A Dangerous Love

"No." The single word was terse and the eyes reflected sincerity. In fact, his entire expression reflected deep concern. Worry that she had caused.

On impulse, she touched his brow. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about how it might affect you if I got hurt out there."

Her soft touch did more than erase the worry from his brow. It ignited a fire in his eyes as well. "Lisa." His voice was little more than a husky whisper as he pulled her close and sought her lips.

Her arms encircled his neck, and her lips met his eagerly. She clung to his muscular shoulders, returning his ardent embrace. Everything was going to be all right. His feelings for her were as genuine as hers for him. She could feel it in his soft kisses on her neck, in the way he whispered her name. She stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead.

They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't hear the car enter the drive. When the kitchen door opened suddenly, they jerked apart and turned guilty faces to Sarah, who's expression made it clear she had seen and comprehended their actions.

Yancey cleared his throat, and Lisa stared down at her hands. Tammy burst through the door and saw Lisa sitting on the counter. Her eyes widened as she noticed the bandaged foot.

"What happen to yow foot? I want to sit up thew!" She turned excited eyes to her father.

Yancey lifted Lisa from the counter and helped her into a chair. "She was wandering in the woods again and fell down. That's what happens when you don't do as you're told. You get hurt." He took Tammy's tiny hand in his. "Now let's go get the rest of the groceries."

Sarah started putting up the groceries. Her expression was solemn, but the eyes that regarded Lisa were full of mischief. "I trust you had enough time to yourself today?"

Lisa's face grew hot. "I was enjoying myself until I fell over the cliff."

The humor in Sarah's eyes was immediately replaced with concern - and then a guarded expression. She gave the sack of groceries undue attention as she quarried Lisa.

"You fell off a cliff? Where?"

Lisa bit her lip. "I'm not sure where," she lied. "I got lost." At least that part wasn't a lie. "Anyway, I was lucky it was a low cliff and that Yancey found me before a bear did."

Sarah glanced up with a short laugh. "I hardly think a bear would . . ."