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gave me a place to live. I only had a few friends in high school, and I’ve lost touch with them. My college friends are scattered across the country, and I only hear from them in emails. So you see, I’ve had to survive on my own. Then I met you, and everything changed.”
    A tear rolled down her cheek, and he reached up and rubbed it away with his thumb. She wanted to turn her face into his palm and kiss it, but she forced herself to stand still. “Suddenly I didn’t want to be alone any more. I wanted you, but I was afraid you didn’t want me, that you wanted Firebrand more. So I did the only thing I knew to do.”
    “Lainey, I never—”
    “Please let me finish,” she interrupted, her voice louder than she intended. “Tonight when I saw you, I thought I saw something in your eyes that told me you were as unhappy as I am, and I decided that no matter what you said now, I had to do what you’d told me to do. You said when I was ready to take a chance on us, to let you know. I’ve never believed in love at first sight, but by the time we left that shelter the day we met, I knew I was already falling in love with you. I want that chance, Ash. I want to see if you can fall in love with me, too.”
    She waited for his response, but he didn’t say anything. He only stared into her eyes for a moment before he reached up and placed his hands on either side of her face in a soft caress. “I think you just let me see a bit of what’s underneath the layers of the woman who stole my heart the minute I met you.”
    Her heartbeat quickened, and she stood still, not wanting to break contact with his touch. “Do you mean that?”
    “More than I’ve ever meant anything in my life. I’ve never been in love before, Lainey, but I know I’ll never feel about another woman the way I do about you. You own my heart and soul and always will.”
    The tears she’d been trying to hold back rolled from her eyes, and he smiled. Then he pulled her face closer, and his lips covered hers. For a moment all she could do was accept the invitation he offered, and then she realized how lonely she’d been before Ash came into her life. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. His lips ground against hers, and she realized he was pouring out all the heartache and hurt of the last few weeks into that kiss.
    When they finally pulled apart, he rested his head against her forehead. “It killed me when I saw you with Sam tonight. Don’t ever do that to me again. From this night on we belong to each other for the rest of our lives.”
    “Yes,” she whispered, “for the rest of our lives.”
    He took a deep breath and threaded her fingers through his before he led her around the car to the passenger side. When he opened the door, she turned a questioning glance at him. “Where are we going?”
    “Someplace we can be alone. I need to be with you tonight.”
    She glanced toward the park. “What about Sam? I came with him.”
    Ash pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Well, you’re not leaving with him, that’s for sure. Call him from my phone and tell him you got another ride home. He’ll understand.”
    Lainey’s eyes widened at the possessive look that flashed in Ash’s eyes. “I remember now that you two were friends in high school. I’d forgotten about that.”
    Ash nodded. “All our lives. And very competitive.” He bent over and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “But I don’t intend for him to take what’s mine, and you are mine.”
    He drew back and slammed the door, then moved around to the driver’s side and got in. She tightened her hold on his cell phone and closed her eyes for a brief moment before she punched in Sam’s number. He answered on the first ring.
    “Ash? Is something wrong?”
    Lainey swallowed before she spoke. “No, Sam. It’s Lainey.”
    “Lainey?” She could hear the surprise in his voice. “Why are you calling me from Ash’s phone?”
    She took a deep