Chapter 7

Scout woke to find Cole watching her, one hand idly stroking the cub that was sleeping on his belly, while the other hand stroked gently up and down her bare back. Her heart filled to near breaking at the sight of him. It was the most incredible feeling, one that was new and yet familiar. Her heart recognized it. Love.

“Hey, beautiful,” Cole said with a smile.

“Hey,” she replied. “Looks like you’ve made a friend.” She stroked the cub, and it woke, mewing at her and suckling her finger.

“We’ve got to get this little guy fed,” she said, pushing up into a sitting position.

“I was thinking more of feeding another kind of hunger,” Cole replied.

His suggestion sent her pulse racing, but Scout refused to give in to it. She’d promised the lion to care for the cub, and if it wasn’t fed it would not fare well.

“As inviting as that is, how about we take the party back to my place? We’ll take care of the cub, get clean and…indulge.”

Cole sat, letting her take the cub into her arms. “You’re not suggesting that you’re going to keep this cub, are you?”

“Well yeah,” she replied.

“You can’t do that.”

“Why not?” she asked, feeling a bit miffed at his remark.

“Because it’s a wild animal, not a pet. Come on, Scout. You above anyone knows that this cub needs to be around its own kind, not become a house pet.”

“Well, first of all I had no intention of turning it into a pet,” she retorted sharper than she intended. “And in case you’ve forgotten, I work with big cats. I have a compound set up at my place specifically for rehab, and it’s the perfect place for this little girl.”

“And how are you doing to feed her?”

“I’ll ask one of the other females with a litter,” she said, rubbing her face against the cub’s soft fur.

He shook his head and grabbed his pants. “Just like that, eh?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” she replied. “What’s the big deal anyway?”

“Nothing,” he said, standing to dress.

“It’s not nothing,” she argued. “The mention of taking the cub home and you turn into a prickly pear. What’s wrong?”

“It’s just…just…this whole cat thing. You’ve been purring to that cub for the last two minutes and I don’t think you even realize it. It’s like you’re…I don’t know…forget it.”

Scout was surprised. It wasn’t until he pointed it out that she realized he was right. She’d been purring. How, she didn’t have a clue. But the sound came from her throat as easily as words rolled off her tongue.

But what concerned her was the sudden distance between her and Cole. “Cole, please,” she implored. “Talk to me.”

Cole wasn’t sure he could put into words what he felt. He’d awoken with the realization that his life would never be the same. Scout had changed everything. He was in love with her. As impossible as it was, he knew it to his bones. There would never be another woman for him.

That shook him to his core. He’d never expected to find love, and sure as hell never imagined that it would be with a woman who was part witch and as much a member of the wild as any creature that dwelled within it.

He didn’t know if it could work. He wanted the dream. Hearth and home, kids playing in the yard. Could Scout live that way? Her world was living out of a backpack, tracking animals and men, living in a world where danger was always around the next corner and one wrong move could be the end.

And beyond that, could he accept what she did, knowing that every time she went out to tag a cat she could be mauled or killed? That every time the law called her in to track a criminal it could be her life on the line.

He didn’t realize that the link he’d established with Scout was broadcasting his feelings as clearly as if he’d spoken.

But she did. “I understand,” she said softly, walking to him to put her hand on his arm. “I’m afraid too. Afraid that I’ll disappoint you, that I won’t fit into the life you want—and scared that maybe this isn’t real. It’s all happened so fast. Maybe all we have is just right now, and when we get back it will be over.”

“I don’t want that.”

“Neither do I. But I guess we both have to be realistic and just hope for the best. If we’ve started something that’s meant to last, then it will. If not…well, then I guess we hope that we can part ways and have good memories.”

Cole cupped her face in both his hands. “I hope it’s real, Scout. But I don’t want to make any promises. Not yet. Not until I’m sure.”

“I can live with that,” she replied. After all, what choice did she have? Regardless of what she felt, there were two people in the equation, and she knew from experience that unless both were committed, the relationship was doomed. She had no desire to make another mistake.

And she needed time to find out if what she felt was real. She thought it was, but maybe she was just fooling herself. To be safe, she’d err on the side of caution as well.

“So, about the cub?”

He smiled down at her. “You’re right. You have a place for it and are the best equipped to help it. Unless you want to take it to the Center.”

“No,” she said immediately and smiled sheepishly when he cocked one eyebrow. “Okay, I admit it. I’m already attached to it. But I’ll make sure she’s reintroduced to her own kind. And I will find a surrogate mother for her. Deal?”

“You got it.”

“Then we need to go. Get this baby settled in and check in with Jonas.”

Cole grimaced at the comment. “I hope he’s found the shooter.”

“Me too,” she replied, looking away. She saw no need to reveal what she’d learned from the dying lion, or the fact that now she had certain access to those memories and knew who they needed to be looking for.

She’s talk with Jonas, but she wanted to do it alone because the guilty party was someone she had a personal grievance with, and she fully intended to be part of the operation that brought him in. She owed that to Jed and to the lion.

Cole finished dressing and took the cat while she dressed. “You ready?” he asked when she looked around the cave.

“Yeah,” she replied and gave the place one final look. How odd that something she’d been afraid to wish for had appeared in a cave in the middle of the wilderness in the midst of death and rebirth. How amazing that it should be so intimately connected to her metamorphosis. “Let’s go.”

With no further conversation they started the long trek back.

* * * * *

Tim Matthews was more exhausted than he could remember ever being. The search for the murderer was still in progress and he hadn’t slept since the entire thing began. Now Cole and Scout had gone silent again and he feared something bad had happened to them.

When Cole walked into his office, Tim sagged back in his chair in relief. “Thank god! Where’s Scout?”

“Pit stop,” Cole said. “Ya’ll find that guy?”

“I’m waiting to hear from Jon—” Tim was interrupted by the appearance of Jonas Roberts, sticking his head around the corner of the door.

“We have another body.” He disappeared before Tim or Cole could comment.

Tim got up and headed for the door, nearly running into Scout coming into the office.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“Jonas said they think they’ve found another body,” Tim spoke on the run, headed for the command post Jonas had set up in the conference room.

Scout and Cole fell in behind him. Jonas was standing, with his hands braced on the table, hunched over a display screen. “What’d you find?” Scout asked as soon as she entered the room.

“Take a look.” Jonas motioned her over. “Live feed from one of my teams.”

Scout hurried to his side and looked at the monitor. A man lay on the rocky ground, one leg bent at an unnatural angle, with arms spread. His eyes were wide and sightless. His head was turned to one side, blood staining the ground beneath him.

He looked very familiar. “Can I see his face?” she asked.

Jonas gave the command and the agent feeding them the video link moved to show the man’s face.

“Bobby Howard,” Scout announced.

Jonas nodded and turned his attention to the communication link with his team. “I’m sending in a forensics team. Secure the area and wait for them. Once they’ve finished, I want the body and all evidence sent to the lab at headquarters.”

“Roger,” came the reply.

Jonas turned and sat back on the edge of the table. “Bobby Howard,” he said, looking at Scout.

“Local guy. Worked for the Moss family for about as long as I can remember. Not married. No family.”

“What do you suppose he was doing out there armed for bear, so to speak?”

Scout shrugged. “Could have been running an illegal hunt. Was he shot?”

“No evidence of that. Appears to have died from a fall. Was he an experienced climber?”

“Don’t know,” she replied. “I haven’t really had any contact with him. Just knew him as a local who was tight with the Mosses.”

“Okay,” Jonas said and straightened. “We’ll know more after the autopsy. In the meantime…Tim?” He looked in Tim’s direction. “The park stays closed while we continue the search.”

“You need me?” Scout asked.

“My men will continue their sweeps, and we’ll see what we get from the IDs on the bodies. Check with the victims’ families and find out who they were with.”

She nodded. “Fine, you know where I am if you need me.” She turned and headed for the door. “Tim, Cole.”

Without another word she left the room. Cole looked from Jonas to Tim. “Unless you need me, I think I’ll go home and clean up. I can be back in a couple of hours.”

“No need,” Tim replied. “Get some rest.”

“Okay,” Cole said and extended his hand to Jonas. “Captain Roberts.”

“Mr. Russell,” Jonas said and gripped his hand. “Thank you.”

Cole nodded and left the room. Once in the hall he hurried to catch up with Scout, reaching her just as she was climbing into her truck.

“You want to come over while I get the cub settled in?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Okay, want to ride with me or follow?”

“I’ve got my truck. Be right behind you.”

She nodded and watched him go to his vehicle. When he pulled up behind her, she started the truck and headed home.

After a few miles the cub settled itself across her leg and fell asleep. Scout used the time to reflect on what had happened. It seemed like years since she’d left home to attend the hunt, instead of days. Emotionally and mentally, she was not the same. Something fundamental inside her had changed.

She wanted to attribute it all to the spirit of the lioness that lived inside her now, but that would have been a lie. Much of what had changed inside her was due to Cole. As much as she hated admitting it, it scared her how deep her feelings for him ran. And it was more than just sex, although that in itself could be described as life-altering.

Thoughts of their time in the cave brought a flush to her skin and a quickening to her pulse. What was it about him that made her feel like she was going into heat at the mere thought of his strong muscular body, or the memory of his touch?

Before she realized it, a sound between a roar and a laugh emerged from her lips. The lioness inside reminded her that despite her reluctance to admit to it, humans were as much animals as the lions. And the scent of a prime male when a female was in season was impossible to ignore.

In season? Scout thought with a laugh. Well, in that respect humans and lions are a bit different. We don’t go into heat.

The laughter that rang through her mind was all the answer she received.

She turned onto the narrow gravel road that led to her house and cut her eyes to her rearview mirror to see Cole making the turn behind her. In a few minutes she stopped in front of the house, gathered the cub in her arms and got out of the truck.

Cole got out of his truck and their eyes met. Scout felt a searing blast of emotion rip through her so strong that tears sprang to her eyes. Her arms tightened around the cub, but her eyes remained locked with Cole’s.

He approached and stopped inches away. “You okay?” he asked as he reached over to stroke his fingers down the side of her face.

She nodded, batting her eyes at the gathering tears. “You?”

“Tired, dirty, hungry,” he replied.

“Look, if you’d rather go home, I can take care of the—”

“Not a chance,” he interrupted. “We’ll take care of the cub together, then we’ll get clean, eat and sleep.”

“A man with a plan,” she said teasingly, feeling the emotion ease a bit in her chest.

“Always,” he replied with a smile. “Now, show me your home, Scout.”

She offered him a hand. He took it and she led him around to the back of the house.

The small wooden house was deceptive to the real grandeur of the place. Behind the house, one was afforded a view that photographers and painters sought to capture. A long wide pasture stretched out from the edge of the yard, rolling for what seemed forever. Thick stands of trees were scattered the length and width of the land, giving it a park-like appearance. As far as the eye could see the land rolled and stretched, the mountains rising up in the distance like majestic guardians.

“It’s beautiful,” Cole said softly. “How much land do you have?”

“Twenty thousand acres,” she replied, looking out lovingly over the land she called home. “Been in the family for…five generations, I guess.”

“It’s beautiful,” he said and gave her hand a squeeze. “But I thought you said you had a place for the cub?”

“We’ll have to walk a ways,” she said and tugged at his hand. “Come on.”

She led him across the corner of the pasture when it dipped along the northern border. The trees grew thicker, and the terrain rougher. They descended down a rise then back up another, winding their way deeper into a forest that grew increasingly thicker.

When they stopped, a wall of rock stood before them. “Up there,” Scout nodded. “To the right. We follow the base of the cliff about a quarter mile and there’s a way up. There’s a nice cave about sixty feet up, and I have one female there already with three cubs.”

“So, we’re literally going to walk into the lion’s den?” Cole asked.

“Yep,” Scout replied with a grin. “You game?”

“I figure I’m safe as long as I’m with you.” His reply both surprised and pleased her.

“Well okay then,” she said and led the way.

The climb was short but strenuous, particularly with the cub stuffed inside her shirt and no gear, but she’d made it many times in the past so knew the foot and handholds. Cole seemed to have no difficulty following.

“This way,” she said when he reached the top.

The entrance to the cave was well hidden with brush. Scout stopped outside. “Can I come in?” she called.

A low growl came from within the cave, and she grinned at Cole. “Come on.”

“You ask permission?” he whispered behind her. “Like the cat didn’t smell or sense us?”

“Well sure she did,” Scout replied. “But good manners are always appreciated,” she added with a grin at him over her shoulder.

Cole stopped short when the lioness rose and faced them. Scout did not slow in the least. “Hey, pretty mama,” she said, walking over to kneel down in front of the lion. “I brought someone to meet you.”

She pulled the cub from beneath her shirt and held it in her arms. The lion sniffed at it then at her. A low growl sounded, then another. Then the lion opened its mouth and screamed a blood-curdling sound that had Cole running to grab hold of Scout and pull her out of harm’s way, stationing himself between her and the lion.

The lion screamed again, and Cole took a slow step backwards, trying to force Scout in the direction of the cave entrance. When he heard Scout giggling behind him, he stopped.

“What’s so damn funny?” he asked, keeping a wary eye on the lion.

“She was complimenting you,” Scout replied.

“Huh?” He was so surprised that he turned to look at her.

“She smelled you on me,” Scout explained. “And said you were prime. A real alpha.”

Cole cut his eyes at the cat and would have sworn that she was grinning. Either that or she was preparing to have him for dinner. “This is too weird,” he said.

Scout chuckled and scooted around him to sit down beside the lion. “Look, I know you have your hands full,” she told the cat. “But this little girl’s mama died and unless you take her in, she’s going to die.”

Cole watched as Scout’s facial expression changed, as if someone were talking to her. After a moment she nodded. “I know. Ordinarily I’d agree. But in this case, survival of the fittest means that I have to break a vow. I promised to make sure this baby was cared for. If you can’t or won’t help me, then I can try to do it on my own, but we both know that her chances aren’t good. And besides, I can’t teach her all she needs to know. You can.”

A few moments passed before Scout set the cub down in front of the lion. The lion sniffed at it, turned it over on its belly, sniffed some more then looked at Scout. Scout’s face broke out in a big smile, and she threw her arms around the lion’s neck, burying her face in its fur.

Cole felt a thrill of alarm when the lion nuzzled down against Scout’s neck as well. But she didn’t appear to be intent on harming Scout. Instead, there came the sound of purring. Two distinct and different sounds. He realized it was the lion and Scout.

They stayed that way for a little while then Scout drew back. The lion licked her, from the point of her chin all the way to her eyebrows. Scout grinned and gave the lion an affectionate stroke on the head then rose.

“We’re good to go,” she announced. “She’s going to take the cub. I’ll come back and visit in a week or so, but she’ll be fine.”

Cole didn’t know what to say. Truth be told, since he’d met Scout Windrider, his world had been topsy-turvy.

“Come on.” She offered her hand. “Let’s head back to the house.”

In silence they left the cave. Neither of them spoke on the walk back. Cole was trying to come to terms with what he’d seen and heard. Was it really possible that Scout had taken the spirit of the dying lion into herself?

She sure seemed to be able to communicate with lions. But how was that possible? It sure wasn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination. So, what exactly did that make her?

He didn’t have the answers. Only questions. And focusing on those questions kept him from having to pay attention to others. Such as why he felt that she was the woman for him and that he’d already lost his heart to her. That wasn’t possible either. He’d only just met her.

She stopped as they reached the edge of the yard to her house and looked up at him. And try as he might, he could not stop the overwhelming rush of desire and longing that raged like a flood through him. Her eyes bewitched him. Her nearness inflamed him. He rose to full erection in the space of a breath.

“Clean or eat?” she asked with a sexy smile.

“Both,” he replied.

“Now you’re talking,” she replied with a laugh and led him to the house.

Cole followed her inside, noting the homey warmth of the kitchen with its old-fashioned stove and warm earth tones. The living area was just as warm and inviting, with an enormous stone fireplace dominating one wall, deep comfortable furniture with Indian print throws and hand-woven rugs on the old but gleaming hardwood floors.

Scout led him down a short hallway with one door to the left and two on the right. “Now don’t laugh,” she said as she stopped at the first door on the right. “It’s my one indulgence.”

She opened the door and Cole bit back a chuckle. Who would have guessed that a woman more at home in the wilderness would have a thing for bathrooms? “Okay, I admit it. I’m surprised,” he said as he followed her in.

“Originally there was just a small bathroom with an old claw foot tub. I talked Jed into knocking out the wall between the bath and bedroom and making one big bathroom.”

“Jed did this?” Cole asked.

“We both did,” she replied proudly.

Cole was impressed. The room they stood in housed double pedestal sinks, a floor to ceiling mirror with a dressing table. A small door off to one side held the toilet area and on the wall that once separated the room was a large arch, its edge trimmed in natural tile.

Beyond lay what he supposed would be a woman’s dream. Soft light from sconce lighting gave a romantic glow to the room. Scattered along the edges were enormous potted plants and abstract sculptures.

And in the middle of the room was the biggest tub he’d ever seen. Composed of smooth porcelain and rimmed with tile, it was raised by one step. Smooth tile surrounded it, radiating out in a concentric pattern, making the tub the hub of the design.

Decorative metalwork rose on opposite sides of the tub, housing dual showerheads, and a heavy carved stand sat beside the tub, bearing various bottles and soaps.

“Nice,” he said with a smile. “And very informative. Now I know your weakness.”

Scout rewarded him with a smile sexy enough to have his dick standing up and saluting. “Then how about sharing it with me?”

“Honey, you don’t have to ask twice. You want to fill that bad boy up or you want me to do it?”

“I’ll take care of it,” she replied. “But first…”

She peeled off her boots, socks and slid out of her pants. Cole got an immediate erection at the sight. Dark hair curled on her mound, trimmed short to provide a tantalizing view of what lay beneath.

When she pulled her tank top over her head and those lush dusky-tipped breasts rose, his mouth watered. Dropping the top on the floor, she walked over to the tub. Cole watched her firm ass sway and smiled in appreciation. When she bent over to start the water, his erection throbbed in anticipation of sinking into the slick warm sex that was so nicely displayed.

Scout turned and headed back toward him. “Shuck those dudes, cowboy.”

“With pleasure,” he said and peeled off his shirt.

Scout felt a flush of heat work over her skin at the sight of his broad chest, chiseled abdomen, and muscular arms. By all the ancestors, he was so fine it nearly took her breath. Her nipples began to tingle, and without realizing it, one hand slid down to cup her own burning sex.

She saw Cole’s eyes follow the path of her hand. He loosened his pants, and his erection sprang free, hard and ready. Her pulse quickened at the sight.

He stepped out of his pants and closed the distance between them. Without a word, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the tub, stepping into it. His lips sought hers as he allowed her to slide down his body.

Scout thought she was going to come then and there. His kiss was possessive and dominating and his hands moved to her ass, pulling her firmly against him so that his erection was trapped between them. She worked her hand between them, sliding it down the length of his erection, then lower to fondle his testicles. The tightening her touch evoked gave her a thrill, driving her desire higher.

“Hmmm, that feels good,” he murmured.

“This will feel better,” she replied and released him long enough to turn on the double showerheads. Warm water cascaded down on them. Scout reached for a bottle and poured shampoo into her hand.

“Kneel down,” she suggested.

Cole complied, sinking down in front of her and running his hands around her body to fondle her ass. As she shampooed his hair, his fingers played on her skin, dipping into the cleft of her ass, and running down its length to her anus, not probing, merely feeling.

She almost lost concentration. The feeling was so electric. Once she finished his hair, she pulled the showerhead down to rinse him. “Stand up,” she said in a voice she almost did not recognize as her own it was so roughened with desire.

He stood and she took a bar of sweet-smelling soap in her hands. Cole submitted to her ministrations, and she enjoyed taking her time, soaping every inch of his magnificent body stroking him slow and firm.

His erection was like silk-covered steel in her hands. She reveled in the feel of him, leaning forward to flick her tongue over his nipple then nip it lightly. The answering intake of breath she received from him had her stroking faster. She felt the buildup of tension in his body, and it was like a drug, fueling her own fire, making her sex spill with need.

She’d never before felt such a need to pleasure a man, to lose herself in the feel and smell and taste of him. It was akin to addiction; the need was so vast. She didn’t understand it, but for the moment she didn’t have to. She surrendered to it and let it take her.

Cole reached down to stay her hands. “You’re gonna do me in,” he said in a husky voice. “Besides, I want a turn.”

His words created a wave of hunger that nearly staggered her with its power. Without a word, her hand stilled, and she handed him the soap.

Cole felt the threatening climax subside when she released him. As much as he would have enjoyed the release, he didn’t want to come. He wanted the feeling of need and longing to last as long as possible, to feel the hunger tearing at him until he could no longer resist its demands.

He wanted to take Scout to a place she’d never been, to give her pleasure so intense that she became his.

He pushed her to her knees before him and started to wash her long thick hair. When he felt her mouth close on the head of his erection, he couldn’t suppress a sudden spike that had him pressing forward into the warm recesses of her mouth, driving his dick deeper.

He wasn’t sure he could hold out. She was driving him too close to the edge, asserting her own control.

“Honey, please.” His hands tightened in her hair.

Her answer was to suck him harder and faster. A deep purr came from her throat, making his balls ache and his belly tighten. Imprisoned in the warmth of her mouth, her hands caressing his testicles and anus, he couldn’t fight it. His surrender was sudden and powerful, and the moment he let go, an orgasm took him. A lassitude came over his legs and he sank down onto his knees. She would not release him, but sank down with him, on her knees, her mouth still latched onto him.

The sight of her on her knees that way with her ass in the air brought surprising new life to his erection that shocked him.

“Hmmmm,” she murmured and worked her way up his body, kissing and licking until her tongue traced its way up the side of his neck and she captured his ear lobe between her teeth.

“Hmmm don’t even touch it,” Cole replied and grabbed her by the hair to draw her lips to his. She tasted of him and a sweetness that was all her own. She writhed against him, allowing him to take her mouth, her hard nipples raking across his chest, creating trails of fire on his skin.

His lips left hers and moved down the side of her neck, over the top of one shoulder then to the tantalizing bud of her nipple. Scout arched back when his lips closed around the sensitive tip. He supported her with his arms, bending her back like a bow, suckling hard.

He was rewarded with a blast of energy from her that nearly staggered him. Raw, uninhibited primal hunger. He felt, smelled, and tasted it, knew beyond all doubt that she was his for the taking.

It was an offer not to be refused. He continued to torture her breasts, one hand moving down her body and dipping into the wetness between her legs.

She whimpered and spread her legs, pressing against his hand, riding his fingers as he penetrated deeper, questing for that sweet spot that he knew would send her spiraling.

A short cry announced that he’d not only found her secret spot, but that it was so alive that only one stroke had her working toward orgasm.

Cole held onto her and pumped his fingers inside her, each stroke driving her closer to the edge. Her hands gripped his upper arms, fingers digging into his skin as the climax rolled through her.

It was like an aphrodisiac, swelling him to full erection as if he had not just come.

“Please,” she gasped as the climax started to subside. “More.”

Cole didn’t hesitate to comply. He sank down into the tub, lying back and pulling her on top of him. “Take it, baby,” he said, watching her eyes for reaction. “Let me see how much you want me.”

Light seemed to flare in those golden eyes before the pupils swelled, nearly eclipsing the gold. She straddled his body, taking him in her hand and slowly, inch by inch, impaled herself on his length.

Once fully seated, she started a rocking glide, back and forth, higher then lower, the movement slow and seductive. Cole moved his hand to the vee of her thighs, his fingers working into the folds of her sex, imprisoning her hard clit between thumb and finger.

A gasp exploded from her at the touch. She arched back, bracing herself with her hands on his thighs. The sight of her, bowed back with breasts high and him filling her, was enough to make a man lose his mind. Cole felt his own climax build as she vibrated on and around him. He rolled her clit, squeezing harder and she screamed, a sound all female but perhaps not all human it was so primitive and strong.

At the moment of that scream, he felt her orgasm. It literally radiated from her sex, down the length of his erection and throughout his body. Unable to control it, he quaked beneath its power, his seed shooting inside her in great throbbing waves.

Cole had no idea how long it lasted. A moment or an eternity. It could have been either. He had no way of knowing. He was lost in sensation, a climax that claimed both body and soul. He felt, actually felt Scout with him. Felt her passion and her love.

It shook him to his soul, searing him. He felt the claim he had on her and her acceptance of it. Moreover, he realized the claim she had on him. Like it or not, he was branded.

When she sagged, melting down on top of him, her breath still fast and her heart pounding against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her, feeling, for the first time in his life, complete.

For a long time, they lay beneath the jets of water, letting it pour down over them. When the heat began to fade from the water, she pushed herself up and looked down at him, a troubled expression on her face.

It speared him with alarm. “What’s wrong?”

“We…I…look, I want you to know that I’m clean. I mean you’re not in any danger of STDs or anything.”

Cole nearly laughed in relief. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it. Guess we weren’t exactly smart. But I’m clean too. Got papers from my last physical to prove it if you need it.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I trust you.”

Cole knew in his gut that those three words meant more than anything anyone had ever said to him, and that she did not give them lightly.

“And I, you,” he replied. “So, no worries.”

Scout nodded, keeping silent about what lay in her mind. She had no doubt that they were safe from disease. But pregnancy was another matter. There was no guarantee there. And what if she ended up pregnant? What would that spell for them?

What would it spell for her?

She wasn’t sure she was ready for the answer, so she forced it to the back of her mind. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

His stomach rumbled and they both laughed. “Well, I guess that’s my answer,” she said and got off him. “What say we fix something to eat?”

“Do you cook?” he asked as he got to his feet and rinsed off in the cooling water.

“I’m not exactly the best cook in the world, but I made the world’s best blueberry pancakes and western omelets.”

“A woman after my own heart,” he said with a grin.

She grinned and started to step out of the tub, but he took her arm and stopped her. “Scout?”

“Yeah?”

“I just want you to know that this isn’t a casual thing for me. And I don’t think it is for you either. I don’t know where we’re headed, but I do know that I want to find out.”

“Me too,” she said and stood up on tiptoe to graze his lips with hers. “And we will. One day at a time.”

“Works for me,” he replied and licked at her lips, parting them with his tongue.

“Hmmmm,” she murmured, sinking against him for a moment then pulling back. “Damn, Cole, you sure know how to make it tough on a woman.”

“You ready for round two already?” he asked teasingly.

“Don’t tempt me. At least not until I get some fuel in me. Then we’ll see how much round two you have left in you.” She turned to get out of the tub, and he laughed and popped her lightly on the bare behind.

“Then get ready, honey, cause once I get refueled, it’s on.”

She laughed and tossed him a towel. “Promises, promises.”

He laughed along with her, feeling suddenly as if the pieces of his life were starting to fall into place. At long last.