, gathered Prince and Nightshade, mounted the horses, then rode back to the stables in silence.

All the while, Matthew prayed that the time they’d spent together during their trip was a reflection for many more days to come—and not an indication of how their relationship would end.

CHAPTER FORTY