A dull beat began betweenher legs. He was, even to the dispassionate eye, astonishinglyattractive. Lean muscle and golden skin. Wicked dark eyes thatinvited one to join him in laughter. A soft, sinful mouth and anattitude to match. For years, she’d had one goal, one focus. Shewanted justice for her family. She hadn’t allowed distractions, hadallowed nothing to deter her from the path she had set herselfon.
Jacob Wade distractedher.
Shaking herself, shecalled in a clear voice, “Mr Wade.”
Glancing in herdirection, his eyes widened as he spied her before the corner ofhis mouth lifted. “Miz McElroy.”
“The day iswasting, Mr Wade,” she continued, telling herself she no longernoticed his naked chest. “Are you finished bathing?”
“Not quite,”he drawled, passing a hand over his chest.
The move drew her like amagnet. Jerking her gaze up, she scowled. “The day is wasting andI’m not paying you to spend a ridiculous amount of itbathing.”
He tugged his forelock.“Of course, miss. Wouldn’t think anything other, miss. Could be,though, I had other things to do afore I settled in to bathe, suchas checking the perimeter and making sure we remained safe. Also,could be I plotted our route for today, and how to combat anydangers along the way. This is still Indian country, and justbecause we haven’t encountered a scout as yet, don’t mean we won’t.There are other wicked men, and dangers beside, and it could justbe careful planning will see us through. Could be I was doing allthat.” He scratched his chest. “Or it could be I’ve just beenbathing.”
Something that felt likeshame twinged in her chest. Turning her cheek, she squared hershoulders and ignored whatever it was that unsettled her. From thecorner of her eye, she saw him cut towards the bank, stripping thewater from his skin as he strode to the shore. He threw on hisrough-spun shirt and leather waistcoat, the long coat he wore,strapping his guns about his lean hips and raking his hair backbefore affixing his hat atop his head.
“I’mpresentable now, darlin’,” he called. “You can turn your gaze backto me.”
Reluctantly, she did. Hewas still alarmingly alluring. Thoroughly annoyed with herself, shesaid, “Are we to begin our day, then?”
He swept his arms wide.“Don’t you want to luxuriate some more in such a fine vista? Wecould take an hour or two, spend our time observing the movementsof the wind.”
“Mr Wade—”She knew he was being annoying in response to her poor behaviour,but he didn’t understand. He had no concept of what this meant toher, and perhaps that was her fault, but she had not the words totell him. She didn’t know how to describe that every time sheclosed her eyes, she dreamed of blood and death. She didn’t knowhow to tell him how it felt to have a family one day and none thenext, to have those you loved torn from you in one terrible moment.How did one describe the shattering of a life?
A thumb smoothed herbrow. Startled, she jerked her gaze to him. Somehow he’d comecloser, so close she could see the flecks of green in his browneyes. So close that he touched her. So close she could see helooked surprised that he had.
“You alwayslook so worried,” he said softly, his thumb now on her cheek, hisfingers resting lightly against her neck. Against herscar.
Her breath locked. Itseemed the world narrowed to he and she, tingles radiating from histouch. Nervously, she wet her lips.
His eyes darkened, hisown lips parting
Her gaze dropped. Howwould his mouth feel against her? His top lip was thin but thebottom was full and sensual, and looked surprisingly soft againstthe hard line of his jaw. Would he taste of the mints he chewed, orwould it be a flavour wholly his? Would his arms be solid and hardaround her? Would the heat of his hands penetrate her clothing asthey splayed across her back, as he drew her closer to him? Howwould he feel?
The sound of a rider andhorse broke through. Hope blinked, the forest around them returningin a rush as the heat in Mr Wade’s eyes disappeared, his featuresshuttering as he looked past her. Briefly, she hung her head. Againhe’d distracted her. So easily.
A genial smile now on hisfeatures, Mr Wade lifted a hand in greeting even as he put himselfbetween her and the new arrival. “Hello there, friend.”
The man was grizzled andlooked to be older than either of them by at least twenty years. “Iain’t your goddamn friend. What are you doing by yonstream?”
Mr Wade became, ifpossible, even friendlier. “We’re making our way to the passage tothe mountains. Seeing as you came from that direction, perhaps itis you could share some knowledge of the path.”
Frowning, Hope glanced athim sharply. Mr Wade continue to smile at the man even as he liedabout their destination, but his hand strayed to hover near the gunstrapped to his hip.
The man snorted. “Thereain’t no point heading for the mountains. The passes areclosed.”
“It’s noteven October.”
“Don’tmatter. The mountains don’t care what month it is. Ain’t no onecoming down or going up that mountain ’til well into spring.” Helooked them up and down. “You don’t look the mountaintype.”
Still strangelyunruffled, Mr Wade said, “Much obliged for that information,friend.”
The man shifted, crossinghis forearms over the pommel of his saddle. “And what are youoffering in return?”
Hope looked between them.Mr Wade might appear relaxed, and the man clearly thought he was,but his hand strayed every closer to his gun, and his stance wassuch she felt certain he would pivot to action should it berequired. “I hadn’t thought to offer anything,” he said. “Seeing assharing a little information is the neighbourly thing todo.”
Taking his time, the manraked his gaze over Mr Wade, and then shifted his regard to her.“This one here’s wearing enough that can be converted to cash toset me up for a season or more. Your horses must be nearby. I’mthinking you should hand over what’s in her saddlebags, as well asyour own.” He smiled nastily, his teeth yellow against the matt ofhis beard.
