Lindsey couldn’t breathe or think. The only thing that kept her slightly composed was the possessiveness of his hand over hers. His touch gave her comfort and hope, and she clung to it as a source of strength.

An hour later, she stepped down from the podium with Mark by her side. To her relief, he reached for her hand again. “Come dance with me,” he said softly.

Lindsey didn’t want to dance; she wanted to leave with him, now. She stopped walking, tugging on his hand. He turned and looked down at her, a question in his eyes. “Let’s leave,” she said, and then added more firmly, “now.”

Slowly, a sexy grin slid onto his face as he tugged her up close and personal. “You can’t run out on your father’s party. Let’s dance a few dances first.”

Lindsey swallowed. “And then we’ll leave?”

He reached out and ran his hand through her hair, a gentle caress that made her ache to feel him closer. “Yes,” he said. “Then we’ll leave.”

“Together?” she asked, needing the confirmation as much as her next breath.

Mark chuckled. “Yes, together.”

Lindsey let out a sigh and her shoulders visibly relaxed. “Okay then. Let’s dance.”

He led her to the dance floor, and she melted into his arms, needing his warmth, his nearness. He buried his face in her hair. “You smell good,” he whispered by her ear.

Lindsey wrapped her arms around Mark’s neck and pressed her body against his, wanting to be as close as their public setting would allow. “You do too,” she said softly, meaning it, wishing she could get lost in everything that was Mark and forget about the party.

Their eyes locked and held. For the first time, she wasn’t shaken by how easily he got to her. A simple look and he had her on fire. She wanted all he was, and all they could be together, no matter how much risk that came with. His hands slid over her hips, his touch setting her on fire, making her forget where they were.

“When are you leaving?” he asked, breaking her out of the sensual fog the music and his touch had formed.

She wet her lips, looking up at him, trying to decide how to answer. This wasn’t the right place or time. She reached up and ever so gently traced his jaw line with her fingers. “Mark—”

Lindsey’s father appeared by their side. “Can I have this dance?”

She looked at Mark, a desperate question in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not going anywhere. Dance with your father.”

She opened her mouth to speak, and Mark rested his finger on her mouth. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She nodded, trying to take comfort in his words, offering a bright smile to her father, and slipping into his arms. “You look very handsome, Daddy.”

He watched her closely. “I didn’t want to interrupt you and Mark. I know you have some things to work through, but I wanted to make sure I cleared the air.” He paused. “He’s a good man, Lindsey. I was a stubborn old man who gave him a bum wrap.”

Lindsey laughed. “Yes,” she said. “You were.”

“I just wanted to make sure none of those things I said impact how you deal with Mark.”

His concern touched her deeply. Lindsey smiled. “Thank you, Daddy. This means a lot to me. More than you know.” She paused, wondering what she should share. “I may be too late to resolve things. I’m not sure.”

“He’s crazy about you,” he assured her.

She hoped he knew something she didn’t. “But that doesn’t make him willing to become involved with me again.”

He pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “Do you love him?”

Her expression softened. “Oh yes, I love him very much.”

Edward stopped dancing. “Then go tell him. Get him away from here. Go someplace private, and make him believe it.”

Pushing to her tiptoes Lindsey, kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.” She looked at him, amazed at the changes Elizabeth had made in him. He had been lonely, much like she had. Love had made him a new person. “Wish me luck.”

She turned into the crowd, but she didn’t see Mark. Panic started to build. With each passing second, her heart pounded harder against her chest. But then he was there, pulling her into a dark hallway. Mark. The man she loved. Seconds later, his mouth was covering hers, and he was kissing her with such passion, such emotion, she thought she might go up in flames. Their tongues and hands explored as they molded their bodies together in wild abandonment.

He pulled away too soon and she stared up at him, her breathing erratic.

“I want you,” he admitted hoarsely.

She already knew he wanted her, but did he love her? Closing her eyes, she reached for courage. Her lashes lifted, and she looked into his eyes. “You asked me a question,” she said. His gaze sharpened but he didn’t say anything. “You asked when I was leaving.” She paused, trying to assess his expression, but all she saw was smoldering heat and a hint of anticipation. “I use to think home was in Washington, but now I know home is where you are.”

He leaned against the wall and let his head fall back, his eyes rolling shut. Fear wrapped around her heart. He didn’t want her. His sudden retreat made her feel like she had been slapped. Of course, she deserved rejection, but she so didn’t want it to be reality. Feeling the tingling of tears, the rush of painful emotions, she turned to leave.

Mark’s hand snaked out and grabbed her wrist. When she turned, he was looking at her with an emotionless mask. “Why now?” he demanded in a low voice that seemed almost angry.

Jerking her arm away was the first thought she had, but she couldn’t find the strength. She needed to be alone to think and cry. “Let me go,” she whispered.

His face filled with harsh determination. “Oh, no, sweetheart. You’re not getting off that easy,” he said as he tugged her against his body. Lindsey refused to look up at him, choosing to stare at his chest. “Look at me, Lindsey,” he demanded.

“No,” she said stubbornly. “Just let me go.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked harshly, but then softened his voice. “Tell me, Lindsey.”

She dropped her head to his chest as the first tear streamed down her cheek. Angry at her lack of control, she swiped at it. “No,” she whispered with her face buried in his shirt. Then she forced her gaze up to his. “That’s not what I want, but obviously it’s what you want. I told you I wanted to be with you, and you went cold on me.” She wiped another tear away with a rough swipe of her hand. “I put it all on the line, as hard as that was for me, and you—”

“You put it all on the line?” he demanded. “How about me? You’re the one who walked out on us, Lindsey.” His eyes were dark and turbulent. “I don’t want to count on you—correction—I won’t count on you again and then have you turn your back on me. I can’t do this again. Not like before.”

And then she understood. He was afraid she was still undecided. She hadn’t convinced him how serious she was. Quietly, she asked, “Remember my nightmares?” He nodded slowly, his eyes holding a question. “They weren’t about the murders. I’ve been having them every night since I went back to Washington. At first I thought we hadn’t gotten the right guy, that my subconscious mind was warning me there was still a murderer loose.” She looked down and tried to calm her shaky voice by inhaling and exhaling. When she felt able, she looked back up at him and continued, “And they really were warning me, but not about what I thought. All along they were about you and me. About me being afraid of you leaving me.”

He let out a heavy breath. “What are you saying, sweetheart, because I need you to be real clear with me. No guessing games and no maybes.”

Her lips trembled as she spoke her heart. “I’m saying, I love you, Mark Reeves. I love you so much it hurts every minute I’m not with you.”

Mark’s hands cupped her cheeks. “There is no in-between this time. Are you sure?”

Tears streamed down her face. “I love you, Mark. And I want to be with you every day of my life. I even want to work by your side, if you’ll let me. You were right, you know? I’m an attorney. It’s what I have always wanted to be, but it took you to help me see it.”