The moment Liam had agreed to take Emma to the dance, time had slowed to a crawl. Only one day had passed and four more needed to pass before the day of the dance but Emma wanted to see Liam now.

He had said he wanted another pie and she just happened to have a freshly baked one in the kitchen.... Walking to Liam's cabin would take a few hours but it was still early and the day was already unseasonably warm. Emma was used to walking and she would enjoy doing so today.

Sliding into her new blue chambray dress that Ms. Anta had somehow managed to salvage, Emma checked her reflection in the mirror. She had been away from her father for a week and a half and the already she could see a difference.

She had a healthier glow to her pale skin and the dark circles around her blue eyes were gone. Regular meals had her body slowly beginning to fill out as well.

Emma wondered if Liam liked the changes in her.

She smiled as she recalled their kiss the day before. Never had she known a kiss to her lips could seem to reach clear to her heart. Emma had never seen tenderness or gentle love between a man and a woman.

She paused. Did she love Liam? Did he love her? Emma didn't know but she was eager to find out—to learn more about the good side of life.

Emma pulled on her new ankle boots Anita had gotten her and slipped into her threadbare coat. Thankfully, she was able to get her pie and slip unnoticed from the house. If someone had seen her, they probably would have insisted on coming along and Emma didn't want that.

Liam seemed to like privacy and he was more open with her when others weren't around.

The walk was a long one but to Emma it felt good to leave town behind and breathe the open air.

Nerves attacked her stomach when she saw the chimney smoke. She nearly ran the other way when Liam's cabin and barn came into view. What if Liam wouldn't want her there? What if he would be angry by her bothering him at home?

Emma forced that fear down and swallowed hard. Liam had said she was special. He had said she meant a lot to him. He had kissed her.... A smile curved her lips at the memory. Surely he'd be happy she had come for a visit.

Emma started toward the house until she heard a voice in the barn. Did he have company? Emma shifted the basket to her other arm. She hoped she wasn't interrupting anything important.

"Liam?" she called hesitantly.

Liam's head popped out of the barn. "Emma?" A surprised smile lit up his face, highlight his rugged features and stealing Emma's breath. He was dirty and it was clear he'd been working.

Emma chewed her lip. "I hope I'm not interruptin'. I heard ya talkin'..."

Liam shook his head. "You'd never be interrupting anything. I like your company better than anyone else's I'd be talking to." He shrugged. "I was just chatting with the horses."

Emma felt as if her heart were going to soar right out of her chest. How had this happened? How had such a kind and gentle man fallen for a mountain hick like her?

Emma hadn't even known that men like Liam existed.

He made his way to her and Emma's heart raced when he pressed a tender kiss to her hair. As he pulled away, he glanced around and Liam's smile became a frown. "How did you get here?"

"I... I walked."

"Alone?" Liam's voice raised. "Do you have any how foolish and dangerous that was? You could have been....."

Liam's angry tirade trailed off. Emma was trying to fight back tears as she held her hands up protectively and winced backward.

She was certain that Liam was going to hit her.

Instead, he let out a muffled curse before launching forward and pulling her into a tender hug. Emma's head was resting against his chest and his steady heart beat slowly calmed her fear.

"Hell Emma..." he whispered. "Don't ever look at me like that again. I would never lay an angry hand on you. I won't ever hurt you, Emma."

"I know..." she assured him. And she did, but, old habits died hard and she'd learned long ago that a man's angry voice often came just before his angry fists.

Liam slowly pulled away and Emma couldn't help but notice how tight his jaw was. "Coming out here alone was dangerous, Emma, but I am happy to see you. I was worried is all. I shouldn't have yelled. I don't want anything bad to happen to you...." He shoved his hand through his hair and Emma knew he was trying hard to be open with his feelings and that was new for him. "I don't want to lose you."

Emma found herself fighting back tears once more but these were of happiness..... as well as guilt.

"I'm sorry I came alone, Liam. I never even thought about the danger and I know I should have... I just wanted to see ya."

Liam sighed and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "And I'm glad you're here. At the dance, I'll introduce you to my friends Kyle and Chase. They're real good men and they live real close to town. When you want to come see me, they can get you here safe."

Emma nodded. If Liam trusted them, Emma would meet his friends and give them a chance. She trusted Liam's judgement.

Liam seemed to notice the basket for the first time. His nostrils flared. "Did you bring me a pie?"

"Yes. Ya mentioned wantin' one yesterday."

Liam's smile returned. "You're one hell of a woman."

Emma beamed. Liam took a step back and cleared his throat. "Why don't you take that pie in and I'll be in in a minute. I'm gonna go to the stream and clean up."

Emma nodded and headed to the cabin, happy that Liam was pleased to see her and sorry she had worried him. He was right. She'd taken a large risk. If her father had been on that road.....

Emma took a steadying breath. She just had to be thankful that he hadn't been and remember not to be so careless again.

Liam felt like a giant horse's ass as he strode to the stream.

Emma, the woman who had him tied up in knots and thinking about a future, had come all the way out on foot just to see him and what had he done? He'd yelled at her!

Liam was not a man who yelled, or, at least not usually. But, the thought of Emma being out there alone and that bastard getting his hands on her...

It riled his temper and froze his blood all at the same time.

With a growl, Liam splashed water on his face, rinsed his hands and headed back to the cabin. As he stepped inside and saw Emma standing beside the table with a smile on her face, Liam knew it was right.

Her smiling face greeting him after a long day's work was what he wanted forever.

Damn.

Two weeks ago if someone had told him he'd find a woman he wanted to spend every day of the rest of his life with, Liam would have accused them of being brain addled. And, yet, here he was wondering if it was too soon to ask Emma to be his wife.

"I hope ya don't mind. I remembered where everythin' was," Emma said, gesturing toward the table.

Only then did Liam notice the two pie-filled plates on the table. His mouth watered. "That's more than fine with me," he assured her with a smile.

Liam stepped to the table and pulled out her chair before sitting across from her. "You'll be happy to know that Misty is enjoying having a real name," Liam said before shoving a big bite of pie into his mouth.

His eyes slid closed and he groaned. Damn, that woman baked pure heaven.

Emma's face lit with surprise. "Ya kept her name?"

Liam grunted before taking another bite. "Yeah. I think she likes it better than Horse."

"Can I learn to ride today?"

Liam nodded. "I don't see why not. Just let me enjoy this slice of heaven and we'll head out to ride."

Liam was proud of how quickly Emma seemed to pick up on riding. She had remembered his earlier warnings about trusting the hose to gain its respect and Misty had taken to Emma quickly. The small-bodied mare was a good fit for the tiny woman.

"We should probably head back toward town," Liam stated morosely as he realized how low in the sky the sun was sinking. They would barely make it back before dark.

Liam wished Emma could stay with him and never have to leave.

Someday, he promised himself. Someday Emma would be his wife.

He'd known from the beginning that Emma would make someone a fine wife—now he knew that someone was himself.

Liam helped Emma back into Misty's saddle and he took a moment to gaze at the woman. The time she'd spent at Anita's so far had been good for her.

Her beauty, once subdued by fear and scrawniness, was truly beginning to shine through. She was the most beautiful woman Liam had ever known.

"What are ya lookin' at?" Emma asked, shifting in the saddle.

Liam realized he'd been staring and he quickly averted his gaze. He hopped on Honey's back and shoved his hand through his hair. "Let's head on into town and test your newest talent."

Emma smiled. "Am I good at it?"

Liam nodded and led her down the trail. "You ought to know me well enough to know I don't say things I don't mean."

Emma kept conversation going all the way to town. For once, having his silence interrupted didn't bother Liam. He enjoyed the sound of her voice and the insights into her mind that their conversations allowed.

Unfortunately the ride into town seemed to end faster than usual. They were passing Mrs. Ryan's dress shop when the horror herself stepped out. "Liam, it's good to see you," she spoke.

Liam barely managed a polite nod in response. After the way the woman had treated Emma, he wanted nothing more than to give her a swift kick in the ass.

"Will you be attending the dance, Liam? I know Bethany has spoken of little else."

Liam grumbled, then smiled. He sat up straighter. "Yes. I will be. I believe you've met my date Miss Emma Hawke?"

He smiled proudly at Emma as her cheeks flamed red and she seemed ready to be anywhere else. Mrs. Ryan, however seemed fit to be tied. He could practically see the smoke billowing from her ears.

"Yes... well.. it's very charitable of you to give up your night to show an underprivileged mountain hick a nice time."

Liam simply chuckled. "Come along now, Emma. Have a nice day, ma'am."

Liam noticed Emma's silence and when he helped her from Misty in front of the Boarding House, he held her just a little closer and tighter than was proper.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she whispered.

Liam would have usually let it go at that. He would have assumed she truly meant nothing was wrong because that's what she said. But, he was trying hard to learn to read between the lines... and something was wrong with Emma.

He figured he knew what it was.

Liam stooped down and kissed her temple. "Don't let that jealous old bat bother you."

Emma's eyes found his and Liam wanted so badly to taste her lips... But not here. If Liam kissed her, he'd have a hard time stopping and there were too many people out and about.

"Are ya sure ya want to take me to the dance instead of someone else?"

Liam took a deep breath. He had to be patient. Emma was sheltered and naïve to the world outside those mountain shacks. Of course she'd easily fall prey to women like Mrs. Ryan and their spiteful tongues.

"Emma, I wouldn't even bother with the dance if not for you."

A smile brightened her face and suddenly Liam didn't care about onlookers. He swooped down and captured Emma's mouth beneath his.

She gasped with surprise just before her arms slid around his neck and her body molded to his.

Liam couldn't get enough of the taste of her. He wanted to deepen the kiss. He wanted to taste more of her—all of her.

With a groan, he pulled himself away, putting a foot of distance between them.

"What am I doin' wrong?" Emma questioned with flushed cheeks and kiss-swollen lips.

"Huh?" Damn, but Liam's brain wasn't working quite right after that kiss.

"Ya always pull away like that... what am I doin' wrong?"

Liam chuckled. "Nothing Emma. You do everything just right. I gotta go now, it's getting dark. I'll be in the woods for the next few days but I'll pick you up here for the dance."

"Okay." Emma sighed. "I probably shouldn't go... I don't own a nice dress—not like the one in the dress shop window."

Liam laid his hand on her cheek. "You'll be the most beautiful woman there."

He swallowed hard at the look in her blue eyes as she gazed up at him.

Fumbling and nearly dropping them several times, Liam grabbed Misty's reins. "I'll see you Saturday," he quickly stated. Then he headed off down the road before he gave the townsfolk anything else to wag their tongues about.