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He waved me to his side and I went very willingly.I loved the feel of his strong arm around me, holding me up as if nothing could ever shake us.“Mom loved the ranch, but not the business of it all.It drove her nuts.Besides, it was always Dad’s.”He brushed my hair back and cupped my face.“She worked for my uncle when he was in office and now she helps run the staff for Christina.She’s much better suited to politics than ranch life.She’s not here this summer because of the movie.She can’t stand to bearoundit.”

She must have really loved Colt’s dad.“She’sheartbroken.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes dropping to my lips and back up to my eyes.“I finally understand how losing someone can destroy you,” he whispered.“I used to be really mad at her for refusing to help with the ranch, but now I know.She couldn’t.Her heart couldn’t take it.”He kissed me, then pulled back, his eyes locked on mine.“I’ve forgiven her but things are stillstrained.”

“I understandstrained.”

He grimaced.“I know I don’t have a right to say this yet but, they have no place in your life, Lily.Your parents aren’t goodpeople.”

I really didn’t know how I feltaboutthat.

“The things I’m feeling for you Lily, they’re big things.”He brushed a hand through my hair, his other pulling me closer.“And it makes me want to remove all the bad from your life.I want...” his voice fell away as his eyessearchedmine.

“You want what?”I felt like the world was slipping out from under my feet even though I knew they were firmly planted on the ground.I was so caught up in the moment, in Colt, inwantingthis.

His breath became ragged but he didn’t let me go.No, if anything he held me tighter.“I want to protect you.I want to wrap you up and keep you safe from anything that might ever hurt you.You’re mine even thoughyou’renot.”

God, how I wanted to be his.And have him be mine.It was just soright.“I feel the same way, Colt.I have this overwhelming need to make you smile and take away the stress.”I ran my fingers over the lines beside his eyes and mouth.“It’s like it’s my job to protect you from yourself and I don’t know what to do with thatfeeling.”

“Lily,” he whispered just before he kissed me.I opened to him, let him take me deep.I wanted to get so lost inside Colt I would never, ever find mywayout.

I pulled back and rested my forehead against his chest, trying to catch my breath.“I think I love you, Colt, but I’m afraid if I say that out loud it will betoomuch.”

His hands roamed from my hips to my hair, pulling me up for another wild kiss.“You already said it and we’re both still here.”He ground against me.“I don’t have to think, Lily.I know.I love you.I’ve loved you since The Westerly.I loved you when I thought you were Annie and I love you even more now that I reallyknowyou.”

Oh god.“Yes.Yes.” My hands were everywhere.In his hair, under his collar, pulling at his shirt.I needed him.I pushed him to the ground and straddled him.“I love you ColtLandry.”

And then I rode my cowboy as the sun dipped behind thehills.