“That is not—you do notlooklike a man. You look…” My gaze roamed her figure, and my chest constricted. I swallowed. If seeing her hair tied in a loose plait served as an enormous temptation, then her current state represented my downfall.
“I look…” She raised a brow, daring me to finish my sentence.
Stunning. Beautiful. Alluring. A number of similar words would do, but I would speak none of them. Annette was likely to find me calling her a man more of a compliment than any of them.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, averting my gaze in hopes it would help deter my desire to take her back into my arms and—
Focus, Edward. Do not become distracted.
“Of course, you would change the subject. Always so forthcoming.” She scoffed. “I might ask you the same question. What are you doing out here in the woods? I thought you had business to attend to in the mornings?”
“I do have business.” My response was sharp. I had no desire to play this game with her. Finally, I had evidence, and Annette had pulled me away from my observations with her intrusion.
I retreated to my hiding place, careful to remain concealed by the trees. The area where Adda and Hollinsby had stood minutes ago was now devoid of people. I swore under my breath. The likelihood that more time would have provided any additional information was improbable, but still. Why did Annette have to show up at the most inopportune moment?
“What are you doing?”
I startled and, whirling around, found her directly behind me. She jerked back to avoid the swing of my arms, and her boot caught on a protruding root. My hands shot forward, gripping her waist and holding her steady.
“Must you keep putting your hands on me?” she snapped, batting me away. Her cheeks visibly tinted despite the leaves and branches above us blocking most of the sunlight.
I shushed her again, whispering. “Must you be here? Take yourself home, and I will have no need to put my hands on you.”
No need. Desire, on the other hand…
Annette folded her arms. “Not until you tell me what you are doing. Spying on my neighbors, it seems, but who is Hollinsby?”
My jaw went slack. I had not meant to offer her any details as to what I was doing. It was far too dangerous to involve her. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”
She lifted her chin. “Well, Iamconcerned. So, out with it.”
A low growl rumbled from me. This woman was maddening. Completely and utterly maddening. Why did I have to find her pluck so deucedly attractive?
“Go home, Annette. Please.”
She took a step forward instead. “No.”
That defiance was going to get her into trouble. Her blue eyes sparkled with challenge, daring me to do more than order her away with my words. My eyes roamed her face, my chest rising and falling in quick succession. I needed her gone, yet I itched to pull her against me, to hold her. My gaze fell to her lips. I had kissed them once before, and the memory struck me with desire to do it again.
I stepped back, releasing a pent-up breath. She would not listen to me without some kind of concession. I did not like the idea of giving her more information, but doing so would be the only way to convince her to let the matter go. The last thing I wanted was her wandering around Hollinsby’s lands in order to discover my secrets. She might accidentally inform him of my presence.
I grabbed her hand. “Come with me.”
She jerked out of my grasp, that fury igniting in her glare once more.
“Please,” I said through gritted teeth. “I will explain what I’m doing, but not here. It’s too dangerous.”
“How do I know you are in earnest?” She lifted a brow. “How can I know you are not manipulating me—attempting to control the situation? I’ve no guarantee you shall keep your word.”
“Believe me, when it comes to you, control is a regular challenge for me,” I muttered.
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind. Just know that controlling you is not my intention. It wouldn’t be even if I foolishly thought I could succeed.” Instead of reaching for her again, I simply offered my hand. “Please, come with me. We will talk; I promise. Just not here.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and while she hesitated to take my hand for a pregnant moment, she placed her fingers within mine. I ignored the sensation of having them there as I guided her through the woods. When we reached the path, I found her horse grazing next to mine.
So, that was how she’d discovered me. I would need to be more discreet in the future.
