“I call you Kat because of the wild streak in you. You are a wild cat.”
“I believe you call me that to irritate me.”
“Aye. The name fits the reputation of the woman I married quite well.”
“Papa?” James tugged on his sleeve again. “Please don’t be mad.”
Malcolm glanced down into the pleading eyes of his son and smiled, knowing he couldn’t deny him anything. “I’m not angry, James, but I would like to talk to Camilla for a few minutes. Will you go to the house and help Horace in the kitchen?”
James frowned. “No. You’re gonna yell at Milla again, and I wanna go riding.”
“James,” Malcolm said in a sharp tone. “Do as I say.”
“James, honey?” The mysterious woman crouched to the boy’s level. She smiled, her eyes softening. “If your father doesn’t wish you to go riding with me, we must obey. Perhaps he thinks you are still too young. I should have asked before inviting you.”
Malcolm’s heart softened. Frowning, he gritted his teeth and wished he wouldn’t react in such a way when she displayed such kindness. Obviously, it was just an act.
“But…” James mumbled, and then looked back at him. “Papa? It’s all right, you know. I’m a big boy now. I think I can ride a horse as long as Milla helps me.” He moved away from her and over to Malcolm’s leg. “’Sides, I like her now. She isn’t mean anymore.” His grin widened. “Even Lizzy is starting to like her.”
Anger welled inside Malcolm, threatening to suffocate him. He swallowed and forced a smile. “Fine. You can go riding, but not today. You and Kat can go another time. Right now, I need to speak with her.”
His son pouted and hung his head. “Oh, all right.” James turned to Kat. “We shall have to go riding another time.”
She stood. “That is fine.”
With wilted shoulders, James moved back toward the house, dragging his feet with every step and kicking the damp soil.
Once the boy was out of sight, Malcolm turned his attention back on Kat and glared. “What is going on?”
He stepped closer, and the fragrance of her rose-scented soap eased his anger slightly. He closed his eyes and breathed deeper. Realizing what he was doing, he jerked them open and clamped his teeth.
Not knowing what was happening to him, he vowed he wouldn’t let the deceiving woman get to him. Yet when he gazed over every inch of her face, his heart leapt to his throat, ignoring the anger he wanted to hold on to. Her beautiful forest-green eyes had a hint of liquid as if she struggled with her emotions. Her heart-shaped lips parted, and a scent of mint blew across his face.
Without being able to control his actions, he touched his finger to her chin, stroking it across her delicate, smooth skin and down her neck until it rested on the high collar of her jacket. Her beauty and the softness of her creamy skin turned his mind to mush. He was helpless to stop the burning sensations ripping through him. He waited for her to swat his hand like she’d done before whenever he touched her in a personal way. She didn’t, and his heart picked up rhythm.
He arched his brow. “Kat, why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“Why are you trying to act like somebody you are not? Your words are very confusing.”
The corners of her lips lifted. “I assure you, I’m not trying to be.”
He slid his finger from her chin upward to touch her delicate earlobe. “Stop playing this game with me.”
“But Malcolm, I have changed.”
“Nobody can make such a drastic change.”
“I have.” She touched the lapel of his coat. “I’m not the same woman you first met.” Her shy smile widened. “And I have come to care for the children.”
A powerful jolt shot through him as if he’d been scorched. Between the heat from her hand touching him and her unbelievable words, his confusion grew by leaps and bounds.
He dropped his hand and stepped back. “I don’t want you to care for them, Kat.”
“Malcolm, will you not give me another chance?”
Aha, her game was out now. She wanted to charm him like she did other men. Well, he wasn’t like other men, and he wouldn’t let her succeed.
