One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,63

teaching people how to jump out of airplanes my instructor deals with a lot of nervous people. What he says applies here, as well. ‘Open yourself to the possibilities, and just let go.’”

Breathless at the pain in her chest, wanting so badly to reach out to him, but afraid the fear would win, she looked into his eyes. Nothing except love, nothing except trust filled them. Could she do any less than honor him with her own love and trust? “I will.”

She let go, and he caught her.

Clothing was removed by urgent, trembling hands and kisses were hot and deep. Naked, Taylor carried her to her bed and laid her on top of it, then pressed his weight down on her. Skin to skin, sigh to sigh, they loved each other in the most intimate of ways, drawing deeper into each other with each seductive kiss.

As Taylor eased inside Piper, he knew that this was the welcome home that he’d be wanting the rest of his life. Unable to control the want, the need, the urgency pulsing within him, Taylor guided her legs around his hips and buried himself deep inside her with a groan of satisfaction. When she cried out his name, he knew there was no other place he wanted to be. Seconds later his body responded and he found his release.

Aftershocks coursed through Taylor as he turned with Piper to settle her comfortably in his arms. “I love you, Piper.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’ve never said that to another woman. I’ve never been able to say the words until you.”

“Taylor,” she whispered, and turned his face toward her for a soft kiss. “With my heart, my soul and my body, I love you.”

“That sounds like a vow.”

“I guess it kind of is. When you truly love someone, you do make a vow to them and to yourself.”

“Can you stay with me here?” he asked, his eyes suddenly serious. “Can you stay in Santa Fe and give up travel nursing after this extension is over?”

She bit her lip and stroked his face with her hand. “You really want me to stay?”

“More than anything. But you have to want to stay, too. We can make a home, build a life together. The kind that neither of us has had.” There was vulnerability she’d never heard in his voice, in the soft stroke of his hands down the length of her back. The man with the magic hands loved her. Wasn’t that a precious thing?

She sat up on the bed and knelt beside him.

“I can hear you thinking. What’s going through your mind?”

She dropped her head and allowed the wave of hair to cover her face. “Can I trust you? Can I trust everything that you are, that you claim to be, to want?” Raising her head, she stared intently at him. “What will happen if things don’t work between us? It will kill me to love you and lose you.”

“There are no guarantees, Piper. Only trust will make it work. Between you and me.” He met her gaze straight on. “I don’t know how to tell you how much I feel for you. How I feel when you’re with me. I just don’t have the words in me. The only way is to take that leap of faith and trust what’s in your heart.” His gentle hand stroked her face. The energy flowing from him into her nearly broke her heart with its sweetness.

There was respect, there was humor, there was friendship, and there was certainly passion between them. Were those enough of the right building blocks to have a forever love? “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.” Without her clothing, bared completely to him, she stood at the end of the bed, holding a post for balance.

“What are you doing?” he asked, and sat up at the head of the bed, his eyes glowing as he watched her.

“If I fall, will you catch me?” she whispered.

“A naked woman in bed, are you kidding?”

“Be serious.” This was the playful Taylor that she loved, but she needed more right now, just for a moment.

“I am.” Taylor gave her a lingering glance to her curves, but the smile on his face and the look in his eyes let her know he understood her.

Without another word, she closed her eyes and let go, falling forward. She didn’t get far, because Taylor caught her, pulled her close and turned her gently in his arms. “If you fall, I will catch