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All of the muscles in Zane’s body tightened. The thought of Dustin Rhodes, here, alone with Tiffany, made his stomach knot with dread. It was insane to feel this . . . jealousy. Dustin owned part of the farm; he could come and go as he pleased. Zane’s jaw hardened, and his back teeth ground together in frustration.
“You weren’t expecting him?”
“No.”
“Then why did he return?”
“He said it was because of all the bad press surrounding Moon Shadow. He wanted to make sure that I was all right.”
“He could have called.”
“I suppose,” she admitted, taking a seat on a boulder near the pond. “But I think he wanted to see me face to face.”
“Why?” Zane demanded, his eyes glittering in the dark night.
“Dustin helped me pick up the pieces when Ellery was killed,” she whispered. “I was pretty shook up.”
“Because you loved your husband so much?” he asked, reaching for a flat stone and thrusting it toward the water. He watched as it skipped across the pond creating ever-widening ripples on the water’s smooth surface.
“Because my whole world was turned upside down.” The wind picked up and clouds shadowed the moon.
“And if he walked back into your life right now?” Zane asked, bracing himself against the truth.
“It would be upside down all over again.”
“And who would you lean on?”
Tiffany breathed deeply. “I hope that I’m strong enough to stand by myself—no matter what happens,” she said softly.
The air was thick with the promise of rain, and the clouds covering the moon became more dense. High above, the branches of the fir trees danced with the naked maples.
Zane turned to face her and his broad shoulders slumped in resignation. Gray eyes drove into hers. “You know that I’m falling in love with you, don’t you?”
Tiffany’s heart nearly stopped.If only I could believe you, Zane. If only you hadn’t lied to me. If only I could tell what was true and what was false.
She wrapped her arms around her knees and shook her head. “I don’t think love can enter into our relationship,” she said, staring at the dark water and refusing to face him.
“It’s nothing I wanted,” he admitted and pushed his hands into his back pockets. “But it happened.”
“Zane—” her protest was cut short when he strode purposely over to the rock and scooped her into his arms. “Please don’t . . .” she breathed, but it was the cry of a woman lost. When his lips crushed against hers, she responded willingly, eagerly to him, mindless of the wind billowing her dress or the heavy scent of rain in the air.
He gently laid her on the grass near a stand of firs, and his fingers caught in the golden strands of her hair. Slowly he withdrew the pins and twined his fingers in the silken braid as he pulled it loose. The golden hair fell to her shoulders, framing her face in tangled honey-brown curls.
“I’ve wanted to make love to you from the first moment I saw you,” he whispered. His body was levered over hers, and his silvery eyes caught the reflection of the shadowy moon. She trembled when his hands lingered on her exposed throat to gently stroke the sensitive skin near her shoulders.
“That’s not the same as loving someone,” she replied, her voice breathless as his hand slowly, enticingly, slid down the silky fabric of her dress and softly caressed her breast.
A spasm of desire shot through her. “Oh, my God,” she whispered while he looked at her, touching her with only one hand. Her breathing became rapid and shallow as slowly he caressed the silk-encased peak, rubbing the sheer fabric against her. Tiffany began to ache for the feel of his hands against her skin.
The fingers slid lower, down her thigh, to the hem of her dress. She felt the warm impression of his fingertips as they stroked her leg through her sheer stocking.
I shouldn’t be doing this,she thought wildly.I don’t even really understand what he wants of me. . . .
“Tell me you want me to make love to you,” he rasped against her hair. His tongue traced the gentle shell of her ear, and his breath fanned seductively against her skin.
“Oh, Zane . . . I . . .” Her blood was pounding in her temples. She trembled with desire.
“Tell me!”
