Page 17 of Outlaw Ever After

He snorted. “Sounds like a boon to sweep ye off yer feet. Ye want the match?”

“Goodness, nay!” She laughed—thank God. He unclenched his hand still holding hers. His fingers traced her ring finger, hers mingling back, lacing in and out of his as if a mindless idle. “I care no’ of riches and lands. Though, if he were reliable and trustworthy, I suppose I could overlook it.”

“How romantic,” he said flatly, gesturing toward the path for her to walk. “He shall sweep ye off yer feet with his predictable dullness.”

She glared at him teasingly as he revolved around her again, trilling a melody on his flute.

“Tell me, what do ye want,” he added, notching his chin.

He was playing with fire as he walked backward on the path, luring her to him with his song, but she stopped to think.

“A cottage. On a distant shore. Away from prying eyes, from power plays.”

His eyes widened in genuine surprise. His flute drifted down. Because he actually did have something to offer… Why am I thinking of her as if I have a chance with her?

“A village of happy bairns and smiling folk,” she continued. “People who work together, reap their bounties and hardships together.”

“And what of a husband?” His throat sounded rough. He cleared it and took up her hand again, their fingers tracing each other’s.

“Someone…reliable .” Hmm. He’d expected her to mention titles, or status. But apparently, she wasn’t a vain lass, despite her poise and fine claes.

“Like yer suitor with an army of bairns and two dead wives,” he teased, twisting a tendril about his finger, his voice thickening.

Her cheeks erupted in blush, as she shook her head.

“A wealthy nobleman, then?” he whispered, his fingers lacing with hers now, hers with his.

She shook her head. “All they want are heirs. But they’ll bring enemies and strife to my threshold. A nobleman’s enemies become their spouse’s. I’d give anything to avoid that for the rest of my life.”

Ah, so she wasn’t satisfied with a boring man. She was settling for one.

“So ye came to play music and hide in the woods.”

“Music makes me feel joy when I’m uncertain. I came to settle my heart and make peace with my future.”

“Yer brother’s future for ye,” Alex corrected carefully.

She sighed, slippers still dangling and lyre slung about her. She finally acquiesced and leaned into his arm, encircling his bicep as his palm came to lie across it.

“Aye.”

“Why?” His muscle twitched beneath her touch, to be so sweetly handled.

“He’s finally regained his foothold and means to match me whilst he has the clout. But a man’s means are more fleeting than many realize. Property and money are always just one reave away from being stolen—”

Alex was well aware. It was almost as if she was saying she wanted someone with nothing to his name, like…him . And yet, he wanted something to his name. Wanted it so badly it tainted every taste, clouded every judgment.

“—I nay want to keep looking over my shoulder for the next attack. I’ll settle for someone predictable. And before I age beyond my prime I—”

“Yer prime ?” Amusement captured Alex’s lips for there was no question she was younger than he, and he, only six and twenty. “How many years have ye, old crone?”

A bashful smile twisted her lips as she looked away and murmured, “Almost three and twenty.”

“Three and twenty ?”

…

The man gasped like a scandalized dowager and slapped his paw upon his chest, staggering back.