Page 34 of The Formation of Us

“Kyle is as stubborn as they come, but yes, after stewing a while, he forgave Radford.”

“So Kyle’s a stubborn but forgiving man?”

“And the rock in our family. He kept our sawmill running and held everything together when my dad died.”

“For some reason I seeyouin that position.”

He peered at her from the corner of his eye. “Kyle was the boss. I was the peacekeeper. My younger brother Boyd was the one who made us laugh. Even when we wanted to pound him—and Kyle always wanted to pound him—Boyd could make us laugh. He still does.”

“Hmm . . . I’m beginning to understand your analogy about trees and their grain. Your mother raised a deep-thinker, a rock, a jester, and a peacekeeper. Sounds like she had her hands full.”

He laughed. “Which is exactly why my father made me promise to keep the peace and hold our family together.”

“Which makes me more irritated that your brothers didn’t help you today, or at least allow that other man to step in.”

“That other man was Wayne Archer and he was looking to earn himself some votes for the upcoming election for sheriff.”

“He’s running against you?” she asked in surprise.

“And would have liked nothing better than to prove me incompetent in front of all those people watching. My brothers showed great restraint and respect by letting me handle that situation alone.”

“I hadn’t thought . . . I’m sorry I judged them without knowing the politics involved.”

“Does that mean you were concerned about me?” he asked, rolling onto his back.

Panic kept her gaze locked on his face. God only knew if that towel was covering him. “I would be concerned about anyone in a fight.”

He gripped her balm-soaked fingers. “Can I call on you this evening?”

“I . . . of course, Sheriff. I can give you another treatment at nine o’clock if the time suits you.”

He rocked upward and swung his legs off the table, then slid off and stood beside her. “I’m not asking for a shoulder treatment, Faith. My call would be personal, to allow us time to become better acquainted.”

Oh, Lord. . . Iris would be ecstatic, but Faith was terrified. She could never tell where this man was going with his questions and those private looks that were growing more heated by the minute; but worse, she had no idea how she would respond, because one smile from him could melt her kneecaps. And was that towel still hooked around his waist?

He squeezed her hands. “I would like to court you.”

“Oh . . . I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

He brought her palms to his thudding, hair-covered chest, shocking her, thrilling her. “I’ve never felt this way about a woman. And I think your heart is banging out the same message.”

It was thudding so hard she couldn’t breathe. Hope, fear, and a desperate need to feel his mouth on hers kept her palms pressed to his hard, warm chest.

“Did I misunderstand Iris when she said you were looking for a husband?”

She shook her head. She longed for a noble, handsome, and tender man with strong, protective arms to welcome Adam and Cora, and keep them safe. She wanted a man like the sheriff to hold her against his warm body and love her, but she wasn’t worthy of a man like him. “I’m not sure we would suit.”

“Let’s find out.” He dipped his head and pressed his warm, firm lips to hers.

She felt as if she kissed the sun. His hot mouth melted her. The birds in her stomach scattered sideways then swept upward en masse to fly in a frenzied circle that left her breathless and dizzy

His arms encircled her, his heart pounding against her palms, a low moan vibrating in his throat as he deepened the kiss. She’d heard that same intimate sound when massaging his back, when her hands gave him pleasure. To hear it now while he was kissing her, while he held her against his hard, naked chest thrilled and frightened her. He was too big, too strong, too . . . umm . . . gentle . . . and tender. His tongue delved into her mouth, slow and insistent, sparking a fire deep in her belly.

He broke the kiss with a shaky outrush of breath, gazing down at her with stormy eyes. “I’d say we suit just fine.”

She gazed up at him with her fists bunched against his chest and her body quaking, lost in the heat of his gaze.

“You can give me your answer this evening.” He pressed a polite kiss to her lips, then stepped away.