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away, at least not easily. He might refuse to tell her what the barriers were between them, but she was heading into his territory, and the answer was there. She just knew it.
    By day, she’d take every opportunity to snoop around. By night, she’d drive Cole insane in bed. If she hadn’t made him hers by the time she left Colorado, then maybe it was an impossible task. But she wasn’t giving up without a fight.
    The Evergreen corporate jet proved to be a luxurious way to travel. Increasingly, she had trouble believing that Christmas ornaments, beautiful though they might be, were financing this kind of perk. If nothing illegal was going on, and she trusted Cole’s answer on that, then what explained the company’s success?
    If she found the answer to that, she might discover the big secret that Cole wouldn’t reveal—the one that kept them from living happily ever after. She hoped it wasn’t a dangerous secret, the kind that a person had to be killed for once they knew it. That was highly unlikely. Cole would never put her in danger. She knew that as surely as she knew he loved her.
    She’d figured that out two seconds into their kiss. As a college student she might have confused love with lust. She wouldn’t make that mistake now. He lusted after her, all right, but the passion of his kiss included a large measure of tenderness. Then she’d made him look at her, just to be absolutely sure.
    He was in love and always had been. Ditto for her. If she’d ever doubted it, that doubt was gone. For some reason, he hadn’t been able to figure out a way around the issue that divided them, whatever it was. She brought a fresh perspective, and—if she allowed herself to be honest—a tiny bit more analytical ability than Cole had.
    Once she understood what she was dealing with, she’d find a way to make everything work out. They deserved each other, and they’d already missed out on ten years of happiness because she hadn’t been proactive. She didn’t intend to let them miss out on any more.
    Throughout the first half of the flight, Cole kept glancing at her, as if still wrestling with the ethics of her suggestion. They couldn’t talk about it, of course, because the flight attendant never strayed far. She served the meal and refilled their wine glasses. Then she cleared the main course and brought out dessert.
    Taryn made small talk about changes in the tech industry since they’d been in school together. Cole participated in the discussion, but his mind wasn’t on it. She could always tell those things. He was thinking about whether he was capable of a fling.
    Poor man. He wasn’t the kind who had sex with a woman for the hell of it. Even in college, they hadn’t taken that step until they’d established a solid friendship. The thought of a short-lived affair would stick in his craw.
    She didn’t intend for it to be the least bit short. If all went according to plan, this affair would last for the rest of their lives. But she couldn’t tell him that and tip her hand. She had to mislead him, which was heartbreakingly easy to do.
    After she’d accomplished her goal, she would never lie to him again. She’d been touched by his willingness tonight to believe what she told him, even when it had been something as illogical as putting out the cat eighteen stories up. His trusting nature would serve her well in the days ahead, but in the long run, a man like Cole should never be lied to. That was taking unfair advantage of an endearing trait.
    Toward the end of the meal, he smothered a yawn.
    She glanced over at him. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”
    â€œA little.”
    â€œThen take a nap.”
    His dark eyebrows rose. “Now who’s the bossy one?”
    â€œJust don’t think you have to entertain me. If you’re sleepy, recline your seat and rest up.” She fought the urge not to