Why does he have to be so damn sexy and playful? It doesn’t make him easy to resist. When he said he wanted to fuck me, I wanted to give in. Sorry was the last thing I wanted to say—I wanted to scream yes! My body was ready, but my mind wasn’t quite there yet.

As I pour him a mug of coffee, I glance out the window and see the deer out back again. I’m so intent on watching her, I don’t hear Keegan come up behind me.

“She was only a fawn when you rescued her.” The only reason I didn’t jump or spill his coffee is that his voice sounded so intimate next to my ear.

“I…I saved her?” Without thinking, I lean into him.

“Her mother and sibling fell in the ice-covered lake just beyond that tree line.” His warm breath flows down my neck.

“There is a lake back there?” I turn my head just enough to see his gaze locked on my cleavage. I take a step forward, not because I didn’t like that he was looking at me, but because I don’t trust myself with the way I’m feeling toward him.

He reaches around me and grabs his cup of coffee. “Yeah. They fell in, and you stupidly dove in after them. Thank God I had been outside chopping wood and heard your screams for help. You and those deer would have died in the cold water.”

“So, you saved them and me?” I turn in his direction.

“No. You could have gotten out on your own, but you wouldn’t leave the momma behind. We got the fawns out easily, but I had to rig a makeshift pulley system to get her out. I begged you to get out of the water, but you refused. You stayed, holding her up until I dragged her out.”

“So, it all ended okay.” I smile, and he chuckles. “What’s so funny?”

“You climbed out on your own two feet. We got into a screaming match, and I hauled your ass back here and spanked you for being so stubborn.”

My breath hitches and my voice goes up an octave. “You spanked me?” My skin flushes at my neck. I place my hand on my throat, trying to hide my reaction.

“Yep, then we made love for hours afterward.” His pupils darken.

“I liked that sort of thing?” My voice sounds raspy.

He gives me a lopsided grin and sips his coffee. “You sure did.”

My chin dips down in embarrassment of this conversation.

His knuckles raise my face to him. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. What we did was very consensual.”

“I’m not sure I can picture myself as that person,” I say, walking around him to pull on my jacket.

“You don’t have to be that person,” he says, following me. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going outside to see the deer.” I walk back over to the fridge and pull out apple slices. “I won’t be gone long.” I want to make sure he knows I need to walk away from him right at this moment.

The deer comes up to me and eats right out of my hand. I stroke her head and every now and then glance at the kitchen window where I can see Keegan watching me. The things he said about me liking to be spanked actually turned me on. I had no idea. If Paul had spanked me, I would’ve kicked his ass, no doubt. But the mention of a spanking from Keegan got me all wet. My physical responses to him speaking have me baffled. Even in his letters, when I couldn’t hear him talk, my body reacted to him. That’s why I’m really here. Not because of a vacation. I’ve gone years without one, but this was something my body knew it needed. The more I’m around him, the more I want to get to know him. But, what if the blood work proves him wrong? If I fall for him, will he still want me? The man has already admitted to not wanting any other woman than his wife. It’s all so damn confusing.

I stuff my free hand down in my pocket and feel my cell phone. I must have left it in there yesterday. I step away from the deer, looking for a signal. When I have one, I call Paul, knowing it’s three hours’ time difference, but I really need to talk to him.

“I was going to send out the sheriff’s department if I didn’t hear from you today.” His voice is groggy.

“I’m sorry. I haven’t had reception.” My voice quivers.

“Are you okay?” I hear him move around in the bed.

“I’m not sure.” A wipe away a tear that escaped. I look up, and Keegan is standing in the window with his arms crossed over his chest, and a deep scowl mars his face.

“What do you mean?”

“I have so much to tell you.” He listens as I fill him in on Keegan and my possible identity.

“That’s awesome news, I think. How do you feel about it?” His voice is deep and filled with concern.

“I don’t really know. It’s been such a shock to my system. The timeline matches up, but…”

“But what?”

“What about my life now? I’m not sure I want to walk away from what I do know. And, he…I might have a twelve-year-old daughter.” I can’t wipe my tears quick enough.

“I’m packing a bag and coming to you.”

“No. Please don’t. I need time to see what is going to happen. I appreciate you wanting to come out here, but I need some time with David—Keegan—and if you’re here, you will get all macho and protective over me.” It’s the first time I’ve said his first name, and it felt real.

“You’re probably right, but if you need me, I’ll be on the next plane out.”

“I do need a favor. Can you do some research on the name Timber Keegan and see what you come up with. She grew up in Utah. I don’t even know what her maiden name was. I’ll find out from David and text you.”

“I will get right on it.”

Keegan is storming toward me. “I gotta go. I’ll get you the name.” I hang up.

“Was that him?” Keegan points at my phone, and his tone is deep.

“Who? Paul?” I tuck my hands in my jacket, along with my phone.

“Yes.” He has a sullen look.

“I needed to check in with him. He’s my business partner.”

“Did you tell him?”

I get the feeling that if I was the old Timber, right now we would fight, and he would feel that need to drag me inside. “I did. He’s my friend, nothing more.” I stick my chin in the air. My defiance seems to lighten his mood. He physically relaxes, but I think his smile is fake. I’m still trying to figure out his expressions.

“I’m sorry. I saw you out here crying.” He reaches out and runs his hand down my arm.

“Can we go back inside. I need to ask you some more questions, and it’s cold out here.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, and we head inside the house. We both peel out of our coats and sit by the fireplace.

“What was your wife’s maiden name?”

“Hunt.”

“Did you ever meet her parents?”

“Your dad died when you were a little girl and your mom, right before I met you.”

“Did I have any other family?” I finally give in and use the word I.

“There was an uncle I never met. I don’t know if he’s still alive or not.”

“Do you know where he lived?”

“He was somewhere living on an Indian reservation in Utah. I sent him a letter to him when you…when I thought you were dead, but I’m not sure if he ever received it.”

“Why?”

“Because the address I found was for the land. Many people live there, and I never got a response back from him.”

My shoulders slump. “I really was all alone until I met you.”

His fingers brush back a strand of hair behind my ear. “You were very strong and independent. It was just one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”

“Do you still have the address?”

“Somewhere in my files at the office.”

“I’d like to have it if that’s okay with you?”

“I will get it when I go back to the office. Any more questions? I’d like to take you somewhere.”

“That’s all for now.” He stands, taking me with him.

“We need to stop by the store and get some snow clothes, and I can’t keep wearing the same dirty clothes.”

My heart starts racing. “I’m not ready to meet your…my…family,” I stutter.

“You can wait in the Wrangler. I’ll get what we need.”

While Keegan is in the outdoor store, I text Paul the information about my background. When I look up, I see the same familiar red coat and the young girl I bumped into. “Emmalyn,” I whisper her name. I watch her as she laughs with some other young girls her age. I see the resemblance of me in her smile, but I also see David mixed in her features.

She suddenly stops talking, and I duck down in my seat when she turns in my direction. I hold my breath, hoping she won’t walk over to the vehicle. A few seconds later I hear Keegan’s voice call her name.

I wait, frozen in place until the driver’s side door jerks open. I hold back a scream when I realize it’s Keegan. He climbs in and tells me to stay down out of sight. He throws the bags in the backseat and starts the engine. I see him casually wave, but I can tell by his expression that he wants to get the hell out of here. He places his hand on the back of my seat as he puts the Wrangler in reverse.

“That was close,” he says without moving his lips. The Wrangler shifts into drive, and I finally feel like I can breathe.

“Is it okay to sit up now?”

He nods. “Emmalyn was almost to the Wrangler when I called out for her. She thought she saw someone in it. Thank God I came out when I did.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I didn’t tell her anything other than I was meeting up with an old army friend that needed some help and that’s why I had to cancel on her.”

I sit up and buckle. “I hate that you had to lie to her.”

“Me, too. I don’t want her involved in any of this until we are both ready. Tomorrow, I’m going to take you to have your DNA tested. The sooner you know, the better.”

I stare out the window at the white snowy ground passing by. I’m not so sure he’s right about that. I’ll have some heavy decisions to make. “Where are we going?” I glance in his direction.

“Snowmobiling.”