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breathed a contented sigh until she remembered Daniel waited on her deck. What in the world was she going to do?
    She placed a trembling hand on the back door. There was no unwind button she could push. No way to make the past disappear. He was probably stubborn enough if she didn’t go out he’d sit there all night like he’d threatened. She sucked in her courage and pressed the door open.
    The porch boards squeaked, announcing her approach, and he looked up from where he’d settled on the old-fashioned swing.
    He hesitated before speaking, sincerity clear in his tone. “You’ve got awesome kids. I’m sorry again about the swimming-hole thing. It never crossed my mind you didn’t know.”
    She waved his confession away. “I’m mortified I didn’t figure out where they were disappearing to. I should have kept much better tabs on their whereabouts, and I’m grateful you had an eye on them.”
    He stood and peeked in the window. “Will you need to go and get them into bed?”
    “They’ll start on their own, but they’ll get distracted soon.”
    Daniel smiled. “I think my mama used to say it was like trying to herd cats to get us all in bed on time. I won’t keep you long, but…” He reached for her hand, threading his fingers between hers. She swallowed hard. Oh Lord, it felt so good and scared her mindless at the same time. She stood as still as a statue in spite of her pounding heart.
    “I’d like to see you, Beth.”
    She bit her lip. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    He turned over her fingers, his thumb brushing the groove on her ring finger that was slowly disappearing. After ten years of wearing her wedding band, the sign was still there, even though the ring was not. “You’re not married.”
    She shook her head. “He’s gone.” He raised a brow, and she had to say it, knowing the confusion not speaking plainly would cause. “He’s dead. He died in the accident that injured my leg.”
    Her throat went tight. Images flashed through her mind, the icy road, the glaring lights. The pain.
    The guilt.
    His fingers stopped. “I’m sorry.”
    He moved to pull away, and impulsively she resisted, maintaining a hold on his hand. Damn her indecision.
    “It’s…okay. We were having troubles when he died, and I’m not grieving for him. Not really. I just don’t think it’s a great idea for you and me…” She couldn’t speak. What she wanted and what she should do—why was it so hard to know which was which?
    He squeezed her fingers then let go and paced away. “There’s a whole lot I think you’re not saying right now. That’s fine. I’m still the man you met one night while you were in a drunken state and you don’t know me.”
    “I wasn’t drunk.”
    He chuckled and her face heated. “We call that liquid courage around here, darling, and you had some. I want you to know I was serious back then when I said I was interested in you. I’m even more interested, knowing you’re not a city girl living in some high-rise apartment hours away from me.”
    “Maybe I’m not staying.”
    “Then maybe while you’re here, we should spend some time together. I’m a good man, Beth. I’m not talking about taking over your life. I’m saying you intrigue me and you make my body ache. I think our attraction is something worth exploring.”
    He moved closer. Her pulse pounded, and she tilted her head involuntarily to keep their eyes in contact.
    Another step.
    “I want to kiss you,” he growled. Their bodies were close enough their heat meshed, and a gasp of need escaped her throat. “Do you want to kiss me?”
    Oh God. “I shouldn’t.”
    “But do you want to?”
    Desire and being responsible warred within her. Accepting his touch tonight would make it all that much harder to turn him down the next time.
    He pressed closer yet, and their torsos connected, his groin rubbing her belly. Her back hit the wall as he caged her without using his hands. Their lips brushed, and she