For the first time Laredo appreciated Grady’s fears. He didn’t know what the hell had happened in that town. But he didn’t need to know. As far as he was concerned, Bitter End could continue as it had for more than a hundred years without interruption from him.

He leaned against the tree trunk and watched Savannah unpack the picnic basket. He still wasn’t keen on lazing away the afternoon under a flowering pecan, but his objection to the wasted time felt much less urgent now.

The spot she’d chosen for their picnic was as lovely as she’d promised. The river flowed swiftly nearby, the clean sound of water a sharp contrast to what he’d experienced a short time before.

Savannah finished unloading the wicker basket and quickly assembled them each a plate—roast-beef sandwiches, yesterday’s potato salad, homemade pickles. They ate in companionable silence for a while, then both spoke at once.

“You felt it, too, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Was it the same as before?” he asked.

They paused and grinned, then Laredo took the lead. “I’ll tell you what,” he said. “Let’s not talk about the town.”

“Why not?”

He wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved. “I want to talk about you.”

“Me?” She shook her head. “You already know everything.”

“No, I’m sure I don’t. For instance, who taught you to cook like this?” He couldn’t remember a time he’d eaten better. Not in years. Not since he was a child, when he’d been too young to appreciate a home-cooked meal.

“My mother loved cooking. Baking, too. Mealtime was a matter of pride to her. I guess we’re more alike than I realized.” Her eyes grew wide. “You would have liked her, Laredo—she was a wonderful woman.”

He didn’t doubt that, not with the way he felt about Savannah. Relaxed as he was, the sun behind him, the sound of the river singing nearby, Laredo yawned, lulled by the serenity of the spot. “You’d like my mother, too.”

He hadn’t meant to talk about himself, but once he’d mentioned his mother, she wouldn’t let the subject drop. Before long he was answering her questions, talking about his mother in Tulsa. About her being widowed in 1972. And how she’d moved back to the same house where she’d been born and raised, the house where she still lived. How she’d been dating the same man for twenty years without any plan to marry him.

“I know I’d like her,” Savannah said wistfully. Then she lowered her gaze until her long lashes grazed the high arch of her cheeks. “Would you... Never mind.” Savannah reached for a blade of grass and nervously twisted it around her finger.

“Would I what?” he prodded, enjoying her discomfort. Little did she realize that he’d do just about anything for her. All she had to do was ask.

Her eyes fleetingly held his before she glanced away. “Would you like to put your head in my lap?” she asked.

This was what dreams were made of, he decided as he rested his neck against her thigh. It didn’t take long for her fingers to weave their way into his hair, her touch soft and gentle. A memory rushed forward, one of his father and mother. His mother cutting his father’s hair in the kitchen. Laredo couldn’t have been more than four at the time, but he recalled the loving way his mother’s hands had smoothed back the hair from his father’s brow. His father had reached for her hand and kissed her palm.

Without realizing it, Laredo caught Savannah’s fingers and brought them to his lips. His heart constricted with the strength of emotion that coursed through him.

He didn’t intend to kiss her, but that was a natural progression. As natural as drawing his next breath. He lifted his head from the sanctuary of her lap and gently met her mouth with his. The hunger that surged to fire in his blood stunned him. The strength of his desire would have frightened her had he acted on it, Laredo thought. Instead, he involved himself in the kiss, his lips lingering on hers.

One kiss, he promised himself. But it soon became obvious that a single kiss wasn’t enough for either of them. They exchanged one after another, each more intense than the last. Laredo had to call on every ounce of willpower he possessed to stop.

“I like it when you kiss me,” Savannah whispered. She kept her eyes closed as she spoke.

“I like it, too,” he confessed.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

Once again Laredo found himself in the position of being unable to refuse her.

The kiss was even better than the others; he’d assumed that was impossible. Savannah lay on the blanket, smiling up at him and he leaned over her.

“You taste so good I don’t want you to ever stop,” she whispered when he hesitated.

“Sweetheart, you don’t know what you’re asking.”

“I do,” she murmured, her mouth moist and slightly swollen from his kisses. “I want you to kiss me forever.”

That didn’t sound like a bad plan to Laredo, but sooner or later, kissing wouldn’t be enough to satisfy either one of them. They were fast approaching that point now.

“Savannah,” he whispered, wondering how he could explain why it wasn’t a good idea to continue.

He didn’t get a chance. She locked her arms around his neck and drew his mouth down to hers again. He tried to show her without words what she did to him. This kiss was fierce, as fierce as his growing need.

He urged her lips apart and swept her mouth with his tongue, fully expecting— Hell, he didn’t know what he was expecting. Certainly not this acceptance, this welcoming. His breath jammed in his lungs as the kiss deepened. While he waged war with his needs, she returned his lovemaking with an eagerness that destroyed his restraint. Her nails dug into his shoulders as if to bring him closer, become part of him. Laredo was convinced she didn’t really grasp the overwhelming physical intensity of his reaction, didn’t realize what she was doing to him.

Above all, he didn’t want her ending up in a sexual situation she wasn’t ready for.

When he could endure no more, he abruptly broke off the kiss and rolled away. His shoulders heaved with the strength of will it had taken to leave her.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked after a moment.

He waited until he’d caught his breath before he answered. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Then why did you stop?”

He closed his eyes. “I don’t think you understand—”

“Don’t treat me like a child, Laredo. I know exactly what was happening.”

He felt depleted; he hadn’t the energy to argue with her. She made him vulnerable. Much more of this kissing would have sent him over the edge. He knew his limits and they’d been reached.

He sat up and smiled. Or at least made the effort to smile. In an attempt to clear his head, he took several deep breaths.

“I called about the repairs to the truck,” he said, not looking at her. He focused on the tree limbs overhead, hoping she realized why he’d abruptly changed the subject.

His announcement was greeted with silence.

“Paul said the parts were in and all he needed was the go-ahead from me.” Laredo paused and waited for a response.

More silence.

Finally she said, “I know what you’re doing, Laredo.”

“Do you?” He doubted it.

“You’re telling me that you’re leaving Promise as soon as you can.”

So she did know, and if she was that smart, she’d probably figure out the rest. “I don’t want to hurt you, Savannah.”

“You couldn’t,” she said, her voice small. “You’ve already brought me such incredible happiness. When you do...leave—” she appeared to have trouble saying the word “—don’t worry that I’ll do anything to stop you. I’m grateful for each day we can be together. Grateful for each moment...each kiss.”

He didn’t see it that way. After all, he was the one in her debt. “I think we should get back before anyone misses us.” He was strongly tempted to resume their lovemaking, and he couldn’t be sure he possessed the determination to resist.