“Hello?”

“Uh hi,” she said in a low voice. “This is Lily.”

“Lily, how are you?”

It was then she realized it was Adam’s quiet voice over the line.

“I’m good,” she managed to stammer out. “I was hoping to speak to Holly. Is she there?”

“I’ll get her for you. Give me just a minute,” he said kindly.

Lily waited a few moments and then Holly’s cheerful voice bled through the receiver. “Hi, Lily!”

“Hi, Holly. I wondered if you’d mind being my partner in crime today.”

“Now that sounds intriguing. I’m in. Whatever it is, I’m in.”

Lily chuckled. “I need a ride to Seth’s office and then I need a ride by the pub. I won’t be long in either place.”

“I can be over in half an hour.”

“Thank you. I appreciate this.”

“Anytime, Lily. I’m glad to do it.”

Lily finished arranging her hair and even applied light make-up that Callie had picked out. She finished with lip gloss and checked her appearance in the mirror.

She stared for a long moment, transfixed by the change in her. Gone was the sad, homeless, ragtag woman of a few weeks ago. In her place stood a vibrant young woman with love and happiness in her eyes. Hope.

She smiled at herself and then hurried off to find her shoes and her light jacket. Though spring seemed to have finally arrived for good, the mornings and evenings were still chilly.

When Holly drove up to the house, Lily met her on the front steps.

“You look positively radiant today,” Holly observed as the two women climbed into the Rover.

“I’m on a mission,” Lily said. “I got to spend a little while with Michael last night, but Dillon and Seth are both working right now, and I can’t wait a minute longer. I have to tell them. So I’m going to where they are.”

Holly gave a delighted laugh. “Oh how wonderful! I wish I could see the looks on their faces. This will be absolutely priceless. Want to do lunch after you flabbergast your men?”

Lily looked over and smiled at Holly. “I’d like that. I’d like it a lot.”

Holly beamed back at her. “Great. And if you don’t mind, I’ll call Callie to meet us. It’s good for her to get out. She spends too much time holed up in the house when she isn’t working.”

“It’s really nice to have good friends,” Lily said softly.

Holly reached over and squeezed her hand.

They drove first to the sheriff’s department on Main Street. There were a few other parked cars in front and Lily nearly lost her nerve. What if Seth was busy or involved in a meeting? Suddenly what she planned didn’t seem that appropriate.

“Go on,” Holly urged. “Seth will be glad to see you.”

With a nervous gulp, Lily got out of the Rover and walked toward the door. She hadn’t actually seen the inside of the department yet and wasn’t sure what to expect.

Inside there was a reception desk and a small sitting area with two people sitting while one stood talking to the woman manning the desk. Lily stood awkwardly to the side as she waited for the man to finish his business.

When he finally moved away, the receptionist turned a friendly smile in Lily’s direction as Lily stepped forward.

“What can I help you with?”

“I’d like to see Sheriff Colter,” she said in a low voice.

“I believe he’s on a telephone call right now. Perhaps there’s something I can help you with?”

“If you’ll tell him that Lily is here, he’ll see me,” she quietly persisted.

The woman shot her an inquisitive look. “If you’ll have a seat, I’ll let him know you’re here.”

No sooner had Lily taken a seat than the door to one of the back offices burst open, and Seth loomed in the doorway looking so deliciously gorgeous in his uniform that Lily nearly had to wipe the drool from her chin.

“Lily? Is everything okay?”

She was on her feet and hurried behind the reception counter toward him. He backed into his office and once she was inside, he closed the door behind them.

Before he could say another word, she launched herself into his arms and planted a toe-curling kiss on him. He stumbled back but caught her against him to steady them both.

He reared back and stared at her through glazed eyes, confusion and a spark of lust in their depths.

“Whoa, what’s this about?”

She kissed him again and curled her arms around his neck to squeeze him against her as tightly as she could.

He hugged her back, and she absorbed his steady strength. She closed her eyes for a long moment, simply savoring the connection. The sense of rightness. That this was where she belonged.

“Lily, honey, what’s wrong?” he asked softly.

She pulled away and gifted him with a brilliant smile, allowing all of her joy—and love—to flow from the depths of her soul.

“I love you,” she said fiercely. “I just wanted to tell you.”

Then she pulled from his arms and smiled shyly again. “That’s all I wanted. Your mom is waiting for me. I’ll see you this evening.”

She turned and walked out of his office, leaving him with a baffled, goofy expression, but when she looked back one more time, he wore a grin the size of the Colorado mountains.

Lily hurried from the office, sure her blush would give away the purpose of her visit. She slid into the Rover with Holly. As Holly backed from the parking space, she glanced over at Lily.

“Well?”

Lily grinned, and she found she couldn’t stop smiling as they headed toward the pub.

“Let’s just say I gave your son something to think about.”

Holly laughed and shook her head. “Poor boy. He’s probably going to be useless for the rest of the day.”

“One down, one to go.”

Holly drove the two blocks to the pub but had to park across the street. The lunch crowd was already starting to gather.

“I hope he’s not too busy,” Lily murmured.

“Oh, he’ll probably be in his office. He tends to take care of the business stuff in the afternoon and then he fills in behind the bar when Callie isn’t working. Of course if they get too busy for lunch, he’ll pitch in, but I think it’s early enough that you can catch him in the office.”

“Okay then,” she said after a deep breath. “Here I go.”

Lily navigated her way through the people going into the pub and glanced around the crowded interior. Three waitresses bustled around the tables, dropping off drink orders and trays of food. Only two people sat at the actual bar, and an older man was wiping down the counter as they sipped at a beer and ate nachos.

She squared her shoulders and marched in the direction of the office as if she had every right to be there. The older man quirked an eyebrow at her but didn’t say anything as she passed.

She put her hand on the doorknob to just go in but then had second thoughts. Maybe Dillon wasn’t alone. That could be embarrassing if she just barged in.

So she took a step back and knocked.

“It’s open,” she heard Dillon call.

She sucked in a deep breath and opened the door to see Dillon at his desk, head down as he examined a stack of receipts.

He looked up and did a double take. Then he shot out of his seat. “Lily! What on earth are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

Taking her courage into both hands, she launched herself across the distance and all but tackled Dillon. He caught her in midair, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as she curled her arms around his neck.

Her mouth found his, hot and hungry. She devoured him. There was no other word for it. He staggered back and sank onto the small loveseat against the wall, her still wrapped around him.

She framed is face in her hands and kissed him wildly, then peppered a line over his jaw and down to his neck. She nipped and then sank her teeth into the firm column of flesh just below his ear.

“Holy hell,” he muttered.

“I love you,” she said fiercely.

He went completely and utterly still, his muscles tense. Only a slight twitch at his jaw as he stared intensely back at her betrayed any movement.

She touched his face, brushing over it with tender strokes.

“I love you,” she said again. “I couldn’t wait another minute to let you know.”

He opened his mouth to speak but let it hang open. And then he crushed her to him, holding on to her so tight that she could barely breathe.

“God, I love you too,” he breathed against her hair. “So damn much. I’ve struggled so hard over the last few days, wanting and needing to tell you. Wanting the perfect moment. Not wanting to overwhelm you or give you words you weren’t ready to hear.”

His entire body shook against her, and he alternated between squeezing the breath from her and stroking over her back with urgent hands.

Then he released her. “Come here,” he growled as he dragged her into a toe-curling, heart-melting kiss.

He tucked his arms underneath her ass and lifted, standing effortlessly with her still in his arms. He carried her over to his desk and then reached with one arm to sweep all the contents to the floor.

They landed with a crash, and he set her down, his mouth fused hotly to hers.

He tore at her clothing and she tore at his. She still wasn’t sure who got naked first. He took only long enough to pull on a condom and then he spread her legs and dragged her to the edge of the desk, his palms cradling her ass.

He was inside her before she could process that they were naked, in his office, about to have wild and crazy sex.

She gasped when he reached full depth.

“Lean back,” he rasped. “Lean back and brace yourself with your hands.”

She reclined, reaching behind her until her palms slid across the polished surface of the desk. He looped her legs over his forearms and drove into her again.

The desk creaked and groaned but he didn’t let up. Over and over he plunged, driving her up so fast and hard that she was precariously close to release after only a minute.

He leaned forward, holding himself deep, and his mouth found her nipples, tugging at them with his teeth. He nipped and then soothed the taut bud with his tongue. He pressed tender kisses and then nipped sharply again until she was a writhing mass of crazy.

His fingers dug into her ass, holding her to him. Then he leaned back, sliding completely out. He opened her wider with his hands and hammered forward again, rocking until she lost her grip.

Her back hit the desk, and he went with her, never leaving her, his hips pumping urgently as he buried himself in her over and over until she was dizzy and riding an intense sexual high like she’d never experienced.

She was drunk on passion. Her orgasm was razor sharp, building and then exploding over her like a flash flood. Fast. Intense.

She started to scream his name but he slipped a hand over her mouth, holding in the hoarse shout of exquisite pleasure.

She didn’t even know if he’d finished yet. Her body quaked and quivered around his cock. She let out little whimpers as each stroke sent excruciating shock waves through her ravaged body.

He leaned down, brushing his lips across hers. “Shhh, baby. It’s okay. I’ve got you. I love you.”

He was still inside her but she could feel the pulse of his cock as he came down from his own orgasm. She lay sprawled over his desk, boneless, helpless to move. She didn’t even know her name at this point.

“Oh God, you killed me,” he groaned.

“Huh uh. That’s my line,” she slurred out.

He picked himself up off her and carefully withdrew from her quivering body. Then he reached for her and helped her up.

She picked up her clothing but couldn’t seem to get her hands to work right. Dillon gently took her jeans and shirt from her and dressed her with slow, tender hands. When he was done, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“I’ve wanted to tell you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry it had to be when you came to me first. It should have been me. I needed to have told you before now. I was too caught up in it being the perfect time, the perfect moment.”

She smiled up at him. “It’s perfect now.”

He caught her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing each of her fingertips before nuzzling his mouth into her palm.

“You’re perfect. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she whispered.

And then she looked at the clock. “Oh hell, I’ve got to go. Your mom is waiting for me in the car.”

His look of horror was comical. “You came in here and we fucked like crazy people while my mom was waiting in the car?”

“Well, in my defense, I only planned to tell you I loved you.”

He closed his eyes. “Oh God. This is awkward.”

Lily laughed. “It hasn’t been that long. I think we set a record for quickie sex.”

His eyes darkened. “I plan to remedy that later.”