When he glanced up, their gazes locked. Several seconds passed before he answered. “Naught else, right now. But it can hold a good deal, if need be.”
“Interesting.” He was, in fact, the mostinterestingman she’d ever met.
Finally, she took a long drink before handing the bottle back to him. “Mmm,” she murmured. “So good. My friends back home would have a coronary at the thought of drinking water straight from a stream, but I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything better.”
“And ye willnae,” he winked, taking a swallow of his own before tucking the bottle back in his plaid. “I cannae see any swelling, even with all the walkin’ ye’ve done. ’Tis good.” He stood but kept his eyes on her. “Does it pain ye?”
“You wrapped it so snugly, it’s well supported, so no, no pain to speak of. Just a little ache.”
“Hopefully ’tis no’ much further tae yer car. Do ye ken how far ye walked last night?”
She shook her head. “I honestly don’t remember. There was that bit of trees and brush where the road dead-ended, then an open area, and then…this.” She gestured to their surroundings.
“No matter. We’ll find it.”
When he turned to watch a noisy flock of birds fly over the treetops, she watchedhim.
He was like them. Free and easy. He could go anywhere, do anything he wanted. She envied him, wondering what it must be like to be truly free.
She’d never know.
What she did know, was that she liked him.Reallyliked him. Despite an unconventional beginning, their time together had been wonderful. He made her feel safe and protected without any kind of implied ownership or expectation. A rarity in her world. But she had to be realistic and despite last night’s momentary lapse of common sense, they had nothing to offer each other.
On a sigh, she watched him move ahead to study what he’d calledher trail.Was she attracted to him simply because he was so far out of her reach? So different from anyone she’d known? Everything about him seemed rugged and raw, from the leather thong holding back the top of his shoulder-length hair to his broad shoulders, and his… She closed her eyes. This wasn’t helping.
Let him go, Lauren, she repeated like a litany, in her head. Oil and water…oil and water...
“I’m ready,” she called, leaving the rock to join him.
His smile was gentle as he waited. “We’ll take a slower pace this time, and ye’ll tell me if ye need tae stop. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Ten minutes later, when they emerged into a wide, open area Lauren recognized, her breath caught in a moment of mixed relief and regret. “This is the meadow,” she whispered. “I remember this.”
“ ’Tis good.” Though he nodded, a muscle flexed in his jaw. “Ye’re almost there, then. There’s a gatherin’ of trees, not too distant. Mayhap ’tis where ye left yer car.”
“Probably.”
Her voice sounded as hollow to her, as his had.
“Ready, then?” He still hadn’t looked at her. Was he angry? She wished he’d say what was on his mind. Maybe he was just ready to be done with her.
“ ’Tis what ye want, aye?” He glanced at her, his eyes clouded with something unreadable.
What she wanted—for an insane moment—was the outside world to go away. She almost laughed.Lauren Bradford, the practical, no-nonsense member of the family, wanted to pretend a little longer.
“Yes. Of course it is.” She took a deep breath. “Shall we go?”
He’d only taken a couple of steps when she laid a hand on his arm to stop him. “Reggie, wait. I… Thank you. For everything. I may not get a chance to say it later, but I’m not sure how I’d have managed if I hadn’t—quite literally—stumbled onto you, last night. I’m very grateful for your company and your care. And for you seeing me back.”
“Lauren, ye ken I…” He searched her face as if waiting for something, but his wistful look morphed into one of resolve. Shaking his head almost imperceptibly, he turned and resumed their journey.
* * *
Reginald struggled,as they crossed the meadow to keep from taking Lauren’s hand. He needed to touch her again, before ’twas too late, but it seemed like such a pathetic gesture.
Now, as they entered the trees, he slowed his pace. Though gratified to return Lauren to relative safety, and ultimately to her family, he wasnae ready to say a final good-bye. He had no delusions about where each of them belonged, but ’twas too soon.
