“So far I have nothing to believe,” he challenged.
“Fine!” She jabbed him in the chest with her forefinger. “You want to know why I was upset? I thoughtyouhad some secret lover sneaking intoyourtent at night thatyou’dnever told me about.” Every time she said “you” she jabbed him even harder.
Finn grabbed her finger before she got any more ideas, holding her warm hand in his own. She’d been jealous. And she’d not wanted to admit it.
He pulled her toward him, still holding her hand. “Youbrokeyourpromise.”
“I did.” Her whispered admission fell across his face, filling him with her intoxicating scent.
He’d never been so close to her before. And though he knew he should drop her hand, create some distance between them, he couldn’t back down.
“I found the harp by the water’s edge, and I heard someone running off when I approached.” Her eyes strayed once more to the tree line.
“Did you see them?” Finn ground out, his anger surprising himself. If he was to believe her tale, Eva had been here alone with the thief. Did she not see the danger in that?
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Finn. I’m sorry I broke my promise.”
“And…” he prompted.
“And what? I didn’t steal your harp, truly.”
“Perhaps not,” he allowed, still uncertain as to whether he believed her, “but youdidskip dinner.”
She pulled herself up taller, throwing her shoulders back in her indignation. And inadvertently highlighting her heaving chest. He’d certainly managed to rile her, he thought, forcing his eyes back to her face. Reluctantly.
“I must apologize for skipping a meal?”
“Aye,” he growled, “to your brother. He was beside himself with worry over you.”
“I caused my brother to worry,” Eva’s low, throaty voice teased, “or you?”
Before he could think better of it, Finn captured her lips with his, overcome with an unquenchable desire to taste her.
She squealed and pushed him away. Hard. Then she tumbled backward, nearly losing her balance, her eyes shifting wildly toward the tree line.
Finn caught her but released her like a hot iron moments later. Because, apparently, he had horribly misread that situation.
A great, gaping hole of embarrassment opened in the center of his chest, and his only wish was that it would grow large enough for him to fall into and disappear. What had he been thinking? Of course, aprincesswouldn’t want to kiss him. By Odin, what a fool he was.
“I’m so sorry,” he hurried to apologize, likely too little too late. “I don’t know what came over me.”
He knew exactly what came over him. What he didn’t know was why he ever imagined Eva would reciprocate his desire.
Her cheeks flushed a deep, gorgeous rose.
He needed to get away from her before he said something even more foolish. Or, heaven forbid,didsomething even more foolish. Recognizing defeat, Finn hastened to extricate himself from this awkward situation, moving far too quickly toward the path up the hill.
“Finn!” Eva called as he disappeared into the trees. “Finn! Wait!”
But he couldn’t. He’d never been so embarrassed in his life. When he heard her footsteps after him, he took off running and never looked back. Whatever she wanted to say would have to wait until he’d regained some small shred of dignity.
How could he have been so foolish? Even if she had wanted the kiss, there were a hundred reasons it was a terrible idea. He was here to help her escape to freedom, was he not? If he and Dallan succeeded, Eva would disappear once the trials ended.
Dallan. Finn sighed as he finally reached his tent. Dallan was the most important reason Finn could never, ever kiss Eva. He couldn’t betray his closest friend by secretly seducing his sister.
Finn didn’t stop until he was sitting on the cot in his tent, his head hanging between his hands as he relived that torturous moment repeatedly. He reached for his harp, as music always helped calm him, only to finally understand why Eva had been yelling at him to wait.
She still had his harp.
