His eyes went blank and baffled. "What skirt?"
No answer could have pleased her more. "I think you should tell me you love me again." Before he could evade her, she wrapped her arms around his neck, linked her fingers. "I think you should get used to saying it."
"I do love you."
"And you were in love with me that first night, when we were alone, in the house on the hill?"
"I guess I was."
"I didn't know, didn't have a clue. I wonder if the house did. I remember how quiet it got that night-how settled it all seemed. Would you like to go back there, tonight?"
"Yes." He rested his brow on hers. "I would."
"There's something I should tell you first, Rafe. Something I think we should clear up between us."
"Regan, if you're going to slap down more rules and parameters—''
"I think I should tell you," she said interrupting him, "that as attracted as I was to you, as aroused as I was by you, I could have slept with you without loving you."
"I know." He refused to be hurt by it. "It's okay."
"I could have done that because you're the most incredibly attractive man I've ever met, all the way through. But there's no way I would have squeezed myself into that ridiculous outfit tonight unless I'd been wildly, stupidly and completely in love with you." Her eyes shimmered and smiled. "Is that okay?"
"Say it again." He took her face in his hands. "Look at me straight-on and say it again."
"I love you. I'm so very much in love with you, Rafe. There's nothing I want more than to go on loving you, and needing you for the rest of my life."
The thrill of it sprinted through him, then settled, warm and easy. "You could get used to saying it, too."
"I'm a very quick study. I love you," she murmured against his mouth, then poured the words into the kiss.
"It's going to get complicated." He gathered her close and held her. Just held her. "Life's going to be messy."
"I hope so." Eyes closed, she pressed her cheek against his. "Oh, I hope so. Why was I so scared?" she whispered. "Why was I so afraid to let you know?"
"Probably for the same reason I was." He tilted her head back. "It happened so fast, and it matters so much. And it always will."
"It always will," she agreed.
Later, when they were curled together in the deep feather bed, she laid her hand on his heart and smiled.
"I'm awfully glad you came back to town, MacKade. Welcome home."
The house was quiet around them, and slept as they slept.