“Okay, it was great meeting you,” she said, although she wasn’t entirely sure that was true. “Sorry again about Snaffles. We’ll leave you to your...er...hunting. Snaffles! Here, boy!”
But Snaffles did not obey. He was sniffing furiously amidst the tussocks of grass.
Izzy ground her teeth. “Fine. The leash it is.”
She took a few steps but Magnus held up a hand to stop her. “Wait.”
“For what? He’s just smelled a rabbit, that’s all.”
“I’m not so sure.” Magnus walked slowly towards where Snaffles was sniffing. “What is it, lad?”
Snaffles glanced at Magnus, wagged his tail, and then set off into the grass at a fast walk. Magnus hurried after him.
“Where are you going?” Izzy called, but Magnus was already weaving off among the heather, Snaffles leading the way with his tail high in the air. “You can’t just go off with my dog!”
Magnus stopped abruptly, looking down at Snaffles as he sniffed at something on the ground.
Izzy puffed her way over to them. “Now you listen here—”
Magnus ignored her, knelt, and began examining the ground. His eyes narrowed in concentration and his lips moved slightly, as though muttering to himself. After a moment, he reached out and picked something up.
Izzy moved up next to him so she could see what he—or rather Snaffles—had found. It was a piece of dark-colored cloth that might have been torn from a jacket. It looked unremarkable to her but Magnus was staring at it intently.
“Um...is that important?”
“It’s from one of their tunics,” Magnus replied. “And Snaffles found it. I didnae realize yer dog was a tracker.”
“Neither did I,” Izzy murmured, raising a sardonic eyebrow. “He’s full of surprises.”
Snaffles, looking enormously pleased with himself, barked at Magnus excitedly. A brief smile flashed across thebig man’s face, transforming his features from good-looking to positively devastating. “Aye, lad. Ye’ve done well. Now, can ye do even better? Do ye think ye could follow the scent of this?”
He held the scrap of cloth out to Snaffles who sniffed it for a long time then stuck his nose to the ground, scenting around a little before setting off through the grass once more.
“Ha!” Magnus cried. “He’s found the trail!”
Before Izzy could reply, he set off after the dog, his long strides eating up the ground. Izzy planted her hands on her hips. Alright. She’d had just about enough of this. There was no way she was going traipsing over the moors following Snaffles like he was some kind of bloodhound. Knowing him, he’d just smelled something disgusting he wanted to roll in.
“Stop right there!” she yelled, hurrying after Magnus. “Where do you think you’re going with my dog?”
She caught up with him and grabbed his arm. He spun to face her and she was suddenly faced with all six-foot-and-more of him so close she could smell his sweat-and-sky scent.
His gaze was intense, like a flame burning in deep ice. “I’m sorry, lass, but I need to find those men. Snaffles might be able to help me.”
Izzy blinked, her pulse racing at the proximity of him. She was aware of the warmth of his arm under her grip, the firmness of his muscles and the intensity of his stare. She released his arm and stepped back.
“So you’ve already said. But I need to get back to my car.”
Up ahead, Snaffles had stopped and was looking back at them as if wondering why they were no longer following. Magnus glanced at the dog and then back to her. He scrubbed a hand through his dark curls before speaking again.
“All right. How about we make a bargain? Ye allow Snaffles to follow the scent only until I find footprints again and can follow the trail on my own. Then I’ll escort ye safely back to yer carriage. Would that be agreeable?”
“Why?” she asked, crossing her arms. “Who are these men and why do you need to find them so badly?”And who the hell are you, wearing a tartan dress and carrying a sword?
Magnus rubbed his stubbled chin with one big hand. “Let’s just say that finding them will help many people. Ye will just have to trust me. Can ye do that?”
Izzy found herself staring into his eyes. Although she had no reason to trust him, she found that she did. Perhaps it was because Snaffles had taken to him immediately and seemed so relaxed in his company. Or perhaps it was because she found him intriguing and attractive at the same time. Or perhaps—and this was the most likely reason—it was because she was a complete and utter idiot.
“What do ye say, Isabelle?” he asked in his deep voice.
