"You painted a portrait of me?" she asked in a whisper. Colton released her hand and trailed his fingers along the cheek of the portrait on the canvas. A tremor of need went up her body watching him tenderly touch her portrait. She had a strange feeling as if he was really caressing her cheek tenderly. Suddenly the need to feel his fingers on her own cheek played havoc with her mind, making her head reel.

"Yes," he said softly, his eyes glued to the portrait. Victoria was speechless by his behavior. This was a complex man with too many twists and turns in his mind, a man she couldn't...