My heart nearly stopped when I saw Emmalyn walking toward Shay. That is not how I want her to find out that her mother is still alive. I know she will be beyond happy, but until Shay believes she is Timber, I don’t want Emmalyn to know anything.

On the ride up the mountain, Shay is quiet. Her head has to be reeling from all of this. I don’t know what to expect from her when she gets the results. Will she head for the hills or stick around? All of it is overwhelming.

Today’s goal is to make her fall in love with me all over again.

We make it up the steep slope as the snow starts to lightly fall again. I put the Wrangler in park and reach behind the seat, grabbing the bags of clothing. “There is a place you can change inside.” It’s a small container that my dad and I built for storing our toys. I take my key and unlock the padlock. Four snowmobiles rest inside and there is a small changing room in the back.

“There is no heat in there, so you might want to change quickly,” I say, pointing to a curtained-off area.

She peers inside the bag I handed her. “You know my size?”

“You look a little smaller than you did years ago, but I think I got it right.”

She smiles with her lips pursed and heads to the back. I quickly do a check on the snowmobiles, making sure everything is working properly. I slip on snow pants over my jeans but take off my shirt I’ve worn for two days.

When I pull it off over my head, I have a dark set of eyes on my chest. Her tongue sweeps out over her lips as she clears her throat. “Everything fits perfect,” she says, looking away.

I quickly pull on the thermal long-sleeve shirt I bought. It’s not that I don’t want her eyes on me; I don’t want to be tempted to have my hands all over her in here. I want to focus on charming her to death. The rest will come later. At least that’s my hope.

“Have you ever ridden one before?” I know she has as Timber, but Shay is another story.

She surprisingly laughs. “You tell me?”

“Timber could ride circles around all of us. I think you could ride before you could walk.”

I pull two snowmobiles out into the snow as she puts her helmet on. “How about I give you a refresher course?” I say as she straddles the snowmobile.

“I think that’s a good plan,” she says from behind her helmet.

I run through everything with her. She thumbs the throttle and starts out moving slowly, but it’s not long before she is racing me through the snowy curves and hills. I can hear her laughter over the roar of the motor. We ride for an hour before I motion for her to follow me. I brought her here for a reason, and now it’s time to show her.

I stop when we make it to the small log cabins.

“What is this place?” she asks, removing her helmet and running her hands through her messy hair.

“Come on. I’ll show you.” I hold out my hand for her to take. In the middle of all the cabins is a rectangular old wooden building with no windows. Smoke is billowing out of the chimney. The door creaks as we go inside.

“Joy, are you in here?” I say, leading us to the counter.

“I’m here,” her voice rings out from another room.

She stops in her tracks when she sees Timber. Tears instantly fill her eyes, and she rushes to hug Shay.

Shay stands still and stiff with Joy’s arms around her. “Oh, dear God, we thought you were dead.” She places both of her hands on either side of Shay’s face.

“I…I…”

“Joy, this is Shay. I know she looks a lot like Timber.” I peel her off Shay.

She looks at me and then back at Shay. “I know Timber when I see her.” She crosses her stalky arms.

“The resemblances are uncanny, I know. Can we go out back?” I take Shay’s hand and start walking, hoping like hell to avoid any more conversation. She gives me the evil eye but doesn’t stop us.

Once outside, it opens up into another world. There is a pool of crystal blue water with steam floating just above the surface.

“This is beautiful. I’ve always wanted to go to the hot springs, but this is way beyond what I could imagine out here in the middle of nowhere.” She’s pulling off her boots.

I smile remembering all the times I’ve brought her here. Every chance she could steal away, I knew I’d find her here soaking in the hot springs. “This was your favorite place in the world.”

She sticks her toes in the water. “I wish I had a swimsuit.”

“You never needed one before,” I mumble, but she clearly understands me when she starts stripping her layers of clothes off. One by one, I watch as they’re thrown into a pile on the porch. I see her shiver as the last article of clothing comes off. She doesn’t waste any time submerging in the water. Her face is lit up like Christmas.

“Aren’t you going to join me?” Her eyes sparkle

I don’t have to be asked twice. I rip off my clothes, maneuvering carefully around my hard-on. I shrug when she sees it. “It’s your fault for stripping down naked in front of me.” I splash into the water.

She leans her head against the edge and rests her arms on the ledge. “This place is amazing.”

A bitter smile pulls at my lips. “I thought for sure this place would bring back memories for you.”

She swims over to me and places my hand on the nape of her neck. I feel a raised scar about four inches long that runs into her hairline. “I’m sorry I don’t remember, but I won’t keep apologizing for it.” Her brows snap together and then soften. “I want to enjoy our time here today and make it a good memory.” Her soft lips capture mine, and I wrap my hands in her long, wet hair. My desire flickers to life as my mouth trails down her neck. I can feel her body sizzle in response.

“You are so beautiful,” I say between nips of her skin.

She moans and pulls my mouth back to hers. Her hands run down my chest, and it’s all I can do to not pick her up and delve inside her. I press my cock against her belly.

“I want you so badly.”

She blindsides me when she says, “I’m feeling the same way.” Water drips from her dark lashes. “But I think we should wait.”

I push her into the water. “Then you need to get your hot body off me.” I laugh and splash her. The ripples in the water crash over the sides as we swim and splash one another. We swim for about thirty minutes until our bodies can’t stand the heat anymore. She lifts her naked body out of the water, and I’m instantly hard again.

“There are towels in the bin.” I point to one.

She opens it and grabs two out, tossing one in my direction. We dry off and put our snow clothes back on. Her long hair drips down the back of her suit. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“We’re not done yet.” I take her hand and lead her back inside.

“Joy, can I have the keys to cabin eight?”

She stares at Shay but chucks me the key. I take out the bag I loaded on the snowmobile while she was changing into riding gear. We traipse through the snow up a little hill to a small deep-chocolate-brown clapboard cabin with two rockers on the porch. I unlock the door, and I’m grateful that Joy keeps each cabin heated.

“This is so cute,” she says, walking around touching the hand-carved wooden furniture with oversized stuffed cushions.

“I’m glad you like it. This is where we stayed on our honeymoon.”

She points to the ground. “Here?”

“Yes, here. I offered to take you somewhere really romantic like Paris, and this is where you picked.” I watch her take the place in. She walks up the spiral staircase to the open loft, and I’m close behind her.

“So…this is where we…”

“Made love for the first time.” I complete her sentence since she seemed to be struggling with it.

She sits on the edge of the metal frame bed and lies back. “I could see why I would love it here so much.” Her hand runs across the red silk cover.

Every part of me craves to get in that bed with her. “How about I make us something to eat?”

Her head lifts off the bed. “There’s food here?”

I laugh. “No. I bought some can goods when I picked up our clothes. Nothing fancy. Good old canned ravioli and box of wine for you.”

“A box?” She giggles.

“Yeah, we don’t carry any type of glass bottles in the store.” I run my hand along the wrought iron railing as I walk down.

“I’ll come help you.” I can feel the warmth of her body trailing close behind me.

“I think I can manage a can opener.”

“Why don’t you let me do it while you build a fire in that tin can of a fireplace.”

“Are you sure you can handle it?” I tease her.

She opens the cabinet and drawers, looking for what she needs. I lay the cans and the wine on the counter and get to work on the fire. As soon as I’m done, she has two piping hot bowls of food sitting on the table and two paper cups with wine in them. I snag a candle from the mantel and place it in the middle of the table.

Her eyes shine when I light it. I pull out her chair for her, and she smiles sweetly at me. “You think of everything don’t you?”

“I try to have all my bases covered.”

“We should probably eat and head out before it gets too late,” she says, blowing on her food.

“We are staying the night here.” I take a big bite of my ravioli.

Her gaze bores into my skull. “What?”

“I thought we would spend the night here. I’m not leaving you alone, and I can’t take you to my house.”

She fidgets in her chair. “We could go back to the cottage where there is a spare bedroom.”

“I’ve already told you, nothing is going to happen between us unless you say so. I’m a grown man and can sleep next to a beautiful woman without touching her.” I lift my eyes to hers. “I think,” I say with a wink.

“Did you bring me here too, hoping I would remember something?”

I put my fork down. “Maybe. Is that such a bad thing?” I lean my elbows on the table and fold my fingers together.

“No. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up, David.”

That’s the first time she’s called me David, and it feels so damn good. “My hopes have been up since the day I found you under the bridge.”

“I meant it about me remembering. I’ve tried, and nothing more than a few feelings surface every now and then.”

“Feelings for me?”

“I do feel a connection to you. I’ve felt it since the first letter. Being near you makes me weak in the knees.”

I smile and pick up my fork. “I like that I make you weak in the knees.”

We spend the rest of our evening in front of the fireplace with me telling her stories of Emmalyn. She hangs on every word with tears threatening to fall, but I have her roaring in laughter at some of the stories.

Her hand covers her mouth as a yawn slips out. I glance at my watch, and it’s after midnight. “Come on, sleepyhead. Let’s get you to bed.”

I follow her up the stairs with a bag in tow. She pulls down the covers, and when she turns around, I throw the bag to her.

“What’s this?” She peeks inside and pulls out red thermals.

“It’s what you’re going to sleep in.” I pull off my jeans and T-shirt, leaving only my boxers.

“You’re sleeping half naked, and I’m supposed to sleep in this.” She holds it up and sees that it will cover her from chin to toes.

“That way you will be safe.”

She surprises me again when she throws the thermals on the floor and strips out of her clothes, snuggling under the blankets naked. I gladly scoot so that our bodies are touching. Her head lands in the middle of my chest, and her hand is dangerously near my cock.

“This is not safe,” I mutter.

“I don’t want safe.” Her eyes blaze with desire.

Abandoning all thought of control, I roll her to her back and breach her lips with my tongue delving inside her mouth. There is no stopping what she’s started now. I’m not even going to give her the option of taking it back.

My lips trail to her perfectly round nipple, and I draw it into my mouth. I hiss when her nails dig into my shoulder. Her touch obliterates my senses as I keep moving south. I feel her body soften as I continue to kiss every sweet inch of her. I spread her legs and look up at her as I kiss her cleft. Her gaze is on me as she arches up.

She smells of lilacs just like I remember. I lick and suck at her folds until she’s squirming with need. As I continue enjoying her, I push two fingers inside her, coaxing her orgasm. This used to send her spiraling over the edge. Her chest heaves harder as her fists grasp the sheets. I drive in deeper with my fingers. I flare them out, and she bucks upward as her orgasm takes control of her body.

My cock starts to throb as I watch her body come undone. I lose my restraint and crawl up her body, penetrating her, causing her to go into waves of orgasms. It’s been so long for me that her moans and quivering core take me with her.