Her lips trembled into a smile. “We really are.”
“But I want to take it slow next time.” He kissed her temple then her cheekbone, heart squeezing in his chest. “I want to drive you crazy and remind you why you don’t want to be with anyone but me.”
“I don’t need reminding.” Her hands slid up his forearms in a sensual caress. “No one has ever made me feel the way you do, and no one ever will.”
“Is that a yes?” he asked opening his hand to reveal the ring sitting in his palm.
Tulsi took a deep breath before reaching out and curling his fingers back around the two-carat princess cut, the biggest stone he could get at the Lonesome Point Mining Company. “I can’t, Pike. No one knows that we have a past and even if they did, we haven’t spoken a word to each other in seven years. If I put that ring on and walk back into camp everyone is going to think we’re out of our minds.”
“I don’t care,” Pike said. “I don’t care what anyone thinks but you.”
Tulsi smiled as she shook her head. “You always were a romantic.”
“Only with you.” Pike drew her into his lap, feeling like the luckiest man in the world when she came eagerly into his arms. “Just put on the ring and we’ll tell everyone else to mind their own damned business.”
“We can’t do that. It’s Mia and Sawyer’s wedding week. It’s their time to be the focus of all the excitement.” She ran her fingers through his hair, even that innocent touch enough to make him want to get her naked. “And I think we should take some time. As beautiful as that ring is, I’d rather wait to put it on until we’re both sure this time is forever.”
“So the second chance is official?” he asked, holding his breath until Tulsi slowly nodded.
“Yes,” she whispered, a smile stretching across her face. “It’s official, but let’s keep it between us, for now. Is that okay?”
“Anything you want, as long as I get to make love to you as soon as humanly possible.”
“I’ll meet you back here after everyone is asleep,” Tulsi said, a twinkle in her eyes. “And this time I’ll bring a sleeping bag so I’ll have something between me and the rocks.”
“Or you could be on top,” Pike said, his hand slipping beneath Tulsi’s shirt to cup her breast. “I love watching you ride me while I touch you like this.” Tulsi’s breath hitched as his thumb brushed back and forth across her nipple, teasing it until it pebbled beneath his touch.
Her fingers fisted in his hair. “I can’t believe this is real. I never thought… I couldn’t even let myself hope.” She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. “But if you don’t stop that, I won’t be able to wait until tonight and you know someone is going to come looking for us sooner or later.”
Pike reluctantly slid his hand from beneath her shirt, knowing she was right. They’d gotten lucky yesterday, but he didn’t want to risk getting caught with his pants down by his baby sister a second time. “I’ll meet you back here as soon as everyone else is asleep, and by the time we’re done, there’s going to be no doubt in your mind that this is real.”
“All right,” Tulsi whispered, pressing a final kiss to his lips before climbing off his lap and shooing him away. “Now get going. You’ve already watched me pee, you don’t get to watch me brush my teeth until things are official.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Pike stood, adjusting his shorts so, hopefully, the hard-on straining the seams of his briefs wouldn’t be visible when he walked back into camp.
He left Tulsi behind on the riverbank, but as he walked away, he vowed that he would be watching her brush her teeth soon. If he had his way, things were going to be official before he left town, and not long after, he would be bringing Tulsi and Clementine back to Montana so they could all get started on making up for lost time.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Tulsi
Just leavethe past in the past,Tulsi chanted silently to herself as she joined the others around the campfire, staying warm as the desert temperature fell and the stars twinkled to life in the deep blue sky.
All these years she’d been terrified of what would happen if Pike were to learn the truth, but now he never had to know. He was the one who had insisted that the past was the past and nothing in it was worth losing each other again. He loved her, she could hear it in every word he spoke, feel it in every touch. He loved and needed her and she loved and needed him and nothing else mattered. Not even her lie. If she kept her secret, everything would work out the way it should have in the beginning. She and Pike would be together and Clementine would have a father who adored her.
Love was what mattered, not paternity, and Tulsi believed Pike when he said he couldn’t help loving Clem. Tulsi felt the same way. She would love any child of Pike’s because he or she would be a reflection of the man she loved.
Every secret dream she’d been too sad and defeated to believe in was coming true. So why did she feel so scared? And so certain that this miracle was going to turn to dust in her hands before she could wrap her head around the fact that her long-lost love had proposed and wanted to live happily ever after?
Because this is crazy. You’re living in a fantasy land. How can you leave the past in the past when Clem will be there every day, learning to care about a man she’ll believe is her stepfather? Every minute will be a lie. Every second.
You’ll spend the rest of your life lying to the people who matter most and if they ever do learn the truth it will destroy your family. You should tell Pike the truth now, before you get in any deeper, before you remember how easy it is to give him every piece of your heart.
“You turning in, Tulsi?” Mia asked with a yawn as she rose from her chair and slipped her hand into Sawyer’s. Ross, Meg, and Pike had already retreated to their tents half an hour ago and now only Tulsi sat in her chair beside the dying flames. “If so, I’m going to put out the fire.”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll put it out,” Tulsi said. “I’m going to sit and stare for a little longer.”
Mia smiled, her face glowing in the warm orange light. “Okay, sweet thing. Thanks for coming. I can’t remember the last time I had such a perfect day.”