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  "I know that, but it would be a bigger loss to turn my back on what we have. For however long it lasts. I'm afraid I've ruined the best thing to ever happen to me. I know we can make it work. Since you're still listening, I'm hoping you'll give us a chance.

  "I love you, Terra," he said fiercely. "Both the fire investigator and the firefighter. I know you're not one without the other. I want all of you."

  "I have to be both those things, Jack."

  "I know. I know going into this that you're a gutsy, sexy lady who may have to fight fires on occasion. But don't blame me if I hope it isn't very often."

  Could she believe him? Trust that he wouldn't change his mind later? "Are you sure?"

  "Absolutely. For always."

  He'd taken the risk, finally. How could she not? Her last wall crumbled as emotion tightened her throat. "I love you, too."

  His eyes turned smoky and he kissed her, slowly, tenderly.

  She twined her arms around his neck, melting against him. Long moments later, he lifted his head and nuzzled her neck. "I don't know what I would've done if you'd said no, but I wouldn't have given up."

  Touched, she pulled back and looked into his eyes. The tenderness she saw there started a slow burn inside her. "Let's go to my house."

  "Wait. Since I'm on a roll, I want to know…will you marry me?"

  Her eyes widened. "Are you planning to bribe me for that, too?"

  "If I have to. What's it gonna be? Ice cream or flowers?"

  "Actually, your idea about crawling is good."

  His head came up; his eyes narrowed. "On my belly?"

  "How about on me?" she whispered, her body humming in anticipation.

  Grinning, he ran his hands down her arms and flicked a heated look over her body. "Now that's some crawling I can handle."

  She hooked a finger into his waistband and pulled him to her. "Get busy, Detective."

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-8085-8

  BURNING LOVE

  Copyright © 2003 by Debra S. Cowan

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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  Table of Contents

  DEBRA COWAN

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14