Heart still thumping in her chest, Elizabeth sighed, looked over at Robert, and shifted carefully in Newton's saddle to allow herself a more comfortable grasp on Sargent's reigns. They rode slowly side by side toward town.

As they rode down Main Street, Elizabeth's heart began racing. This time for an entirely different reason. There he was leaning against the hitching post in front of the Mountie office. The hitching post where his horse was supposed to be tied to. The horse she was currently riding.

Having taken off his Red Serge, she could take in his tall frame and muscled arms. And dear God, she enjoyed it.

He had not been facing her, but the sound of horse hooves turned his head and a slow smirk creeped across his face as he caught her eye. She bit her bottom lip and quickly turned towards Robert as Nathan's gaze was causing a blush to creep up on her face.

"Robert, we will talk about this later, but you must promise never to take a horse without permission."

He nodded in agreement and murmured, "Yes, Mrs. Thornton. I promise"

After Robert ran off, she finally found the courage to meet Nathan's gaze. She smiled tentatively.

"You know that riding off on a Mountie issued horse is considered theft?" Nathan teased as he impulsively reached up and placed his hands on her waist to help her dismount.

"I don't need help" she stammered.

"I know," he said with a gleam in his blue eyes, "but I am helping you anyway." As he effortlessly slid her off Newton's saddle, he continued, "You'll need to come into my office so I can take an official statement" and then teasingly added, "hopefully there won't be any arrests made."

Elizabeth laughed and then flushed as she realized his hands were still lightly on her hips.

He moved and motioned for her to follow him into the office. His hand fell naturally to the small of her back as he guided her through the door.

"Well Constable, are you planning to arrest me?"

"That depends…"

"On?"

"You" Nathan said firmly.

Elizabeth hesitated, but only for a moment, before meeting his gaze. "Nathan," she began as her eyes briefly drifted to his lips, "I think…" she said. "You think what, Lizbeth?" His voice that combination of soft and strong that made her knees feel a little weak. "I think I've figured it out" she sighed.

It was Nathan's turn to stare at her lips. He had to feel her. He had to feel her as much as he needed to breath. "Lizbeth?" he said as he pulled her closer, eyes never wavering from hers. And she was his. Completely and utterly his. "Kiss me" Elizabeth began as his lips crashed into hers.