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Maybe that’s why I was never able to fully wreak the havoc Rob intended for me to.

Maybe, deep down, I knew she was innocent but didn’t want to let go of Rob’s friendship.

Now, though? Now, I not only want to cut ties, I want to burn the fucking bridge.

I’m so caught up in my mind, in her, that I don’t notice we’ve reached the top until the car jerks to a stop, jolting me forward.

“What now?” Emmalyn asks as everyone begins to stand and walk to the back to exit.

“Follow me.”

Once on the platform, I ask if she wants to go into the gift shop.

“No, not really.” She cocks her head to the side. “Do you?”

“Come on,” is all I reply, taking her hand and guiding her to the stairwell.

I guide her all the way to the highest observation deck, and immediately, she’s at the rail, oohing and aahing over the view. “Man, this is so much prettier than Texas.”

“You don’t think Texas is nice?”

“I mean, it’s not bad, other than the memories associated with it. But there’s something about the mountains that just calls to me, you know? It feels like…home.”

“C’mere.” I crook a finger at her as I step back into a shady corner of the deck.

“What’s up?”

“There’s something I need to do.”

“What?”

As soon as she’s within reaching distance, I hook my arm around her waist and draw her body flush to mine. “This.” And then I crush my lips to hers.

She gasps in surprise, and I seize the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Our tongues slide together in a sensuous dance as I tangle my free hand in the hair at the nape of her neck.

I use my grip on her hair to gently leverage her into the exact position I want her in. Her taste is heaven, like she was made specifically for me, and I can't help but wonder if she'd taste this amazing if I were to kiss her somewhere else, somewhere much more intimate.

Emmalyn smooths her hands over my chest, gripping the material of my shirt as she loses herself to our kiss.

I'm already as hard as the stone wall at my back when she presses in closer to me and rocks her hips against mine, a soft moan slipping past her lips. That sound, that singular breathless whimper, nearly has me ready to strip her down and claim her here and now.

Luckily, the sound of voices trickles our way on the breeze, reminding me we're in public. We're both breathless as I pull away, ending our kiss with a few small pecks.

"Thank you for this, Sterling."

"For what?"

"For this date, for being so gentle, so sweet."

Fuck. This woman.Her capacity to forgive is beyond me. If I were her, I wouldn't give my sorry ass the time of day, but here she is thanking me. I don't deserve her, not in the least, but I'm damn sure not letting her go.

"We're just getting started, baby."

CHAPTER 34

EMMY

"I can't believeyou set all of this up for me. It's been the best first date ever."