“Cassandra?”
The voice was so near that she opened her eyes, and at the same time gasped and jumped. She swung the stick toward the man as she tried to see the person standing in the shadows. A leather-gloved hand caught the stick before it could strike her target.
“Cassandra? What are you doing?”
When the familiar voice registered in her head, she nearly fell to the ground from relief. Instead, she released the stick and sighed heavily.
“Collin? What are you doing out here?”
He chuckled. “I asked first.”
“Oh, heavens.” She rested her hand on the damp material of her bodice. Her heartbeat still raced in panic. “You frightened me.”
“Yes, it is clear what happened, butwhyare you walking the road by yourself and in the rain?” He glanced briefly at the road before looking at her. “Did your carriage break down?”
“No. The only thing that broke down was my patience.” She shrugged. “I couldn’t stand to be at the ball a moment longer, especially when my father tried to force me to go with a drunken lord for a stroll on the terrace. I just…couldn’t. And, of course, it wasn’t raining when I left.”
“Who was the man your father wanted you to be with?”
“Lord Wheatly.”
Collin groaned. “Then you were wise to run. That man would have groped you and caused a scandal, and being foxed is what he does best.”
“Oh, Collin.” She touched his arm. “I’m so glad you don’t think poorly of me for leaving.”
“I would have taken you away from the situation if you hadn’t left.”
She grinned. “How could you, when you left with Lord Kentwood?”
Collin took her hand and pulled her away from the tree. “I did, until I realized I was wrong to leave you. That is where I was heading…until I saw you hurry behind the tree.”
She giggled. “Did you know it was me?”
“Not at first. But when the clouds briefly moved away from the moon’s light, I noticed a familiar gown, and the woman’s long hair.”
Embarrassed, she smoothed her hand over her damp hair, realizing her ringlets were gone now and her hair was straight. “I’m sorry you have to see me like this.”
“I’m not sorry.” He gently pulled her toward the tree. “Because now I get to be heroic and take you home. We best hurry before it rains harder.”
She laughed. “Collin, I would think you were heroic whether you took me home or not.”
“Why?” He stopped at the horse and lifted her up.
“Because you are that type of man.”
He chuckled and mounted the horse, sitting behind her. After he situated himself on the saddle, he adjusted her to sit sideways on his lap.
Feeling his muscular thighs under her legs was something she had never expected, and a jolt of fire shot through her body.Heavens!This was not normal, and even though she should scold him for being improper, she enjoyed the closeness.
When he took hold of the reins, his arms circled her, and she leaned against the damp material of his overcoat. She stared up at his handsome profile and sighed. He was one very fine man.
Collin urged the horse forward as they rode toward her family’s cottage. The night’s cool air touched her face, and yetshe wasn’t as cold as she had been earlier. How could she be when Collin made her so warm? They would reach her home in a few minutes, and she wished it wouldn’t be over so soon. He smelled so good, and she felt so protected against him.
She should talk to him, but no topic of conversation popped into her head. She was content to be with him like this and smell his musky scent. This moment would be stored in her memory as one she never wanted to forget.
“You must be tired,” he said in a deep voice.
She shivered, but not from the cold or the wetness from the rain. He was just too much man, and she wasn’t used to the excitement pumping through her. “Not really.”
