Kat's laugh immediately turned into a gasp of surprise when he introduced two fingers all the way inside her. He found her ready for him, as usual, but she felt particularly hot and swollen. The feel of her inner flesh on his fingers made him crazy with need. I'm going to take you now, sweetheart. I'm going to come deep inside you and give you a baby. Will that be all right?

She came on his hand, a strangled squeak of pleasure all the answer he needed.

Riley jumped up from his position on his side and kneeled in front of Kat. He put his hands on her ankles and widened her legs, then pushed her knees back toward her chest. She looked up at him with pure longing.

She knew this was the way it was supposed to be for them.

He positioned himself before her and was about to push himself in when she wrapped her little pink hand around his cock and whispered, I want to do it.

Riley saw a mischievous glint in her eye, like she was egging him on. He didn't need egging. That was the last thing he needed. When she placed the head of his cock at her entrance, Riley shut his eyes and submitted to the pleasure of the slow, tight slide into heaven. When he opened them again, he saw Kat already halfway gone again, her eyelids heavy, her chest splotchy with the deep pink of arousal.

He didn't know which was hotterthe look of abandon on her face or the way his cock went in and out of her pussyso he went from one insanely hot vision to the other, back and forth, in and out, suddenly aware that he could see all this beautiful vision because the sun was rising.

The light spilled in the window onto Kat's body. His woman. His love.

She began to pant, then her eyes flew wide, and she said, Oh, Riley.

This is just right. You feel so right.

Immediately, he felt her flesh contract and shudder as she orgasmed, and he waited it out, went for the ride, until the moment came when his own gates flew open and everything he was and everything he ever wanted to be poured out of him and into her. He called out her name as his being went rigid, peaked, then came crashing back to earth, to Kat.

Riley told himself that if they were blessed to have fifty years to make love together it would never get old, that it would always be a destination for his soul, the glue that held his life together. It would always feel just like this.

Kat sat at the dining room table with her laptop, phone, pens, paper, calculator, and three large poster boards. She had four projects going simultaneously, and the strain of organizing everything had given her a dull headache.

But she had no complaints. She had Riley. She had Aidan. She had everything.

Looking at what was spread before her, Kat realized that the simplest of the projects was working with Cliff to create a charitable foundation in Phyllis' name to contribute to the clinic. It took no persuadinghe'd loved the idea from the start, and he and Kat had had a long and enjoyable chat.

Her second project was figuring out a way to halt foreclosure proceedings on the Bohland House. It turned out the loan officer was happy to restructure the mortgage, admitting to Kat that the bank would be relieved not to continue with legal actiontaking on the Bohlands was publicity they didn't need. Over dinner the night before, Riley said he'd tell Matt everything that very week.

Next on the agenda was Thanksgiving dinner for twelve, and so far everything was moving along smoothly. Kat was planning the traditional menu of turkey and dressing, along with a ham, all the usual sides, and three kinds of piespumpkin, apple, and pecan.

Her guest list included herself, Riley, Nola and Matt, her uncle Cliff and his wife and two granddaughters, who would be traveling from Cumberland, Maryland, Aidan and his girlfriend, Rachel, and Jeff the duct specialist from Connecticut and his out-in-the-open partner, Richard. The idea of having so many people in her new home filled Kat with joy, and only the smallest twinge of nervousness.

The last project was considerably more complicated, but once she'd gotten Riley's OK to hold a volunteer extravaganza at the clinic the day after Thanksgiving, things had quickly fallen into place. Kat took that as a sign that she'd hit on an idea that was meant to be. It also helped that she'd enlisted anyone and everyone she could think of to help her pull it off.

The printing shop had whipped up flyers and delivered them all over town. Nola was reading one, tapping her foot in agitation:

Work off that turkey by pitching in at the *GIVIN' THANKS BENEFIT* for the PERSUASION RURAL HEALTH CLINIC!

Bring your tools, paintbrushes, your know-how, your elbow grease, and your checkbooks and credit cardsour hometown state-of-the-art medical facility will open by Christmas only if YOU do YOUR part!

PLUS… YOU COULD WIN A DATE WITH POLICE CHIEF BOHLAND!

Friday, November 23, 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Nola's foot-tapping escalated. OK, she said, placing the flyer on the table and looking at Kat expectantly. Explain to me again why this shouldn't bother me.

It's for charity.

But it's a date! Matt's selling himself for a date! It's like he's a gigolo or something!

It's not a real date, Kat said, then went back to answering e-mails.

Oh yeah? Nola seemed truly agitated. Who says?

He says. Kat stopped what she was doing and noticed that Nola looked close to tears. Honestly. We just figured it would be a good way to get people to come in from other townsMatt knows a lot of people in Randolph County.

He knows a lot of /babes,/ is that what you're saying? Nola pointed to the flyer again. Where do you think this band came from? Well, Matt got them to donate their time, and do you know why they agreed? Because he used to date the lead singer, that's why! It's an all-girl country rock band! I think I'm about to blow a gasket!

Kat tried not to laugh.

I've already moved in with that man! He shouldn't be dating other women!

Nola jumped up from the dining room chair and disappeared into the kitchen. I'm starving, she said from the interior of the refrigerator.

No, you're not starving; you're anxiety-ridden! Kat called after her.

And I just read an article that said you should never eat when you feel anxious because the stress hormones turn the calories directly into abdominal fat.

When Kat got nothing but dead silence as a response, she glanced up to check on Nola. She was leaning against the kitchen pocket door, arms crossed defensively across her chest.

So you're saying I'm fat? she whispered, incredulous. First you make my boyfriend the prized stud at the county fair, and now you tell me I'm /fat/?

Kat would have busted a gut laughing if Nola didn't look so forlorn.

Have you talked to him, like I suggested? Kat led Nola into the living room and sat her friend down on the love seat.

Nola sighed. Yeah. I talked to him last night.

And? What did he say? Kat's cell began ringing, but she didn't answer.

Aren't you going to get that? And you never did reassure me that I wasn't fat. Nola was clearly in a huff.

The phone can wait. You're not fat. What did Matt say? Kat sat down next to her.

He said not to worry, that it's just an auction thing where people can bid to get him out of jail and then go out to eat with him. It sounds stupid and harmless, but I'm just a little freaked about it.

Kat smiled at her. I understand. But you can bid, too. You could be the one to pay his bail and get the date.

Nola's eyes lit up. I could, couldn't I!

The doorbell rang. Over her shoulder Kat called out, Come on in!

Nola sighed and went on. I just don't want that big-ass breakfast-in-bed owner to get her hooks in him again, that's all/ohmigod/.

Kat watched as Nola's eyes widened and she sank back into the love seat.