The barkeep scowled at me. “Ole Caddik never mentioned a niece.”
I shrugged, trying to ignore the way Aiden was stroking my hand with his thumb. “Does that surprise you? My mother always said you couldn’t get two words out of the man unless it was about his animals.”
The barkeep grunted, letting his arms fall to his sides. “Suppose you’re right. Well, tell him to get his scruffy neck down here for a pint sometime. Gretchen wouldn’t have wanted him to waste away out there.”
My throat tightened, but I forced out a laugh. “I’ll be sure to tell him.”
“Food? Drink?” he asked.
Aiden laid two coppers on the table, never letting go of my hand. “Whatever this will get us. We’ve had a long journey.”
The barkeep swept the coins into his apron pocket. “It’ll get you enough.”
He left, and I yanked my hand out from under Aiden’s. My cheeks felt warm.
“Wife?” I demanded in a low tone.
Aiden leaned back in his chair, his expression guarded. “A married couple is much less suspicious than a man and woman who look like they’ve been hunted through the night.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “Now he’ll just assume we look tired for other reasons.”
Heat crawled from my cheeks down my neck. I avoided meeting his intense gaze by peering around the hazy room. Mostpeople had gone back to their business. But that didn’t mean it would stay that way. We needed to hustle a few coins and get out of here.
“Gretchen was his wife’s name,” I whispered, rubbing my fingers over the yellow flowers stitched to my shirt.
When Aiden didn’t say anything, I willed myself to look back at him. He was watching me with an indecipherable expression on his face. The dark stubble under his sharp cheekbones and curved jaw made him look wild and dangerous.
Which he was. But that was just one side of him.
“Nikella knew her,” he said. “She died a few years back.”
“I’m dying where my wife died, whether that’s tonight or in twenty years.”
“He must have really loved her,” I said softly.
“A man in love is a dangerous thing.”
Flutters erupted in my belly as if his deep voice had murmured the words straight into my soul.
I licked my suddenly dry lips. His gaze dropped to my mouth, his eyebrows pulling together. His jaw flexed like he was in pain.
“Two beers and some oatmeal,” the barkeep announced, jolting me out of my daze. He thumped down two mugs and bowls.
I drained half my beer, grateful for the excuse to avert my eyes. It wasn’t the best beer I’d ever had, but after a night of riding, it sank into my sore muscles like a hot bath. Holy Four, a hot bath would feel miraculous.
An image of me and Aiden soaking in the same steamy tub filled my mind, making me choke on my bland oatmeal. I gulped more beer.
Aiden smiled—a dark, secretive thing that seeped into me far deeper than the beer had.
“Everything all right?” he asked, sipping from his mug.
“You said a man in love is a dangerous thing.”
His gaze sharpened. He leaned forward. “Yes?”
I took a deep breath and immediately regretted it when I inhaled more of the tavern’s pungent smell. “I want to send a message to Henry.”
Chapter 37
Aiden
