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the very real hurt that flickered over his face at her declaration. She turned back toward the window.
    â€œCan you at least give me a chance to explain?”
    â€œWhat’s to explain, Clay? You asked me to marry you, we celebrated with my entire family, and then you ran out a few hours later. I’d say it was all pretty self-explanatory.” She didn’t want to talk about any of this with him. He hadn’t bothered to call her in five years, hadn’t felt the need to offer any excuses before—why did he suddenly want to explain everything? She grabbed her purse and flung open the door, heading toward the trailers in the back, her boots kicking up dust.
    â€œDammit, Jennifer!” She heard the truck door slam as he ran after her. “Will you stop for two seconds and just listen? You don’t have this all figured out, no matter what you think.”
    Clay grabbed her arm, and she spun on him, wildly swinging her purse at his head and jerking her arm from his grasp. “Don’t touch me.”
    He easily caught the purse in his hand and dropped it at his feet as he pulled her into his arms. “What do you have in that thing? Bricks?”
    â€œLet go of me, Clay,” she said through gritted teeth, twisting, trying to release herself from his grasp.
    â€œOnly if you let me explain.”
    Every inch of her that was in contact with him burned with icy flames. The heat of his hands on her arms sent warmth running down her spine to melt her limbs and ignite the desire pooling in her belly. She wanted to push him away, to run to her trailer and stay there until he went back to wherever he’d been hiding, but when her eyes met his, pleading with her to listen to him, she couldn’t deny herself just one more moment with him. How was she supposed to keep hating him when her body wouldn’t follow her commands?
    â€œYou have five minutes.” One for each year she hadn’t heard from him. He released her cautiously. She walked back to the truck, knowing he would follow, and flipped the tailgate down. She hopped up on it, letting her legs dangle. When he sighed and scrubbed a hand over his jaw, she quirked a brow. “Time’s ticking Clay. Start talking.”
    â€œYou know, for someone who seems to think she has everything figured out better than the rest of us, you sure can be irresponsible. What were you thinking going into that bar?”
    Jen almost let her mouth fall open at the audacity of his accusation. She bit the inside of her cheek until the metallic taste of blood forced her to stop.
    She jumped from the back of the truck. “That was some explanation. I can’t believe I waited this long for it.”
    Clay’s fingers circled her wrist as she started to walk away. “I have at least three minutes left.”
    He pulled her back toward him, drawing her against his chest as one arm circled around her waist. His other hand buried into her long hair, and she gasped in surprise as his mouth found hers. Her body betrayed her again, melting against him as her bones seemed to turn to molten lava. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders, but she wasn’t sure if it was to keep her balance or because she couldn’t resist touching him. His mouth was gentle, in spite of their argument, as if he wanted to savor this kiss, to taste her, to force the memories of the tenderness they’d once shared to the surface. Clay nipped at her lower lip, testing her resolve, and when she didn’t protest, he plunged ahead. His tongue swept against hers as she slid her hands over his shoulders before curling her fingers around the nape of his neck, twining into his hair.
    Clay’s lips trailed over her cheek and jaw. “I’ve missed you, Jen. You have no idea how much.”
    The reality of their situation hit her. What in the hell was she doing? This was the same man who’d walked away and left her with nothing more than a