Monday, July 26. 7:42 a.m. Khandallah, a northern suburb in Wellington, New Zealand.

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What the hell was I thinking?

Ana looked down at the large tanned hand cupping her naked breast. She blinked in the brilliant sunshine that streamed through the crack of the tent door and listened as a small bird landed on the roof, its tiny claws rasping as it hopped along the nylon.

As if the hand sensed Ana’s return to consciousness, it slid off her breast and aimed like a heat-seeking missile to erogenous zones farther south. That particular erogenous zone throbbed pleasurably in response.

Who would’ve thought multiple orgasms weren’t actually urban legend? Who would’ve thought she could be multi-orgasmic?

Maybe because it’s not only about you, but who you are with, a little voice hissed in her ear.

Daniel.

Thinking about him sent another rush of heat surging through her, sparking back to life fires she’d thought dampened. But aside from the fact she’d be walking like a cowboy too long in the saddle today, she’d only allowed herself that one night.

Now it was morning.

“Daniel, I, I oh…” she stuttered and sighed as his long fingers slid, ever so gently, between her thighs.

Wedged into the small of her back was the unmistakable evidence of his interest in an early morning adventure. His fingers swirled lazy circles in wetness that’d counteract any claim she could make suggesting she wasn’t also interested. However unbelievably wonderful his explorations felt, she couldn’t permit this to go any further. She had to make a clean break now and ignore the demands of her body.

And her heart.

No. Her heart had nothing to do with it. It was purely a physical reaction to an incredible night of A-plus-grade sex and the natural aftereffects of her greediness in wanting more.

She abruptly rolled out of his arms and scooped up her damp shirt and bra.

“Hey, what’s your hurry?” he drawled, sleepy passion giving his tone a huskiness that tempted her to crawl back to him.

With more speed than finesse, she hooked her bra on and jammed the still-damp shirt over her head. The fabric clung moistly to her skin but it was better than remaining naked.

She forced a smile to her lips and lightness to her tone as she peeked over her shoulder. “Come on, Farm Boy, rise and shine.”

What a stupid saying, she chided herself, unable to block the image of a certain part of Daniel’s anatomy that had risen and was well and truly ready to shine.

“Ana?”

She ignored the flash of hurt that darkened his features and scooped her panties and pants off the floor where they’d fallen from the tent rail in the night. She yanked them on in record time. “Daylight’s wasting and we’ve still got a long way to go to get home.”

If she sounded any chirpier she’d be mistaken for one of the birds twittering outside. So why did she feel so awful?

After a long, weighty silence he replied. “Right. Better get packed up, then.”

She kept her back to him until she heard the sounds of him pulling on his clothes. Morning-after awkwardness was something she didn’t have time for. She’d had a little slip in her priorities, but now she was back with the program.

Getting home to Theo and Alyssa.

She needed to focus on that and keep her mind off the dull spreading pain of knowing she’d never have another night with Daniel Calder.

Daniel surreptitiously blew into his cupped palm and sniffed. While his breath didn’t smell minty fresh, it certainly wasn’t bad enough to warrant Ana bolting like he’d exhaled toxic fumes all over her bare skin.

And what stunning bare skin she had.

Just minutes ago she’d melted against him as he ran his hands over her delicious curves and hidden treasures. She wanted him, of that he hadn’t a doubt. Even though she was right—they needed to get going—her abrupt rejection smarted.

Get over it. Had he expected her to wake up this morning with nothing on her mind but more mind-altering sex?

He tugged on his T-shirt and laced up his boots. What happened between them last night was much more than a one-time thing. He’d realized that this—that she—was extraordinary after the first time they’d made love. Dammit. Why couldn’t it be as simple as sexual attraction? He’d known it was more than that from the moment he’d kissed her.

Didn’t she know it, too?

He yanked the laces tight and tied them off, sighing. They dismantled the tent in cooperative silence because he couldn’t think of anything to say to break it.

So was it good for you, honey? Yeah, that’d go down real well.

Daniel repacked his bag, resisting the temptation to inhale her scent that lingered on his sweater and watching while she stuffed his spare pair of boxers into her backpack. He suspected she intended to launder them along with his handkerchief.

A detailed vision of her wearing only his shorts slipped slyly into his mind. He stomped on it ruthlessly and concentrated instead on gulping down a tin of some variety of fruit, which tasted more or less like wet cardboard.

They were back on the streets before the sun had time to rise far over the hills. More people bustled around, calling greetings and offers to help. A few vehicles navigated past them, their speed dropped well below the limit due to the condition of some of the road surfaces.

For the most part, they strode side by side, keeping their swinging arms well away from each other. Daniel fought to keep his mouth shut. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but if he did he’d make himself a ball-less welcome mat that Ana could wipe her pretty feet on. Nothing much usually ruffled his lake-smooth demeanor. His family often told him that if he were any more laid back he’d be horizontal. He especially didn’t lose his cool with women, because he didn’t allow women to get under his skin.

Ana had done more than get under his skin—she’d burrowed right past the epidermis into his veins, into the very heart of him. And right now, when she’d retreated into herself and pulled an invisible barrier between them, he wanted to dig her out of his system and be done with it.