His lips met hers in a rush of desire so strong Adam shook from the intensity. Cat didn't object. Instead, she responded to him! As he pressed against her lips, her mouth softened and moved with his. Cautiously, he touched his tongue against the edge of her lips. Instead of refusal, she opened her mouth to him, inviting him inside.

A ravenous hunger for her gathered in his body, as he tasted her for the first time. A small groan escaped Cat's throat as he explored the depths of her mouth. So sweet, so warm. He felt her move her hands from his neck to his chest, push aside the fine material of his coat jacket and tentatively run them around his waist. He shuddered. He heard his own low growl as he continued their passionate kiss.

Cat, overwhelmed by his advance and stunned by her response to him, freed her body from the constraints of her mind. She'd never experienced feelings as intense as these, and just for a moment, she wanted to savor them.

Her flesh burned like fire wherever he touched her. His warm, firm lips melded with hers, causing ripples of unfamiliar, yet spine tingling sensations to engulf her. When she opened her mouth to him, the touch of his velvety tongue against hers made her quiver all over.

She wanted to feel the heat and the hardness of his muscles beneath her fingers, so she burrowed her arms inside his jacket and around his waist. She wasn't disappointed. Her seeking fingers explored and touched. Through the linen of his shirt, she molded her hands along the outlines of his muscles, trying to memorize each striking new discovery.

To her surprise she heard and felt a low groan rumble from his chest. Cat, confused and dazed, wasn't sure if that was good or bad. She only knew she didn't want it to end just yet. She kept on returning his deep, heady kisses and continued to touch his torso with tentative fingers.

She felt Adam's roughened thumb on her cheek. He traced a tear stain down to her throat and followed with his lips. Cat's knees went weak. His breath was hot and pleasing on her skin. She tipped her head back, offering her neck, gasping when he nuzzled and nibbled all the way along her throat. Her hands reacted to his new caress, gliding up his broad back, kneading the muscles she found there.

He inched his kisses back up to her cheek again, and she eagerly offered her lips again, wanting to taste more. He didn't disappoint her. Another hot, intense kiss resulted. Cat shivered with delight and leaned into him with relish.

Adam felt like he was losing control. Cat had awoken every fiber in his body. She was testing every measure of restraint he had. Tearing away from her lips, he moved his mouth down her throat once more. He didn't want to let her go; he wanted to explore, discover every intriguing inch of her. Cat's tall body fitted against him snugly. It was an unexpected pleasure to hold a woman who almost matched him in height and didn't feel as though she might break apart in his arms. It made his hunger stronger, bolder, more demanding.

He kissed her again and again. He'd known quite a few women intimately, but none had ever drawn a response so raw and uncontrolled from him. He knew he wanted her.

But she couldn't want him.

He forced his mind to work and think about his actions. Cat had been upset and vulnerable, and he'd been comforting her. He was taking advantage of her by kissing her at such a time. He had to stop. The delicious sensations she gave him were clouding his judgement. He had to stop, be responsible.

Adam reluctantly left her tempting mouth. Her lips, slightly swollen, remained enticingly parted. He longed to go back to them and indulge far into the night. He watched as she opened her beguiling eyes. She was clearly dismayed he'd stopped. In that moment he almost relented.

Yet, he knew she couldn't be thinking clearly. How could she be? Caught in a weak moment anyone would cling to physical affection. He needed to stop it right now, before he was lost in her. His brows went down. He regretfully withdrew his arms.

"Cat, I'm sorry," he said softly. She didn't reply. "I shouldn't have done that. I don't usually get so carried away." Adam waited, but she remained silent. He became tense as he waited for some retort from her.

"I'm sure you don't."

He watched as the passionate glaze left her face, and was replaced by a distant look.

"Big mistake," she mumbled as she stepped back from him.

She had every right to be angry with him. He'd just ravaged her without permission, when all she needed from him was a friendly embrace. He was disgusted with himself.

"I think we could both use a drink," he replied.

Adam moved away to the fireplace and headed for the brandy. He needed time to regain his composure. His thoughts raced at great speed. His physical needs had almost won out over his head. But he didn't feel like apologizing or pretending he didn't want her; he felt like holding her, kissing her, making love to her.

"I'll pass. I should be going back to the bunkhouse."

Her impassive tone saddened him. Adam sighed heavily and stared into the fire. "We should talk about what just happened."

"Nothing happened."

Adam turned and tried to look into her soul through her eyes. A hard mask sat firmly in place. She continued.

"You simply comforted me when I needed it. I... thank you for that. As far as anything else, well..." she trailed off.

"Why were you so upset?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Adam heard the hardness in her tone. Why wouldn't she let him in? Well, he refused to push her. He still didn't know how long he could control his body. With her in the same room, so close, he risked taking her again and kissing the hardness from her heart. Frustration pushed him to be blunt. He turned back to the fire and took a large swig of straight whiskey.

"Go, then." His monotone voice betrayed nothing, just as he wanted. "Don't forget the north pasture needs fencing repairs tomorrow."

"Fine."

Cat ached. Why was he suddenly so disinterested? Had he already forgotten their passionate moments thinking about work? Yet her body remained on fire; her emotions raged. Her words were the opposite of her feelings, but she didn't know how to express what she felt. She'd loved his kisses. She wanted to go to him, as a surge of longing lapped close to the surface of her skin.

Having had no experience with men, she didn't know what to think or say. Did he care for her, or had it been just a moment of passion he'd to be shrugged off without regard? It hadn't felt like it, but Adam appeared cool and unmoved as he leaned casually by the fireplace.

Of course, he regretted kissing her: Cat De'Maine, cowhand. He'd probably kissed Miss Keith earlier tonight and found her severely lacking in comparison.

"I'll try and remember the fencing."

Adam looked at her without giving away his thoughts.

"Good night."

She waited for him to stop her, to make some gesture that might show her he had some sort of feelings for her. It didn't happen. He just watched her, so she took the last word.

"I was grateful for your compassion. However, rest assured, I'll not need it again any time soon." With that, she retreated from the house and closed the large door behind her.

After she'd gone, Adam could finally release the fierce clamp he'd held on his emotions and ask himself why he'd really detached himself from the moment. He leaned on the mantel for support; his head began to pound. Cat's face hovered within the flames of the fire.

What was it about Cat? Those eyes like the deep rain forest he'd seen up north. Was it her long, beautiful hair, rich and dark and full of fire? Perhaps it was her sharp mind or her honesty. He glanced back to the fire's fading image and sighed.

Adam wasn't afraid of anything: anything except love. The pain of loss outweighed the joy. He knew that through bitter experience. He'd been unlucky at love too many times to trust these new budding feelings. He didn't want to fall for Cat, or any woman. Not again.

In a fit of frustration, he smashed his empty glass into the fire and strode from the house. For the first time in a long time, he felt like getting drunk.

Cat heard the pounding of hooves from where she lay in her bunk. She knew it was Adam probably heading back to town. He hadn't tried to follow her. It was obvious their encounter meant nothing to him. He'd probably had hundreds of such liaisons.

He mustn't know how deeply it had affected her. Feelings she never knew she had were awakened in her body. Not only that, she had a horrible feeling that Adam could be the only one who would draw such a response from her.

How could something like this happen? Confusion reined inside her head. The trembling aftermath of their encounter still raked her body. She turned over knowing a sleepless night awaited her, as well as a feverish nightmare with Adam in command of her dreams.

Cat spent Sunday on a lonely ride out to the Lake. She didn't feel like facing anyone or being falsely cheery. She had a lot to think about. Especially about her life and where it was headed.

She'd woken late with the positive thought that the night before had all been a dream and nothing really happened. She knew that wasn't true as soon as she dressed and went to the window of the bunkhouse.

Outside, in the morning air was Adam, preparing the buggy for the ride into town and to church. She felt her skin tingle as she watched him move and work on hitching the horse and harness.

The memory of his touch flooded back as she watched. She pressed her fingers to her lips and felt the heat in them as they recalled his kiss.

He was the one.

Her father had always joked with her when she was a little girl.

"How will I know when my prince comes along, Pa?"

His jolly laugh echoed in her mind. "You'll just know, little Cat. One day, you'll see him, and just know."

That day, she reluctantly realized, was here. It was a bitter pill to swallow, knowing it was Adam Cartwright. Last night when he'd easily turned off his charm and dismissed her, she'd seen his true colors. He had no feelings for her, he couldn't have. Cat had no experience, but she'd been told before that men in general took what they wanted with no regard for love. However, Will's story came into her mind. Adam had been hurt by love. Perhaps that was why he'd suddenly turned so cold.

Not that she'd behaved any better. She'd told him well and truly what she'd thought of him. Her retaliation was a cover-up. She couldn't let him know how she really felt. He'd laugh into her face and she'd be shattered.

She'd quickly retreated from the window when Adam turned toward the bunkhouse. She didn't want to chance him seeing her, so she stayed inside until well after he and the other Cartwrights left. Then she saddled Rebel and rode out to the lake.

Memories of her old life and uncertain thoughts about her future ensured she felt lousy for most of the day. Then, after hours of gazing at the lake and the surrounding mountains, and of trying to work out a plan, she finally had to admit what was really bothering her.

Somehow, after being in Adam's arms the night before, and having let some of the built up grief out of her system, she no longer felt quite as wretched about the past.

She'd done her best to save the family home. Maybe she'd been too hard on herself. Perhaps she should have talked about it to someone long before now. Perhaps she'd taken everything way too hard.

Adam had reason to be disinterested in her. She'd done nothing but fight with him since they met. Now was the time to take her life back. She wasn't going to wallow in the past, nor did she want to hide from the truth about herself anymore. She'd been ruining her chance at life. It was time to form a new plan. With that positive thought, she mounted Rebel and started the ride back to the ranch house.

She was close to twenty-three years old and didn't have a real friend. She'd forgotten how to have fun. She didn't even own a party dress or a dress of any kind. Her father would have been horrified at the way she'd let herself go. He'd always done his best to make sure she never forgot she was a young lady, even though she was a tomboy. And with the small taste of passion she'd allowed herself the night before, she could only guess at what she'd missed out on as far as love was concerned.

Maybe she could turn the situation around. If she learned to be like the other refined women in town, Adam might see her differently. She would have to learn how to dress properly, how to act like a lady and most importantly learn to control her temper. She smiled at the difficulties she could see ahead. She actually felt happy for the first time in years.

Cat thought about her reactions to Adam again. She'd never dared to hope she'd ever experience intimacy. Now she couldn't get it out of her mind. Adam had the same stubbornness, the same pride, and the same determination not to give in as she did. They were more alike than she'd realized. She liked his strength and temper. She wouldn't like to be pampered or treated as a doll by a man. She needed a man who matched her strength of character, who knew her worth and at whose side she could stand firmly. She needed an exciting, passionate man. Adam was all those things and more.

But, it was also obvious to her that Adam would need a more refined woman. Or, maybe he didn't want one at all. The story of his former lover entered her mind again. He'd need a beautiful, sophisticated woman to repair his heart, not one clumsy and inexperienced like she was. But then again, Cat was not one to give in easily. She started to think seriously about how to win a man like Adam.

Adam felt awful. His head thumped with the worst headache he could remember. He leaned back on the blue chair. Hoss and Little Joe were squabbling over some insignificant thing at the dining table. Ben was in a grumpy mood after church, as he'd unsuccessfully tried to avert Adam's argument with the minister over the sermon.

Adam had desperately wanted to argue with someone. He had so much pent up emotion inside, he felt like he could explode.

"That's it!" Ben Cartwright's imposing voice overrode everyone's activities. "You two, Joseph, Hoss, go away! I don't care if you kill each other, just do it outside!"

The pair of them trudged slowly out of the house and gave Adam a sour glance as they went. He'd provoked them into their argument by niggling them all morning. "And you!"

Adam turned bloodshot eyes toward his Pa. "What?"

"You started all this. You've been like a bear with a sore head all morning. Actually, now I think about it, you've been like this ever since Cat came to work for us." Ben walked toward the fireplace and faced his eldest son with a grim expression.

Adam didn't reply. He just looked down. Why did his father have to mention her now?

"You don't deny it?"

"No."

"I know she's the reason. If you can't stand her that much, then I'll ask her to leave. Mind you, I'm not too happy about it. She's a good worker, one of the best we've had. But I can't be unfair to you if she makes you this angry all the time. I'd hoped you being at the logging camp for a time would calm you down."

Adam knew his father was trying to get a bite out of him. He wanted to know why Adam disliked her so much. Yet, that wasn't really the problem anymore.

Adam turned toward the fireplace, his eyes covered with one hand. He didn't often drink in excess but he'd indulged heavily after the business with Cat.

"Do you want to talk about it, son?"

Adam didn't speak hoping his father's patience would wear thin and make him give up.

"All right, I'll fire her tonight, leave it to me."

Panic bubbled inside Adam as he finally responded, He uncovered his bloodshot eyes and looking up into his father's concerned face.

"No." The catch in his word surprised him. He could usually control his emotions much better than this. He took a deep breath and watched as Ben turned and sat down in his leather chair by the fire.

"Well son?"

"I don't want you to fire Cat."

"So this mood of yours has nothing to do with her?"

"No. Yes." Adam stared pensively into the cold hearth.

"Which is it?"

Adam almost smiled at his father's low, lulling tone. Ben Cartwright was an expert on extracting information, making you feel as though he could solve any problem.

"Both." Adam listened to the silence for a long while. He could hear the ticking of the grandfather clock the air was so still. He gathered his thoughts. "I kissed her."

Silence.

Adam didn't dare look at his father. This would come as a shock. Yet, he wanted to try and work out his confused feelings.

"Cat? You mean you kissed Cat?"

Adam heard the shock in Ben's voice. "Yeah."

"On purpose?"

A slight grin touched Adam's mouth as he cocked up one eyebrow and looked sideways at his father. "Yeah."

"Well." Ben was obviously trying not to look shocked by Adam's revelation. "That is . . .unexpected."

"I saw her last night when she was getting a book. She was upset about something." Adam paused to choose his words carefully.

"And?"

"And I comforted her. She needed a shoulder to cry on and I offered it." Adam stared down at the table in front of him.

"Then?" Frustration laced Ben's question.

"Then, I'm not sure. Something changed. I felt . . .drawn to her. The point is, I kissed her and . . ."

"She fought you off? You can't expect a woman like Cat to let you have your way without permission."

"No, she didn't fight."

"Oh?"

"She'd needed comfort, a friend, nothing more. Yet I took advantage of her and she let me."

"Adam, I know Cat pretty well by now. And if there's one thing I know about her, it's that she'd never let a man or anyone take advantage of her if she didn't want them to."

"You don't understand. She was crying, not herself."

"Nevertheless

"She told me afterward I'd caught her in a moment of weakness and that she'd never let it happen again."

Another long silence prevailed.

"And that's what's wrong, isn't it?"

Adam didn't look up. As usual, Ben had guessed the real truth of the matter.

"Son?"

Adam looked up as Ben leaned forward in his chair. He spoke in a deep, understanding tone. The same tone that had comforted him as a boy and for many years since every time Adam met with adversary or pain.

"Despite your hostility toward Cat, you've grown to like her, respect her. You don't want to lose her friendship, do you?"

"No, I don't."

"I'm sure if you speak to her, she'll understand."

"That's not it, not exactly."

"Then what?"

Adam cradled his head again, preferring the hangover to consume him rather than look his father in the eye.

"I think . . .I'm falling in love with her."