It was time he showed her what he was capable of.
He set down his valise, squatted at her feet and patted his knee. She draped her calf across his leg, her boot hanging over the side. The heel remained attached through sheer stubbornness it must have inherited from its owner, but it was ready to go at any moment.
He unclasped his valise and dug around for his spare tie. It was a long shot, but he couldn’t think of another option. He wrapped the fabric around the heel and over the arch in a figure eight before knotting it. Giving it a confident pat, he rose to his feet. “Give it a try.”
Winnie lifted her skirts to reveal the tops of her boots and took three quick steps. The tie unknotted at once and flopped into the dirt. She handed the dirtied tie back with an apologetic grimace.
He waved her toward the log. “I’ll try again.”
“What’s the point?” Placing a hand on his arm for balance, she leaned down and ripped the heel from the boot. “There. Much better.”
When Mack gaped, she bobbed the heel up and down in front of his face. “What? At least now I can walk, even if it’s off-kilter. I’ll find a cobbler in town to do a proper reattachment.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”
“But…?”
“But I was trying to save the day.”
“Oh dear, how inconsiderate of me. Would carrying me in your arms soothe your tender masculinity?”
He leaned in so close he could draw a constellation in the freckles on her nose. “Sweetheart, do you really think teasing me is a smart decision?”
Her breath hitched. “Yes?”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Before she could guess his intent, he scooped her into his arms and tossed her over his shoulder.
She squealed and beat on his shoulders with light fists. “Put me down at once, you outlandish beast. I’m far too heavy for you.”
“You doubt my manly strength?” He braced a hand over the back of her legs and took exaggerated strides down the road until breathless snorts of laughter reached his ears. Coming to a standstill, he eased her down his body. Heat flared in his chest at the slow rasp of her coat against his, and his cock twitched in eagerness at the teasing press of her voluptuous curves. God, she was a temptation. It took every ounce of restraint not to let his hands wander lower, to cup her bottom in his hands and discover its shape.
Winnie clutched his forearms while she caught her balance. “You are ridiculous.”
He kept her close under the guise of straightening her hat—and because he was a glutton for punishment—and gave her a lopsided grin. “This entire trip has been ridiculous, so it seemed fitting.”
“A true misadventure.”
Faint laugh lines appeared at the corners of her eyes, and Mack’s breath caught. She’d never smiled at him like that before. Unable to stop himself, he cupped her chin, his thumb brushing the corner of her mouth. “If I had to have a misadventure, I’m glad it could be with you.”
A light sigh wafted over his hand, and she swayed forward an inch. An infinitesimal amount by any standard, but Mack’s heart surged in his chest. Daring to push his luck, he bent slowly and pressed his lips to one flushed, soft cheek. He nuzzled her once with his nose, inhaled her scent of citrus and vanilla, and then stepped back. As much as he wanted to keep her within his arms, they had a long way to go.
He gestured gallantly toward the road. “Once more unto the breach.”
This time, Winnie walked—hobbled—at his side. Soon, they came to a fork in the road. Mack peered in both directions, and something white snagged his attention.
“Are those—” He strode forward and picked up the bit of cloth. “Are these your unmentionables?”
The bit of cloth was snatched out of his hand and shoved behind Winnie’s back before the last word was out of his mouth.
“They are. Why,allof my clothing is in the mud!” She moved quickly despite her uneven gait, gathering items in her arms. “I don’t know whether I should be grateful or indignant that the farmer didn’t think my clothes were of any worth.”
Mack found her valise in a ditch. The farmer hadn’t been gentle on it when he tore through its contents, and it looked ready to fall apart. Winnie rummaged through it, checking the inner pockets twice. When her shoulders sagged, he knew something was wrong.
“What did he take?”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Money.”
Protective, helpless anger swept through him. Rotting farmer bastard. “I can cover your costs.”
