“Let me be with you.”
“You know I cannot.”
“No, you just won’t relent. You are too stubborn to admit you need my help.”
His chest clenched. “And you know why.”
“Because of your uncle.”
“Yes.”
“But Nash, I’m safer with you. I trust you will not let anything happen to me.”
He nuzzled his face against her neck. “I will kill anybody who tries to hurt you.”
She played with his hair, and heated tingles shot through his body from her gentle touch.
“We make a great pair, I think,” she said.
He pulled back and stared into her shadowed eyes, which were warm with desire. “We make the perfect pair.”
“So, can I come with you? Please?”
He chuckled. “It would be foolish of me to turn you away now.”
She laughed and kissed him again, this time keeping it tender and passionate. His body relaxed, and it satisfied him to just savor her taste, the feel of her, and those caressing fingers moving over his neck and around to cup his face.
They really shouldn’t do this here, his mind reasoned. Then again, they were alone in the group of trees, out of sight from anyone who happened to pass by, and far enough away from the main road to not be noticed.
He kissed her harder, enjoying the closeness they shared, but behind him came quick footsteps crunching in the leaves and breaking twigs along the path. Fast as lightning, he jumped to his feet. Clumsily, he drew his pistol, wishing Maxey’s drugging kisses hadn’t affected him so.
He aimed the revolver toward the sound and tightened his hand on the butt, praying to the Almighty it wasn’t one of his uncle’s men.
*
When the strangermade an appearance, confusion washed over Maxey, and she blinked. A woman stood in the sunlight, wearing a plain brown gown with her hair pulled back in a knot. Familiar eyes gazed at Maxey as she lay on the ground. She gasped loudly as shock shook through her.
“Mother?”
The older woman’s eyes widened, but she rushed to Maxey and grabbed her arm. “You and Nash must hurry. Matthew Burke’s men are not far behind me.”
Maxey’s heart hammered in a different rhythm. Panic surged through her as she stood, embarrassment burning through her. What could her mother be thinking right now? Then again, did it really matter? From what her father had told Maxey, Nora Littleton knew more about passion than most women.
Nash picked up the farmer’s hat and stuffed it on Maxey’s head. “Tuck your hair inside,” he commanded before grabbing her elbow, leading them through the thicket of trees.
“I apologize for interrupting your…um, private moment,” Nora stammered, “but when I recognized two of your uncle’s men, I knew I must warn you.”
Nash stopped, bringing Maxey to a jerking halt as she stumbled into him. She steadied herself and held on to his arm.
He threw a glare at Nora. “How do you know my uncle?”
“I have lived in Devonshire for many years. I know a lot about your powerful uncle and his control over people.” She glanced behind them before meeting Maxey’s stare. “Now are you going to believe me and let me help you?”
Maxey swallowed the lump of doubt in her throat. She searched for the investigative skills she had once tried to develop, especially for her ability to read people, but strangely enough, they had disappeared. Perhaps she was too emotionally involved this time.
“Why should we believe you?” Nash snapped.
The thin woman stood tall, placing her hands on her hips and lifting her chin in defiance. “Because I love my daughter—no matter what she believes—and I want to prove my devotion to her.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I want a second chance, and I pray she will give it to me.”
