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isn’t your enemy.”
    “No, not him, but his brother, Seth, is another story.”
    “What have you got against Seth?”
    Reyna’s expression tightened. “Plenty, believe me. His ego is so big he could share it with a couple other guys.”
    Seeing the glint in her sister’s gaze, Isabel wondered about Reyna’s true feelings for the boy. Reyna had just turned fifteen and was a little hotheaded. She and Seth were in the same class, and Isabel suspected part of the problem was that not only were they both competitive, they were also equally matched.
    “So you’ll keep my secret?” she asked.
    Reyna responded by hugging her. “Be careful, mi hermana .”
    Isabel was always careful. At least not to get caught. The very idea of sneaking out to meet Micah late at night shot chills through her body. And heat. The extremes alternated with her thoughts.
    Creeping out into the barn, checking to make sure no one was around to see, Isabel grabbed a bridle, then entered the corral, where she gave a low whistle. Crank came trotting over to her. She quickly settled the leathers and bit in place, then led him to the gate. Once on the other side, she tangled a hand in his mane and stepped onto a log stump for a leg up to his bare back. They moved as one, Crank following her silent directions.
    Ten minutes later, she was in the stand of pines at the top of Suicide Hill where she’d agreed to meet Micah. She whistled softly and then listened. His answering whistle shot through her, making her feel all wonky inside. Anxious to see Micah alone, she turned Crank in the right direction, moved forward, and whistled again. Though Micah responded, he didn’t need to. She could see the flames coming from the clearing ahead.
    “There you are.” He came to meet her, took Crank’s reins and held the horse as she jumped off. Then he took her in his arms. “I missed you.”
    “Me, too.”
    He kissed her, a light brush of lips against lips, the soft touch thrilling her to her toes. She looked beyond him to the bedroll spread out before the fire.
    Would tonight be the night, then?
    Her heart nearly pounded out of her chest.
    Poppi really might kill Micah if he ever found out.
    “C’mon, let’s go sit by the fire.”
    She let him lead her there, let him pull her down next to him. He put an arm around her and tilted his head against hers.
    He picked up a long stick and poked at the fire so the flames intensified.
    “Nice, huh?”
    “Very nice,” she said.
    “I’ve always wanted to do this. Just sit in front of a fire at night with someone I cared about and talk.”
    Her throat was tight when she whispered, “Just talk?”
    His grin softened the strong planes of his face. Between the silver moonlight and golden glow of the fire, he looked magical to her.
    “There are lots of ways of talking,” he whispered.
    And when he dipped his head for another kiss, she eagerly responded. To her surprise, he held her in check, keeping the kiss slow and sweet and thrilling.
    He touched her breast then, a soft exploration that matched the kiss.
    Leaving Isabel yearning for more…
    …
    They’d sat before the fire, just talking. And kissing. And touching. Isabel remembered wanting so much more. She’d known Micah had, too, but he had been the one to put on the brakes, saying she was too young to make such an impulsive decision.
    No, Poppi hadn’t found out. Not then.
    That hadn’t been the night.
    Not the night she’d lost her virginity.
    That had been the night when Micah first told her he loved her.
    The thought choked her. She’d loved him, too. She’d thought they would love each other and be together forever, but life didn’t always work out the way you planned.
    She looked at the bed but knew she wouldn’t sleep. Not while her daughter was out there somewhere. Alone. Frightened. Maybe hurt.
    The thought made her want to throw up. No way could she sleep.
    Two minutes and she was dressed again. She grabbed her wallet and keys and left the