“Don’t say that.” She swallowed hard. “When you left, I swear you took my heart and soul with you.”

“The work I do is every bit as real a danger as cancer is to you. It’s every bit as real as the threat of Whitney is to you. Life gives us choices, Flame. You either grab on with both hands and just go for it, or you sit on the sidelines. I’m a go for it kind of man.”

“So you’re really determined to marry me.”

“Damn straight. I’m kind of partial to your body.” His hand roved down her spine to cup her bottom.

“You’d better see the real me, then.” Elaine pulled off her cap and sat facing him, her heart beating too hard in her chest. She forced herself to stare at his face, to read his expression. She wanted the truth from him.

His tongue did a slow lick of his lips and his eyes lit up. She actually felt the stirring of his shaft along her belly. “Damn, woman, you’re so sexy I don’ think my heart can take it.” He bent toward her, his mouth trailing kisses over the top of her head. “How do you get your skin so soft, cher?”

“I’m going to wear wigs so don’t get all hot and bothered thinking about my bald head.”

“Wigs?” He grinned at her. “I can think of a lot of fun we could have with wigs. Although, to be honest, I was thinking about other bald places just then.”

“My hair is going to grow back, you perv.”

“Aw, but in the meantime…”