EMMA STOOD BESIDE THE BED and watched Ty sleep, savoring the sense of satisfaction engulfing her. Her life was whole again, complete. She would die before she allowed anything to come between them again. One knee on the bed, she leaned over and kissed him awake.

Ty groaned and pulled her to him.

She slipped out of his grasp and stood there, hands on her hips, wearing his discarded shirt, and a smile. “Time to wake up sleepy head.”

His hot gaze slid over her body, sending flames to her core.

“Damn. My shirt looks a helleva lot better on you than it ever did on me.”

Gooseflesh joined with the heat coursing through her. “Think so?”

“Know so.” He sat up in the bed, lips curing upward in a wickedly sensual smile. “Come here.”

She laughed and stepped back. “I have work to do.” She sifted through the clothes on the chair. “I know I brought my chemise in yesterday.”

“I told Lupe to burn it.”

The sudden change in his voice from sinfully seductive to barely controlled anger made her spin around. “Why did —” The drastic change in him from a moment ago stole her voice.

Face blotched purple, he clutched the sheet in his good hand, and a dark vein pulsed in his temple. Lips tightly compressed, he barely got the words out. “Walker touched it.”

Her heart slammed. “He what? When?” She dropped the pants she held on the floor and backed away as though it were a snake.

“Yesterday. When he came in here. I told Lupe to burn it.”

“Did he touch anything else?” She quivered in indignation, and her voice broke. “Did he?”

“No, he didn’t.” His voice softened with concern. “Come here.”

“He touched my things,” she whispered.

“Dammit, Em, come here.”

She backed away until her backside hit the bedpost, then turned panicked to eyes to Ty. “I’ll burn it all. Anything he touched.”

He inched forward, reached for her hand, and pulled her to him. “Emma…he didn’t touch anything else, just the chemise and Lupe took it away.”

He cupped her chin and made her face him. “I swear to you, Em…that was all.”

She released a heavy sigh. “What did he want with you? I left him with Papa.”

“I don’t know. Seemed pretty surprised when I remembered him.”

He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip. “What did he say, Em? Why does he frighten you so?”

She turned worried eyes to him, took a deep breath, and told him about the incident on the porch the night they got married; how Walker’s words intimidated and frightened her.

“It’s just words, I know it. He’s never really done anything, but,” she shook her head and looked at him. “I’m not a coward, I can face just about anything.” She looked down at their clasped hands. “I don’t know what it is about him that bothers me but something does. I tell myself he was bluffing, trying to frighten me and I shouldn’t let it bother me but it did. You have to promise me you won’t do anything about it. Not yet.”

She heard his teeth snap together when his jaw clamped tightly shut, saw the anger etched in the tight lines on his face. She grabbed the hand fisted in his lap. “Promise me, Ty.”

He turned to face her. “I promise you this, Em…that bastard will never hurt you. Ever.” He straightened, rolled his hurt arm around. “And under no circumstances are you to be alone with him ever again.”

She opened her mouth to protest his order, then quickly shut it when she noted his fierce scowl. “Okay.”

The taunt lines in his face softened, and the ghost of a smile appeared. “I’m willing to bet that’s a first.”

“What is?” She strived to maintain an air of innocence.

A raised brow sufficed for his answer.

“Okay. It is. But don’t think I will always be so agreeable.”

He pulled her onto his lap, hands circling her waist. “I’m counting on it.”

“Why?”

He nibbled her earlobe. “So we can make up afterwards.”

Her head lolled to the side as his lips moved down her neck to the base of her throat then back to her lips.

Hungry, demanding, his kiss sent shivers of desire through her.

With great effort, she pushed back. “I have to get going. I have a lot to do today.”

She moaned softly as his hand slid over her thigh, under the shirt to cup her breast.

“Sure you can’t stay and play?”

She squirmed as he tweaked the hardened tip with his fingers, then covered it with his mouth, dampening the fabric.

“Ohhhh…Ty…”

He took her with him as he fell back on the bed, pulling the shirt over her head with his good arm.

Intoxicated by the rasp of his chest against her nipples, she moved sluggishly back and forth before taking him into her body, yielding to a burning need she knew only he could fulfil.

They abandoned themselves to the molten passion they shared, riding the crest together, before collapsing in a heap on the other side.

She buried her face in the corded muscles of his chest, felt his uneven breathing on her head as they struggled to regain control.

“You’re killing me, Red.” His voice held a hint of satisfied amusement.

“At least you can stay in bed all day.” She pushed herself up and looked at him. “I have work to do.”

He grunted as he pushed the hair from her face and gathered it with his good hand. “I don’t plan on staying in bed all day. It’s time I got up and moved around.”

“You really think you should?”

His smile made her insides flutter.

“If I can do this and not pass out, I think I can manage to walk around the house.” He lifted one shoulder. “Besides, I’d like to talk to Rafe, let him see I’m doing good.”

Warmth spread through her and she nodded. “He’d like that. He asks about you all the time.”

“All the more reason for me to see him today.”

She rolled to the side of the bed and walked to the armoire, unashamed of her nakedness in front of him. “Need some help getting dressed?”

He snorted. “Not if you want to get out of here anytime soon.”

She walked back to him and cupped his face. “I love you, Tyler Roundtree.”

He grabbed her hand as she turned away. “I told you once I didn’t know if I even knew what love was…but I do.”

His dramatic eyes glowed with an inner fire that held her captive.

“Love is what I feel every time I look at you. Touch you.” His voice broke. “I was nothing till I met you. I’d be nothing without you.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss to the knuckle. “I love you, Red.”

Happy beyond measure, she whispered, “Oh, Ty.”

“I love you.” He repeated, then sealed his vow with a tender kiss.

He eased them apart and cleared his throat before speaking. “What do you have to do today?”

She half-heartedly moved back to the armoire and pulled out her clothes. “I promised Sarah I would ride over and visit. Henry said yesterday she is worried sick about us. With the baby so close, she can’t leave.” She didn’t bother with the screen as she quickly dressed in jeans and shirt. “I’ll go visit her first, then into town to see if Leo has sent any other messages and pick up a couple of things Lupe needs. Should be back by late afternoon.”

“You taking the wagon?”

She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on her boots. “Take too long. Make better time on Midnight.”

He stood awkwardly with her. “Dammit. I hate like hell letting you go off alone like this.”

Too happy to be nettled by his letting-you-go phrase, she kept silent.

“And don’t go getting pissed at me cause I said I was letting you go. You know what I mean.”

Her face split into a wide grin. “I know you love me.” She kissed his nose. “So I’m giving you that one.”

“You are, huh?”

His devastating smile made her pulse race.

“I am.” She headed for the door before she changed her mind and stayed.

“Be careful.”

“I will. Back soon.”

Her feet never touched the ground as she floated down the hall.

Ty leaned on the bannister at the foot of the steps, brow beaded with sweat, breathing labored.

Okay, maybe I’m not as strong as I thought. Evidently making passionate love to his wife – several times – didn’t mean his stamina returned in full. His injured leg ached like a bitch and his shoulder throbbed because he used his arm for balance on this adventure. Even though he took the stairs slowly, the effort drained him.

“Señor, Ty! Are you all right?”

Lupe’s concerned question brought him upright. Sort of. “I reckon I’ve been better.” He didn’t protest as she assisted him to the nearest chair. “Guess I’m not as strong as I thought.”

“Where are you headed? Do you want breakfast?”

“Maybe later. I wanted to check on Rafe…soon as I get my wind back.”

A few minutes later, he sat in a chair by his father-in-law’s bed, a cup of coffee in his hand.

“So glad to see you up, Tyler. I been worried ‘bout you.” Face etched with concern, Rafe stared at him.

“Glad to be up, sir.”

“Emma told me your memory’s back.”

“Well, not all of it. I still have gaps here and there, but yeah, most of it’s back.” He avoided meeting Rafe’s gaze as heat edged up his cheeks with the memory of their night of passion. Glad I ain’t shaved yet so he can’t tell.

“What about gettin’ shot?”

He shook his head and tasted the coffee. “I remember leaving Emma – ” The heat returned to his face and he looked toward the window. “And riding back toward the herd. Next thing I remember is seeing her walk in the room after I got here.” And bastard that I am, I didn’t remember her.

Rafe cleared his throat. “She doesn’t blame you, you know. For not remembering.”

“How can a man forget the woman he loves?” Ty winced as the words left his mouth but didn’t regret them. Rafe had a right to know the feelings of the man who married his daughter.

“I knew I was right about you all along.”

Rafe’s self-satisfied smile rubbed against Ty’s nerves like gravel on bare feet. “Would you have done it?” He didn’t bother to explain the question.

Rafe sighed and leaned back against the pillows supporting him. “No. Despite what she thought, and most likely still thinks.”

“She said it’s in your will…”

His mouth tightened into a straight line. “The thought of her being left alone, with no one to look out for her…at the mercy of scoundrels like Walker from now on, just tore me up inside.” His eyes sharp and compelling, he stared at Ty. “It was a threat, son, just a threat. I would never force her to marry against her will.”

A brief, painful flash seared through his brain but disappeared before he could grasp it. He refocused his attention on Rafe, whose pale blue eyes glowed with conviction.

“Someday, you’ll understand how far a father will go for his child.” A coughing spell ended the conversation.

Ty sat helplessly by and waited for it to pass.

At length, it did and the old man sank against the pillows, energy exhausted.

“Can I do anything for you, sir?”

Eyes closed, the old man shook his head. “Just take care of my girl.”

“You have my word.”

“I would’ve been a good grandpa,” he whispered as he drifted off to sleep.