Author's Note: I don't own anything to do with "Haven". I do not in any way pretend to be a good writer, so consider this your warning ;-) However, that being said, I had this dream, and the story has been plaguing me for a month. I need to get it out of my head and down on paper. Figured I might as well share it with you while I am at it. Even if it is OOC for Duke, I think this is the person he could be underneath all the posturing and tough guy routine. It is unabashedly a love story about Duke, and I make no apologies for that fact. I know I won't be able to convey the depth of the romance between Duke and Wren that I felt in my dream, but I'll give it a try. While I do not own any characters from the Haven Series, I do own Wren, and this story.

**This story has been re-written and hopefully is now a better read. My skin is a bit thicker now, and if you have some gentle constructive criticism, I'd like to hear it, since I am now pursuing a secondary career as a writer.

Depth of a Man's Heart, Part I

Wren

Wren Anwar stepped into the sunlight and took a deep breath of the brisk ocean air. Over her head gulls swooped and cried in the perfect blue sky. Hazy clouds kissed the horizon and the sea stretched away as far as she could see. The town was not a large one, but it was big enough to loose yourself in if you tried, and she intended to. The charming New England style buildings and coastal structures filled her with nostalgia although she had never lived up this way in her life. She had been on a bus for more than six hours and she was impatient to stretch and great some feeling back in her legs. Haven , she mused. It had a comforting feel to it, although some of Audrey's stories were disquieting. The thought of her childhood friend brought a smile to her lips. It would be so good to see her, she thought. Last time they had been together was when Audrey had come to visit her in the hospital. She found herself gritting her teeth and forced the unpleasant memories back down in their hole, slamming the lid on tight.

Wren was a slender woman of less than average height. In years past she had been able to call herself a runner, among other things. Now she was a runner of a different kind. Usually fairly tanned, she was now pale, an effect of many months indoors. Her eyes were her most striking feature: set in an almost pixie face, they were a shade of brown so light as to be nearly golden. Cat's eyes. An abundance of long, wavy auburn hair only intensified the effect, and she had received a fair share of compliments over the years.

Reaching back, she loosened the clip in her hair and it fell down her back, blazing red in the late afternoon sun. The breeze sent stray hairs flitting about her face and she quickly smoothed it down, tucking it behind one ear. Her naturally generous mouth made her look eternally amused and now was no exception.

The sound of her name caught her attention, and she looked up to see Audrey running towards her. She dropped her bag and ran to her friend, laughing and crying, so happy to be starting this new chapter of her life. It's going to be alright now, she thought. It's all going to be better from now on.

Duke

Duke Crocker was coming out of the diner when a flash of red caught his eye. Pausing, he searched for the source and noticed a woman with long auburn hair getting off the bus a short distance away. He stopped, his interest piqued. Always appreciating a beautiful woman, he stepped back into the shade of the awning and watched as she closed her eyes and lifted her face to the late afternoon sun. His breath caught as she turned in his direction and opened her eyes. She was stunning, almost exotic, and he was momentarily transfixed.

Deciding he had a little more time on his hands, he sat at one of the little tables on the deck to see what more he could find out. He watched her pull the clip from her hair and he grinned to himself as it tumbled down to her waist. He knew he had not seen her here before. As she moved off towards a nearby bench, he got the impression she was waiting for someone, and he speculated on who it could be. He knew almost everyone in this little burg. Who ever it was, he'd have to make it a point to conveniently run into them and get a chance to meet this stunning woman. A shout broke through his thoughts and he watched as Audrey came running down the sidewalk, embracing the stranger and jumping up and down. The day just got very interesting, Duke thought, Very interesting indeed.

Wren

Wren was staying with Audrey in the little seaside house she had rented. She was still surprised Audrey had decided to move here for the foreseeable future. But then, so had she, and on even more of a whim than her friend. She had finally finished unpacking. It was a chore she disliked, but nonetheless had to do, since she had already been here a week.

Audrey and Nathan had just moved in together when she had called to take up her friend's offer to visit. She liked Nathan immediately, and found she had no uneasiness living under the same roof with him. Still, if she stayed as long as she planned to, she would have to find a place of her own sooner than later.

She watched the two of them out on the deck. Their goofy affection warmed her heart, and she could not help but feel some unease as they basked in their recent engagement and wedding plans. She frowned. Stop it! she thought, and fought to bury unwanted thoughts of her own traumatic past. She glanced at the outfit she had set aside for the engagement party tonight at the Grey Gull. She was anxious to not stand out and hoped the simple, dark purple dress would not scream 'outsider'. She was not a big fan of parties. With a sigh she went to take a shower.

When she came out, Audrey was waiting impatiently for Wren to finish getting dressed. She was eager to get to the party and have a chance to introduce her friend to everyone in Haven. Audrey smiled inwardly as Wren stepped out of the bathroom. The deep purple dress suited her perfectly, lying along her athletic curves and falling to just above her knees. Her hair was partially pulled up into a loose knot behind her head, and the rest of her hair fell down her back in thick waves, hiding the two ragged scars the dress didn't cover. Audrey really hoped that Haven would be just what her best friend needed: a chance to start over, to rebuild herself, and most importantly, find some peace.

'Well, let's get this over with,' Wren sighed, rolling her eyes at Audrey, who was stunning in a shimmery dark blue cocktail dress.

'Oh come on! This is going to be fun! They're going to love you.' Audrey said as she hauled Wren to the car, laughing. Wren rolled her eyes, and smiled, the mood catching.

Duke

Duke couldn't get his mind off Audrey's friend. She was sure to be here tonight. Audrey had already warned him to be on his best behavior and keep his hands to himself. As he chopped onions in the kitchen of the Gull, he grinned. Fat chance. He had to meet her! And tonight would be his chance. He fussed with some minor details, his mind running circles around how best to approach her and what to say. Those eyes... Damn. How long had he been standing there spacing out?

'Duke? Earth to Duke… ' It was Jeanne, one of the high school girls he had hired to help out tonight. People would start arriving soon and he hadn't even started to get ready himself. The white shirt or the blue? Jeans or slacks? What would she like? Maybe something a bit more sophisticated…. Oh hell… He moved another table in line for the buffet and then headed down to his boat to change.

An hour later Duke nervously walked up the path from the dock. He was frustrated with his inability to put this woman out of his head. Well, there was only one way to cure that. He stopped to look up at the Gull. The little white lights reflected off the water, and soft music rolled down the hill. A few people were gathered on the deck and laughter danced on the gentle breeze. He shoved his doubts aside and walked up through the open deck doors into the warm light and easy chatter of the guests.

The first person he saw was Nathan. Figures. Mrs. Carmondy, Audrey, the Teagues brothers and Marnie were gathered in one corner of the room near the huge fireplace. Maybe she didn't come… Then he felt his chest constrict as a stunning redhead in a purple dress became his singular focus. His heart hammered and his palms went all sweaty. Jesus, he thought , you'd think I was in high school again! His feet wouldn't move, so he contented himself with just watching her. She looks nervous, he thought. He watched Audrey wave her over and introduce her to Marnie, the post mistress. The light caressed her hair in burgundy flashes and he decided that red was his new favorite color. If I don't talk to her, I might as well turn in my man card, he mused. Now if he could just get her away from Audrey, who definitely would not take kindly to his interest. She had made that perfectly clear.

Just when he had gotten up the nerve to approach her, an emergency in the kitchen claimed his attention and for the next couple of hours he found himself busy with the behind the scenes details of the evening. Finally laying claim to a beer and a quiet spot on the deck, Duke breathed in the crisp air of the late spring evening. The stars were out and a hazy moon was just coming over the horizon, casting a clean white glow off the water. The sound of the ocean always relaxed and comforted him and he was deep in thought when the soft scent of vanilla tickled his nose. Turning at the soft footstep, he froze when his eyes took in the shadowy silhouette of the woman who had been haunting his thoughts relentlessly for the past week.

She smiled apologetically at him. 'I hope I'm not intruding,' she said softly. 'I was just looking for a quiet place to hide for a few minutes.'

He grinned lopsidedly. 'No worries. I was hiding myself.' He leaned on the railing and stared out at the water self-consciously. Wren moved to the rail and leaned over slightly, smelling the sweet scent of the wild roses that bloomed incessantly along the Maine coast.

'What a beautiful spot,' she mused. 'It's almost surreal.'

'Thank you,' he said.

She looked at him quizzically. 'Are you the owner?'

'The one and only,' he smiled, finally daring to look at her again. Damn, he thought as his mind wiped clean of anything but the reflection of the moon in her eyes. Those eyes… I could die happily right now.

'… like a restaurant owner.' He snapped back to present, realizing she had said something while he was lost in thought. Catching on, he replied casualy, 'I'll take that as a compliment. If I ever do look like a restaurant owner it will be time for some serious reconsideration of my life.'

She grinned at his quip and leaned against the rail, taking in the hypnotic sparkle of the waves beyond the dark. They stayed silent, each very aware of the other, striving to look relaxed but trying a little too hard. Finally, she shivered as the dew settled on her skin. Things inside had quieted down as the night grew late and people began to drift home. She felt so awkward. She had noticed this guy - wasn't his name Duke or something? – around town. She found him handsome in a roguish kind of way, and this interested her, since she was not attracted to many men nowadays.

'It's getting chilly,' his words broke into her thoughts. She smiled in agreement as a chill got the best of her efforts to hide it. Suddenly feeling uncharacteristically chivalrous, he removed his button down oxford, revealing a faded t-shirt, and draped it over her shoulders. She instantly tensed and he backpedaled mentally, trying to decide how to save the situation. 'Come inside and sit by the fire,' he offered. 'I'll make you some of my famous hot cocoa, guaranteed to warm you up.' His affected casualness worked, despite her attempts to remain detached, and she moved inside with him, curling up in a big chair and giving a reassuring wave and a smile to Audrey.

Wren

The shirt he placed on her shoulders smelled softly of his aftershave and mixed with the cloying scent of the roses. She breathed it in, feeling a little heady and a little foolish at the same time. The familiar cold knot in her stomach twisted and she pushed the feeling away with a frown. Her thoughts turned to his hands. She looked at them as he gestured towards the dining room and the fireplace. They were graceful hands, long fingered and smooth. An artist's hands, she thought. The shirt was warm with the heat from his body and again she felt that stirring of anxiety, as if even a shirt could hurt her. Losing patience with herself, she pulled the shirt closer and sought out a chair by the fire place while Duke went to the kitchen.

Audrey was frowning at Duke and, glancing at Wren, seemed to ask what the Hell was going on. Wren didn't understand Audrey's hostility towards Duke. Or maybe she was misreading it? She'd have to explore that later. For right now duke was returning with two cups of hot coco, and, taking the chair across from hers, handed her the steaming cup. He smiled at her and looked away almost shyly into the fire. She grinned to herself, hiding it in the cup as she took a sip. They sat in a companionable silence listening to the quiet conversations around them punctuated with louder bursts of alcohol laced laughter. Every once in a while, their eyes would meet, and she would get a little nervous, but it was a good kind of nervous. She had hope for herself yet.

When it was finally time to get going, and Audrey and Nathan had said goodnight to the last of the evening's guests, Wren wandered into the kitchen. She tried to tell herself she was just looking for a place to put her cup, although she could have left it on the bar. Duke had been called back to work and she had only caught glimpses of him as he moved about the restaurant. It seemed that she never failed to catch his eye though, and it pleased her more than she would admit. Placing her cup in the sink she turned just as Duke came in with an armload of dishes. She saw a couple of plates start to slide and quickly stepped in to help, effectively dumping the contents down the front of her dress.

They both started laughing as they dumped the offending dishes in the sink and cleaned up the mess. Her dress was soaked in sauce and something of an unidentifiable nature. Her attempts to clean herself up were an abject failure and she tossed the towel into the sink in disgust. Duke had left to give her some privacy, but now he returned with sweatpants and a shirt. She grinned self-consciously. She felt very awkward putting on this man's clothes, and they were huge on her, but she still felt kind of warm and fuzzy about it all. Pushing aside her discomfort, she met up with Audrey and Nathan in her borrowed clothes. She ignored their questioning glances, and with a parting smile for Duke, she headed home.

Later that night, as she lay in bed, her thoughts returned again and again to Duke. Like flipping through channels, her mind jumped from his hands to his unexpectedly charming boyish grin, to the warmth and scent of his shirt, and again to his hands as she tried unsuccessfully to turn off her thoughts and go to sleep. Her last thought was of the little curl of hair that wrapped around his left ear and the way he tilted his head when he looked at her as if trying to figure her out.

She woke some time later drenched in a cold sweat, trembling and whining. Her breath labored as if she had just sprinted a mile and her hair was plastered to her face. Please no, she thought. This wasn't supposed to happen here. This is my new life, a fresh start. I left this back there damn it! She reached up to wipe the damp curls from her face and in doing so caught the faintest whiff of aftershave. The effect was immediate. Her heart started to slow and her fragmented thoughts focused on a fireplace and long fingers wrapped around a steaming mug of cocoa. She allowed her mind to rest on these thoughts for awhile, until she felt she could get up. Gathering herself, she went to take a quick shower, change the sheets, and ponder her polar reactions of the evening.

Later, drawing back the covers, she glanced over at the chair where Duke's shirt was laid over the arm. Feeling more than a little foolish, she gathered up the shirt, burying her face in it, breathing deeply. The fabric tickled her nose. Deciding not to analyze it too closely, she wrapped herself in the comforting fabric, the soothing scent putting her into a restful sleep like she hadn't had in months.

Duke

Duke turned off the last of the lights and walked down to the dock and his boat. The air in what served as his bedroom was chilly and he flipped on the space heater, thinking how much better it would be to have a human heater in bed with him. I'm such a dog sometimes, he thought testily. Thinking of Wren like that made him feel a bit ashamed.

Wren. The fireplace had been a bad idea. The light from the flames and lit her face perfectly, adding to his disconcerting feelings about her. She was shy, and quiet, but he sensed an iron core in her, a strength he couldn't name. He wanted to protect her, impress her. Hell, maybe I should start with just not making a fool of myself, since I seem to lose all my skills when I'm around her, he thought.

Stripping off his shirt, his skin broke out in goose flesh and he quickly slid under the covers. He lay there for a while, thinking of her. Why her? Why now? I really don't need distractions right now… but I want this distraction so much. He sighed and turned onto his side. His mind traced the contours of her face, the hollow of her throat. She had tiny wrists – what an odd thing to notice – and he wanted to kiss them…repeatedly. But there was something else: A deeper need that made him uneasy. She affected him in ways he simply did not let women affect him. And he was defenseless against it. He drifted off to sleep wondering where he stood the best chance of running into her tomorrow.

Over the next few weeks, he went out of his way to both avoid her and casually bump into her. When he was near her he was exhilarated, happy. When he was away from her he was nothing short of miserable. They had struck up a friendship, despite Audrey's disapproval, and occasionally got coffee or walked to the market together. She was opening a flower shop in town, and he had earned her trust enough that he was helping her set up the shop and finding her more exotic flowers to carry. His feelings for her were intense, and becoming more difficult by the day to hide. But he managed, and thought he was doing a very good job.

As was becoming routine, he walked up to grab coffee at the diner before heading over to help Wren with the shop. He found her sitting in the middle of what was nothing short of chaos, looking over tired and overwhelmed.

'Hey, now,' he said. 'You look like something a seagull dropped.'

She glanced up at him and frowned. He reached down to help her to her feet, handing her one of the coffees. 'I think you need this,' he grinned. She took the cup, with a brief smile of thanks and surveyed the room. 'This is impossible,' she said despondently.

'You'll get there. I'll help.'

'I know, but…'

Making a sudden decision, he stepped over a pile of foam wrapping, nearly knocking over a brilliant blue vase and steered her towards the door. He cut off her words of protest. 'You've been at this for three weeks straight. When's the last time you took a break anyway? No arguments - I'm getting you out of here to clear your head. You need to see sun.' And with that he walked her down to the Gull to pack them a picnic lunch.

Wren

The truck bounced down the narrow lane towards the water. They had driven for a half an hour and were now above a beautiful cove bordered by cliffs and topped with weather hardened pine trees. He pulled off the road and parked the truck in a little clearing at the head of a trail. The water was lost from view, but she could hear the waves hitting the rocks and smell the damp earth. The day was turning out very warm and she was glad of the light blue tank top and shorts she had chosen.

Duke got the basket out of the back seat and led her to the head of the trail. It wound down a steep slope through thickets of scrub and wild roses. Rounding the bend, she saw he had stopped, and she gasped as she took in her surroundings. The sun shone down out of an amazing blue sky and lit up a beach that was a near perfect crescent of glimmering sand. The tide had started to go out and slick, wet piles of rock stood exposed like ancient monuments. The water was a startling shade of blue-green, unusually clear and calm.

Duke picked a small rise to lay out a thick blanket and set down the basket. She watched him from the corner of her eye, trying not to appreciate his tan skin and long legs too much. She looked away quickly as he straightened up, her ears turning red and her stomach tightening. Taking her hand he led her down towards the water. 'You've been saying you want to hunt for shells and stuff… this is the perfect place. I've been coming here since I was a kid.' They set about exploring, each enjoying the other's presence, and settling into a comfortable silence.

Wren was really starting to relax, and her thoughts drifted to the growing friendship between them. She glanced over to where he was scaling a particularly large pile of rocks and grinned. Show off. But she liked that about him. She liked his confidence that bordered on cockiness, and the way he could look at you so directly it was unsettling. She analyzed her attraction to him. It scared the hell out of her. She wasn't ready for this, yet she wanted it so badly. It had been so long, but it was too soon. He would find out eventually and then what? Would he look at her differently? She was sure he would. Of all people, she did not want to see pity in this man's eyes.

She heard him calling her name and went off in search of him only to find him perched at the top of the biggest pile of rocks in the cove. Figures, she thought, grinning. 'You need to come up here!' he called down to her. 'The view is amazing!'

'How on earth did you get up there?' she asked.

'It's easy,' he replied. 'Come up along that ridge right there… careful… now take my hand and I'll help you the rest of the way.'

She grabbed his hand and her feet slipped. She started to fall backwards but he caught her, pulling her into him as he fought for balance on the slick surface. Her right hand gripped his, her left clasped his shoulder, they looked as though they were dancing, and she glanced up at him quickly as she steadied herself on the narrow perch. Her eyes locked on his and for a moment the world fell away, his face only inches from hers. She could smell the scent that was uniquely him: sea and salt, and something just baked. She forgot to breathe. Just as suddenly, the moment was broken. He stepped away from her carefully, keeping her hand in his. She felt relieved and incredibly disappointed at the same time. He continued to hold onto her hand as they balanced on the rock, looking out into the sheltered cove that stretched out before them.

Duke

I could have kissed her… he thought again for perhaps the hundredth time. What would have happened? She looked scared, and disappointed. I can't figure her out, he mused. He wanted to kiss her so much right then. It was a nearly overpowering need – one he wasn't used to. He thought maybe she did too, but there was something else, hidden just under the surface. He saw it flash behind her eyes – just for a moment – like a living thing. Whatever it was, it was something big, and instinctively he knew he would have to face it if was ever to have a chance with her. But how, and when? He sighed. He was so afraid of messing this up, just like all the other times, with other girls. It seemed to him like he just sabotaged his own efforts, like he couldn't let it go too far, or risk… what? Happiness? He found himself clenching his jaw, and made an effort to relax. He couldn't let her know how this was bothering him.

Her hand felt so good in his. Warm and soft, it fit his perfectly. He couldn't help but smile. The fact that she had not yet pulled away encouraged him. He was elated – and nervous. Whatever piece of this he was missing, he would have to choose his steps carefully. He was not going to let himself ruin this. He was beginning to realize just how much he felt for her.

His stomach put up a loud protest, and she laughed. Grinning sheepishly, he helped her down of the rocks. He could not entirely hide how much it pleased him that this required pretty much carrying her down. Although he tried to be nonchalant about it, he was aware of ever move, every touch, and the fact was not lost on her.

He cast a sideways glance at her. She really seemed to be enjoying herself and was as relaxed as he had ever seen her. He feigned casualness as he wandered over to her.

'Hungry?' he asked.

'Starving!' she smiled, the sun lighting her eyes and making his chest constrict almost painfully. 'I'm dying for some of that apple pie you brought!'

Together they walked back to the blanket in a companionable silence.

Wren

They were sitting on the blanket eating lunch and watching the seagulls perform their aerial dance. She was replaying the morning in her head, chastising herself for being a coward and letting that monster still have a hold over her, even now. He was not here, and never would be, thank God. This was her life now, and she was going to live it. She felt something shift inside her and her resolve strengthened. She deserved happiness and a chance at something more. She wanted to have a man in her life again, and right now that man was Duke. She realized that at some point they were going to have to talk about her past. She knew he sensed that there was something… odd… about her. She was going to have to let him in, open that door, however frightening that may be. She felt she owed him the truth too, but that would be very painful. And she was terrified it would change things, for she was sure the feelings were mutual between them. She feared losing him.

She glanced over at him and caught him staring at her with an oddly focused expression on his face. He did not immediately realize she was looking at him, and when he did, he looked away quickly, clearly embarrassed at being caught.

'What was that?' She asked him.

'What?' He tried to look innocent, failing miserably.

'You were staring at me with the oddest look on your face.'

'Nah. I was just spacing off.'

'No, you weren't.' He said nothing, looking instead out at the waves.

'Come on, tell me. Did I suddenly sprout a second head or something?'

He looked uncomfortable despite his best efforts. She knew he was getting somewhere. She decided to press further. 'Please? Don't tell me it was nothing. You're a terrible liar.'

He flashed that lopsided grin she loved so much. 'Only to you,' he confessed, but said nothing further, looking at her intently.

She sensed she was pushing into that forbidden territory they danced around every time they were together, and suddenly she didn't care. She wanted to push it further, press the issue into the open a bit. She persisted. 'I'm not going to let it go, you know. Tell me. You can't look at a girl like that and then leave her wondering what the Hell it was all about,' she finished quietly. It took everything she had, but she quelled the fear that threatened to drown her. She looked in his eyes and held his gaze forcing him to look away first.

She watched him ponder his answer before he finally replied, 'I can't tell you – I just don't have the words.'

'Could you show me then?' The challenge was blatant, and she was feeling daring, defying the fear that coiled in her., refusing to budge.

He looked at her closely, surprised by her persistence. He studied her face, looking for the unease that was nearly always there. It hadn't disappeared, but there was something else there now as well: defiance and need, strength and determination.

'Are you sure?' he asked. He gave a brief nod and, considering how to proceed, carefully stood up. She watched him with some trepidation and willed herself to stay calm. He moved slowly, hesitantly. He approached her where she sat with her elbows propped on her knees. Here goes nothing, he thought. He moved behind her and settled down in the sand, with a leg on either side of her. He carefully moved closer, noticing her tense slightly, and leaned forward putting his right hand lightly on her waist. She flinched, but otherwise did not move, and he proceeded with more than a little trepidation. Slowly reaching up, he pulled her hair aside, exposing the side of her neck. His hand shook as her traced the soft curve with his finger before slowly leaning in, brushing his lips against her throat.

She froze, the fear inside her exploding momentarily while she fought for control of her instinct to pull away. She tried to breathe, but only managed a low whine before finally drawing a ragged breath. She felt him freeze in response and her mind raced as she screamed at herself to get a grip. Don't ruin this, she thought. Fight the fear. He won't hurt you! He started to get up, thinking he had gone too far. It was the impetus she needed to break the strangle hold the fear had on her.

'Please wait.' She whispered.

He froze again, not sure what to do. 'Please…' she repeated.

Duke

He settled slowly back into the sand, but did not touch her, waiting. 'Are you sure?' He asked quietly. He was thinking furiously, trying to decide on the best and safest course of action.

She did not immediately respond, and he waited patiently. He studied the tension in her shoulders. She seemed to have a battle going on within her self and although he wanted desperately to help her, he had no idea what to do.

When she finally did move, it was to look at him shyly over her shoulder. Her eyes pierced him and held him rapt. He leaned back, giving her some room, and studied her face, trying to assess what to do next. She dropped her eyes and turned back around, her breathing still uneven. Her hair was still pulled over one shoulder and he leaned forward closing the distance between them and resting his forehead lightly on her back. He listened to her breathing as it slowed and again he placed a hand gently on her waist. After several long minutes, she leaned into him and he moved his chin to her shoulder. She put her hand on his, and they stayed like that for a long time, just getting accustomed to their new intimacy.

'I'll never hurt you,' he whispered, as if reading her mind. He prayed his intuition was correct.

She stirred slightly, making a small noise he took as acceptance. He quietly rejoiced. He was elated just to be close to her. He could smell the sun on her skin and the sweet scent of her shampoo. She had relaxed, though not completely, and he pondered the internal struggle she seemed to be having. A dozen questions fought to be asked, but he kept silent, trying to read her through touch and allow her time.

Eventually she shifted, closing what space remained between them. He kissed her ear softly, underscoring his feelings for her. His arms promised comfort, his back protection, his lips love. Love - well now, he thought. He pondered that word, finally recognizing his feelings for what they were. I do love her… would do anything for her. It was a startling revelation and his stomach fluttered at the import of it. No turning back now – I'm in this as far as I can get. He listened to her breathe and matched his breath to hers. He rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes and drinking in the enormity of the afternoon.

To Be Continued….