She glanced into the house, then back at him as if undecided. Her forehead creased as she nibbled on her bottom lip. “Will you return and…say goodbye?”
He nodded. “I promise. Now go.”
When she stepped into the house and shut the door, the ache in his chest grew. He would walk out of her life soon. Although he didn’t know her that well, the few hours they’d spent together were most entertaining. Would he ever see her again? Perhaps if his uncle weren’t trying to kill him, Nash and Maxey could get to know each other more intimately. That woman had so much passion, and it was hard to walk away.
Unfortunately, that was what he must do.
He heaved a sigh and leaned his head against the door. Too many things to think about, but he had made the correct decision, no matter how much his heart argued.
Nash had killed many men in his life, but only for his country and amid battle. Never in cold blood. He would have killed tonight just to protect Maxey. If Gleason had been more forceful with her, Nash would have strangled him without any qualms.
After wrapping the unconscious man in one of Maxey’s horse blankets, Nash placed him in a rickety wagon and drove to the next town. He carefully laid Gleason in the tall weeds beside the road. Thankfully, guilt didn’t nag on Nash’s conscience until he thought about Maxey.
He shouldn’t have told her the truth from the very beginning. However, that wouldn’t change her distrust for him. She still believed he killed his brother. No matter what, he needed to prove his innocence.
Bringing her with him probably wasn’t the wisest choice, but he hadn’t wanted this night to end. And now he must leave her, but the clenching pain in his chest and throat told him how difficult it would be. When had she become so important to him? Or was it that he had high hopes she might be the woman who would finally get to know the real Nash—the man who was raised in a noble family and was the second son to an earl?
As he drove the wagon back to Maxey’s house, he cursed fate. This evening had been utter chaos since he met the very beautiful and enchanting woman, yet his life had never been more exciting and challenging. But he had inadvertently placed her in harm’s way. For that, he would never forgive himself.
Somewhere out there, his uncle still searched for him, and if Uncle Matthew discovered what Maxey knew and where she lived—and Nash was certain this would happen—Matthew wouldn’t be as patient as his henchman. Nash could not allow his uncle or his men to harm her in any way.
Growling in frustration, Nash stretched the kinks out of his neck and rolled his shoulders in an attempt to alleviate the tenseness. Although he didn’t want Maxey hurt, leaving her alone to deal with his uncle was out of the question. Maxey didn’t deserve a life on the run, but if his uncle ever found her…
Nash shuddered. Indeed, that would not do! He must protect her at all costs. Until Uncle Matthew was caught and imprisoned, Nash and Maxey were not safe.
To protect the woman who had become so important to him, Nash must bring her with him.
The proof of Uncle Matthew’s crime would come out once they found the ring. That man had more reason to kill William than Nash did. Power and money were all that Matthew Burke cared about, and now he was after the Wentworth title.
With the decision firmly rooted in his mind, Nash lodged the wagon in Maxey’s barn and stalled the old horse. She might not agree with his plans, but he would force her if necessary for her own good. His heart skipped with anticipation. He wouldn’t be saying goodbye to her after all.
He must convince her that this was the right way for both of them.
Not only would he be protecting her, but once the true story came out, perhaps Carolyn would welcome him back into the Wentworth family. Nash missed his niece and nephew and wanted to get to know them as well.
As he approached the house, the light from the kitchen window drew his attention. Maxey sat at the table, the parted curtains doing very little to hide her from view. She stared at the teacup in front of her. The lamp burned high, illuminating her profile and making her more beautiful than he could ever imagine. Her long hair waved down her back and shoulders, and she wore a full-sleeve white wrap over her nightdress.
He groaned. Her attire was not good at all. No matter how his body tried to convince him otherwise, he had to control his attraction to her. Restraint was the key to their successful journey. He had to keep his wits about him to defeat Matthew.
Instead of tapping on the window and scaring her half to death, he moved to the front door and knocked. “Maxey? It is Nash.”
Within seconds, she opened the door and let him in. “How did everything go?”
He closed the door and locked it. “Nobody spotted me. The man is resting near the road as we speak. Somebody will come across him soon.”
She frowned. “Oh, Nash. I’m so sorry I got you into this muddle.”
Unshed tears swam in her big eyes. He cupped her chin. “It is not your fault.”
“How can you say that? If I hadn’t tried to find you, your uncle would not be after you, and that man on his payroll would be conscious—with a whole nose instead of a broken one.”
Nash gathered her in his arms. “Men like that do not deserve your sympathy. Men like Matthew Burke make other lives miserable for their own pleasure. If I had not harmed him now, I would have hurt him in the near future to protect myself from being the victim.”
She nodded. “I know. I just feel so terrible.”
“As do I, but Maxey, he attacked you. All that passed through my head at that moment was to stop him.” He stroked her cheek. “Do not worry about it any longer. I have come up with a way to stop my uncle.”
Her eyes widened. “How?”
