Elizabeth walked down the stairs. Little Jack was fast asleep. He had had quite the day with Godfather Bill. Petting the horses, eating ice cream, walking around town…Little Jack had gone down without a fuss. Tomorrow would be yet another busy day for the little guy.

There was a gentle knock at the door. Rosemary probably had forgotten something. Or needed to borrow more flour. Despite Clara's insistence on doing most things herself, Rosemary was preparing dishes in case they were needed. Rosemary was a bit obsessive sometimes.

However, Elizabeth opened the door not to Rosemary's face but to Nathan's. She felt herself beaming.

"Hi!"

Nathan grinned back. "I hear you had quite the day today. Flour was everywhere?"

Elizabeth laughed. "There were a lot of pies!"

"Oh so that's your excuse," Nathan winked.

"It's what I am going with," Elizabeth smiled. "Is everything alright though? I mean, it's getting late."

Nathan was immediately apologetic. "I'm sorry. I didn't wake you or anything." Nathan felt incredibly dumb. Of course she hadn't gone to bed yet. She was still dressed. Nathan did his best to not picture Elizabeth dressed for bed. She had to look beautiful….

"Oh no," Elizabeth assured him. "Little Jack just went to sleep. No need to apologize."

Nathan swallowed. "Everything is fine. I promise. I just hadn't seen you today and that did not seem right to me."

Elizabeth blushed. "So…."

"So…"Nathan came closer. "I came to see you. And I am very glad that I did. I also wanted to thank you. For involving Ally with baking today. She talked about it all through dinner."

"She was excellent company," Elizabeth replied. "Nathan, you don't have to thank me for anything involving Ally. I care about her. Even if I wasn't involved her uncle."

"Oh," Nathan playfully bantered back. "You're involved with her uncle, huh?"

"I am," Elizabeth flirted back. "He's the local law enforcement in town. Maybe you've met him?"

"You know," Nathan chuckled. "I think I have."

Elizabeth stepped closer to Nathan. "I am glad you stopped by. And I am very excited for us all to spend Thanksgiving together tomorrow."

Nathan reached for Elizabeth's hands. He rubbed them gently. "Me too. I think this is going to be a special Thanksgiving."

Elizabeth looked deep into Nathan's eyes. "I think so too."

The two just stood there for a while. Nathan hadn't let go of Elizabeth's hands, not that Elizabeth minded in the slightest. The feeling of warmth and love that radiated in that touch warmed her heart.

Nathan suddenly stopped. He looked down at Elizabeth's left hand, suddenly aware of her ring's absence.

"You aren't wearing your ring," Nathan looked once more into Elizabeth's eyes.

"No." Elizabeth said simply. "I'm not."

"Why?"

Elizabeth paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Because of you."

Nathan's eyes expressed confusion, just like they had another evening—the evening where Elizabeth had talked about following her instincts. He hadn't dared hope that she was talking about him. But she had been.

"If our relationship is making you uncomfortable…." Nathan did not want to be the source of pain for Elizabeth.

"Nathan," Elizabeth sighed. "the last thing our relationship is doing is making me uncomfortable. On the contrary, Constable, it is making me really happy." She approached closer to Nathan. "That's why I took them off."

Nathan touched the side of Elizabeth's face. He dipped his head down and gently caressed Elizabeth's lips. The kiss was tender, full of happiness and promise. "Lizabeth." Nathan whispered. The kiss deepened and neither wanted to break away. Finally Nathan did—but only because he was a gentleman.

"Nathan," Elizabeth whispered. "This is why."

Nathan grinned. "You are quite the woman Elizabeth Thornton." Nathan wrapped Elizabeth in his arms.

How long they stood there neither knew. It was the sound of Little Jack crying that stirred them from their reverie.

"I should go," Elizabeth made a move to the door.

Nathan gently kissed Elizabeth once more. "Will you and Little Jack join Ally and I for breakfast tomorrow?"

"How can I say no?" Elizabeth smiled as she shut the door.

Nathan shut the door to his house, pausing a moment. What had just happened? His kissing Elizabeth Thornton had happened. Holding her in his arms, the feeling of their lips touching, the two fully acknowledging the electricity and passion between them—Nathan would dream of it all as he went to sleep.

"You kissed her didn't you," Ally was standing on the staircase, a smirk on her face.

Nathan blushed. Here he was, a Mountie who had just stared down the barrel of a gun not too long ago, and yet his niece had the power to make him blush. He remained silent.

"That's a yes," Ally grinned.

"Go to bed," Nathan sought to change the subject.

"Uncle Nathan," Ally walked down the stairs. "It's about time you kissed Miss Elizabeth."

Nathan could not refrain from laughing. "Oh is that so?"

"Robert thought you were going to kiss her that day up in the woods—after you helped us from the wind storm." Ally said matter of factly. "I said you wouldn't because you were mad at her. And then Robert said he knew you were interested in Mrs. Thornton when he was shadowing you with Mountie duties. Something about clenching your jaw."

"Robert has good instincts." Nathan smiled.

"So did you kiss her?" Ally tried to get a more direct answer.

"Bed, Ally," Nathan turned out the light to avoid his niece seeing him grinning like a fool.

"Yeah, that's a yes," Ally laughed.

Elizabeth laid in bed, unable to sleep. She kept replying the kiss with Nathan over and over in her mind. It had been light and delicate at first. Then it had deepened. Elizabeth hadn't wanted it to end. She could admit that to herself in the privacy of her room.

She hadn't realized just how much she had missed intimacy and physical connection until that moment. Nathan stirred feelings in her that had only been stoked by Jack. It felt good to be wanted and desired. To feel like she was the center of a man's world.

Elizabeth realized that Nathan's kiss, Nathan's embrace, felt like the most natural thing in the world. She hadn't flashed to remembering Jack's kisses. All she had thought of was Nathan. Where the two of them were heading.

It was with this happy thought that Elizabeth fell asleep.