His hand lingered next to hers. The creek bubbled around their wrists, soaking their fingers in the warmth from the springs. She wanted to move back from his touch, but she couldn’t. His blue eyes held her in place. If she breathed too deeply she was afraid the moment would snap in half, so she held her breath as Wyatt’s hand closed in around hers.

His skin was rough and firm. His palm wide and strong as it circled her hand. It felt as if there were flames in the water under their hands. Each time the water bubbled, she felt him tighten his grip on her, threading his fingers until their hands were woven together.

Wyatt brushed her hair from her face with his free hand as he shifted toward her face. He leaned forward, his lips brushing over hers.

The kiss should have surprised her, but it didn’t. There was no more natural feeling in the world than kissing him. They had been easing toward this moment since they stepped foot in the woods. Hell since he walked in the door of the inn for the first time.

He sucked gently on her lower lip before moving his mouth over hers. He pressed the back of her head, urging her toward him. Aly’s fingers wrapped around his neck as his tongue slipped between her teeth.

Little purring sounds started from her throat as his tongue twined against hers. He pulled their hands from the water as he cupped the side of her cheek. The water dripped against her cheek, but Aly was so lost in the kiss she didn’t feel the warmth turn to chill on her skin. She wrapped her other arm around him as he devoured her mouth with hungry kisses.

As his lips moved to her throat she felt her rational side start to claw at her. She wasn’t supposed to kiss another man. She was fucking engaged. No one else should have his hands in her hair. No one else’s mouth should be blazing heat against her neck.

“Wait, wait.” Her eyes flew open and she pushed off of Wyatt’s solid chest.

“What’s wrong?” He pulled her tighter, his hands clutching at her back.

“I-I can’t.” She wiggled out of his hold. “Mitchell. I wasn’t thinking.” She turned from him. Her fingers immediately started twisting her engagement ring as if using it as a shield from doing any more wrong. She wasn’t sure it wasn’t cutting into her like a razor. Each twist felt like a slice shredding her skin.

Wyatt stood next to her. “I thought…” He hung his head. “I don’t know what I thought. I’m sorry.”

“Maybe we should get back to town.” She reached for the bag she had packed with a picnic. It was empty now.

“If that’s what you want. I’ll take you.”

She nodded. “I think that would be best.” She walked away from the springs and entered the trail that would lead to the car.

She wanted to tell him it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him to push her up against the next tree and steal as many kisses as he wanted. She wanted to tell him Mitchell had never kissed her like that. Mitchell never looked at her like that.

She marched over the trail, trying to erase the kiss with each step. The problem was Wyatt was behind her and as long as he was that close, she couldn’t think of anything else.

She stopped abruptly, spinning on her heels. “Why did you kiss me?” she fumed.

His eyes widened. “I wanted to.”

“You know I’m engaged. You know I have a fiancé.” Her hands planted on her hips.

He nodded. “I do.”

“Who does something like that?” She was angry. Why did he have her emotions twisted into knots? Why did he have her lips aching for more?

“I don’t regret it.” He stepped closer, and she inched backward until she felt a tree press into her back.

“Well, I do.”

“Do you want me to say I didn’t like kissing you?” He leaned forward. She could feel his hot breath rake across her skin. “Do you want me to tell you I won’t touch you again?”

She nodded slowly, but she couldn’t make words come from her mouth. This was her chance to tell him off. Tell him she wasn’t available and he needed to get his bags out of the inn.

“I can’t do that, Aly.” His palm slid to the bark over her shoulder.

“Why not?” she whispered.

His lips were within inches of her mouth. If she tipped her head just right she would feel them move over hers. She didn’t know which was coursing through her, the rush of adrenaline from wanting him so badly, or the fear of what it meant that she did.

“Because I know you aren’t going to marry Mitchell.” He traced her lower lip with his thumb and her body quivered under his touch.

He stood back, straightening his shoulders, watching her as she tried to remember how to breathe.

She peeled herself off the tree trunk and marched in front of him. She didn’t have anything else to say. She licked her lip where his thumb had been, craving just the slightest taste of him.

She told herself what he said wasn’t true. He didn’t know what he was talking about. He didn’t know Mitchell. Hell, he didn’t know her. But as they drove toward the Long Pine Inn in silence, Aly couldn’t shake the feeling that even though Wyatt didn’t say much, every word he spoke was always the truth.