“He leaned over, catching her lowered gaze. “I’m the present, Darlin’.”

“Nothing can fix a broken heart except love. Love always repairs those fractures we get in our heart.”

“The lush greenness of the pastures infused Shiloh. Overhead, she saw a red-tailed hawk flying in higher and higher circles in the sky. There were bluebirds everywhere, many of them sitting on fence posts. When they took off, that flash of brilliant blue always made her gasp with delight; it was almost an unearthly gorgeous color.”

“Frowning, Shiloh forced herself to look up at him. Roan deserved her courage, not her cowardice. “You wanted to kiss me.” “I still do.”

“Shiloh had never seen a man who was a hunter. But she saw one now. There was an intense feeling around Roan, raw and untamed, as he studied her, his nostrils flaring to catch her scent. He ruthlessly dug into her opening eyes, reading her, trying to understand where she was at within herself and what she wanted from him. “This is your call,” he said, his voice low and guttural.”

“Let’s get one thing clear between us, Shiloh. I would never laugh at you. I might tease the dickens out of you, but I would never, ever make fun of you. That’s not who I am. I don’t believe in humiliating another person. It’s not in my DNA.”

“She looked over at him, her eyes warm. “Your face has a story to tell.” Mouth quirking, Roan growled, “It’s a top-secret face, Darlin’.”

“Giving him a wry look, Shiloh said, “I think you’re forcing me to look at myself, what I want, who I am.” “Good relationships always do that for both people, Darlin’. It’s just a natural progression between them. It can bring out our self-awareness. It’s not easy. But it’s rewarding.”

“He traced her arched eyebrow. “Every morning when I wake up with you at my side, you’re more beautiful than yesterday.”

“He leaned over, catching her lowered gaze. “I’m the present, Darlin’.”