His heart stopped, and he hurled his rock at the cat. It hit near its paws and the cat looked up.

“Get out of here,” he yelled. “Go on!” He whipped out the second stone and fired it, hitting the animal’s side. The cat turned and leaped away, then stopped and circled back.

Breathing hard, he scooped up another rock and slung it. “Get out!” he shouted again.

Wishing to hell he could use his right arm, he hurled another stone. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jordan do the same. Her aim was off and the rock landed wide, but it kept the cat off balance. He thanked God she hadn’t panicked and fled-because nothing triggered the instinct to pounce like running prey.

The mountain lion paced uncertainly for several seconds, then retreated a few yards and turned back. Cade flung another rock, hitting near its paw again. The cat hesitated a moment longer, then turned tail and loped through the trees.

Cade held up. Still breathing hard, he scooped up another rock and scanned the woods, poised in case it came back. Below him, Jordan rushed over the remaining boulders to the dog, pulled his leash loose, and gathered him into her arms.

“Hurry up,” he called down, his blood pounding through his ears. Even though the mountain lion had left, he didn’t plan to take chances.

“I’m coming.” She set the dog down, wrapped the leash around her hand and started uphill.

His breathing rough, the adrenaline still rushing through his veins, Cade stood guard while she climbed toward him. Nothing moved along the edge of the woods, and a sparrow resumed chirping. When minutes had passed with no sign of the cat, he exhaled and dropped the stone.

He knew they’d been lucky. If that cat had decided to fight…He blanched at the gruesome vision that thought conjured up. Jordan never would have survived it.

And he needed to get her off this mountain before that cat reconsidered and came back.

His emotions still churning, he worked his way across the slope, angling his path to intercept her. The midday sun simmered off the rocks, sending sweat trickling over his cheeks. The hot breeze swirled up choking dust and made it hard to breathe.

He kept a watchful eye on Jordan as she labored below him. The dog bounded easily up the slope, but she lagged behind, exhausted. And that ticked him off even more. What the hell was she thinking? She’d forded a river, hiked up a mountain and climbed through a rock slide, all on an hour of sleep. She’d had no business going after that dog.

He glanced down at her again, but just at that moment, she slipped. His nerves jerked and he lunged forward to help her, but he was too far away. She clutched desperately at a rock, missed and let out a cry. Then she started sliding downhill.

Oh, hell. “Jordan!” He lurched forward again, but the motion sent a stone crashing toward her, forcing him to stop. Any movement he made would only destabilize the hill.

He watched helplessly, a sick terror grinding through his gut, as the rocks surrounding her loosened and fell. The noise of stones colliding split the air, and she disappeared in a thick haze of dust.

Stark fear shot through his blood. “Jordan!” he shouted again, but his voice faded in the nerve-wrenching din. Frustrated, he jammed his hand through his hair. He had to get down there. He had to help her! But how?

He waited an eternity for the noise to cease. Finally, a lone rock bounced down the mountain, and then the dust began to settle.

Seconds later, he saw her move. “I’m okay,” she called out, her voice muffled.

She’d survived. He sagged and closed his eyes, then passed a shaking hand over his face. Good God, that was close. He’d never felt fear that raw in his life.

He watched as she awkwardly picked herself up from the dirt and checked the dog. She still had the damned leash clenched in her fist.

“We’re both fine,” she added with a little wave.

She rubbed the dog’s face and murmured something. Then, after a quick glance downhill, she stepped forward. Even from a distance, he could see her wince.

He gritted his teeth. Like hell she was fine. A rock must have hit her. And judging by the way she was limping, she could hardly make it back up the hill.

With frustration gnawing his nerves, he paced a path in the dirt while he waited. Her face was pale, her features pinched as she climbed toward him. Pain carved a crease in her brow. And he’d never felt more useless in his life.

Then he noticed red splotches staining her shirt, and his lungs squeezed even tighter. She was bleeding. Just how injured was she?

He scanned the area, searching for options, and his sense of futility rose. Dense forest surrounded the rocks in every direction, leaving only the steep slope exposed. A chopper couldn’t land in these conditions. And even if it lowered a basket, the rotor wash could set off a slide.

Which meant they still had to hike to the road.

Suddenly, she let out a cry and stumbled again, and he instinctively lurched forward.

“False alarm,” she called out. “We’re all right.”

All right? When she’d been battered by rocks? Outrage filled his gut. How could she sound so cheerful?

She paused to stroke the dog’s ears, and suddenly he wanted to shake her. Damn that woman anyhow. Didn’t she have any sense? To put herself in danger for a dog! Crossing an unstable slope, setting off a rock slide…And when she’d thrown that rock…His heart constricted with remembered fear.

And injured or not, it was time he laid down some rules. This was the last time she hared off on some damn escapade and nearly got herself killed. From now on, she listened to him.

Long minutes later, she finally staggered to his side. Her face was flushed, her breathing ragged. Exhaustion pulled at her face.

Unable to control his temper, he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to firm ground. The dog shook the dust from his fur and wagged his tail, unhurt.

Unlike Jordan.

“Damn it,” he shouted. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”

She shook her arm loose and frowned. “Because Dusty was stuck. He couldn’t get away.”

“You could have been killed. Don’t you have any sense? That cat could have ripped you apart.”

“But Cade, he-”

“He could have killed you.” Why didn’t she understand that? He couldn’t have stopped him. He sucked in a shallow breath.

“And if I hadn’t done anything, he would have killed the dog,” she countered. Indignation flashed in her eyes. “What did you expect me to do? Just stand there and watch him die?”

“I expected you to follow orders.”

“Orders?” A red stain crept up her cheeks. “You’re not my boss.”

“The hell I’m not.” His temper flared even higher. “As long as we’re on this mountain, I’m in charge. I know more about this forest than you do, and more about how to survive. So when I tell you to do something, you do it. And when I say not to, you’d damn well better listen.”

“But Dusty-”

“Damn it, Jordan! Your life matters more than the dog’s. Can’t you understand that? You just about got yourself killed.”

She bit her lip and looked away. He sucked in his breath and struggled to control his rage.

She met his gaze again, her dark eyes huge. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

His anger abruptly deflated. He dragged his hand through his hair. “God, Jordan.”

“I’m really sorry,” she said again. She stepped toward him, her chestnut eyes soft on his. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

But she had. He couldn’t even think about what might have happened. His throat clenched tight, and he shook his head.

“Cade, I…”

“Yeah.” He swallowed, grappling with unnamed emotions, shocked at the depth of his fear. Why was he so scared? Sure, she’d nearly died, but so had the rookie when that snag fell. And he hadn’t felt that gut-wrenching terror, that mind-numbing dread for the kid. Or lost his temper and yelled.

His gaze met hers again. A scrape marred her cheek beneath the dirt, and fatigue haunted her eyes. And suddenly, the need to touch her swamped him. The need to feel her, hold her, to prove that she was all right.

He closed the short distance between them. Then, hardly breathing, he lifted his hand to her face. He traced the scrape on her cheek with his thumb, felt the heat of her delicate skin. “You’re hurt.”

She shook her head. “Just bruised.”

“You’ve got blood on your shirt.”

“My hands got scraped, that’s all. I’m fine, Cade. Really.”

But she’d almost died. He’d almost lost her. Again.

His heart drumming, he slid his hand to her neck. He drew his thumb along her throat, and felt the strong, hot leap of her pulse.

Her breath hitched in the silence. Her pulse trembled under his hand. And as he gazed into those exotic eyes, feeling that inevitable pull, he knew that he had to kiss her.

Hardly breathing, he tilted her chin and lowered his head, then slid his lips over hers.

The years disappeared in an instant. The bitter memories faded away. Time peeled back and stalled on a glimpse of perfection. On Jordan, the woman he’d loved. And she was finally back in his arms.

Her soft lips parted, granting him access, and with a groan, he pulled her against him. He drank in her heat, her desire, the incredible feel of her skin, and explored her hot mouth with his tongue.

He felt her free hand clench his shoulder, then slowly rise to his neck. And then her tongue twined with his, matching his heat with her answering hunger.

But then she’d always been that way, fitting him perfectly, matching his needs, stoking the unending fire.

He plunged his hand through her hair and cradled her head, deepening and lengthening the kiss. His body grew hard. Raw hunger drummed through his veins.