sake, yet she’d complied with his wishes. Again.
Grace was surprised when he pulled a small flat-brimmed hat from his saddlebags. It was simple but would keep the sun from her head and face. When he thrust it at her, she realized two things.
First, he was still a gentleman, although it lurked beneath the surface of a wounded creature.
Second, she was attracted to him and it wasn’t because of the clothes or the fact he was helping her get Henry back. She never expected to feel anything for a man again in her lifetime.
Their journey had just taken on a completely new challenge and she was afraid it could destroy her.
“What now?” She adjusted the hat and took a deep breath.
“We ride through town like nothing and nobody is chasing us. If we’re lucky, we lost him.” Ben looked both ways before he turned Paladin out onto the main street. They rode out of the alley and out of the small, nameless town.
“I don’t think either of us would call us lucky. Unless it’s bad luck.” She kept running her hands down the fabric. It shimmered in the sunlight like the color of deep water.
The two of them rode side by side, returning a few waves and nods from the friendly townsfolk.
“Do you want to eat at the restaurant and wait for whoever is following us?” She wasn’t hungry but his plan was to appear normal, whatever that entailed.
“Given how we’ve already been welcomed and treated, I think we’re already normal to these people.”
“People see what they want to see. Won’t someone ask at the store if strangers had been in town?” She wanted to be sure they had lost the pursuer.
“A stranger asking about strangers would raise more questions. No, he wouldn’t ask outright, he would likely wait for people to remark on anything odd.” Ben tugged his hat a little lower. “That’s what I would do if I was chasing someone.”
“We’ll ride straight out of town and wait until we’re a mile or two away before we start riding hard again. We should be at the river soon.” His voice was tight and he sounded as stressed as she felt.
She managed to sit up straight and attempted to ignore the gentle bounce of her bosom. She’d had her breasts strapped down for so long, she forgot how they moved with her. Yet another way she was uncomfortable in her own natural skin. Would she ever find a way to like who she was?
Chapter Five
‡
I t would take a week to untwist Ben’s gut. Seeing Grace in the incredible blue clothing had taken whatever thoughts, and breath, he had. She was stunning. More beautiful than anything he’d ever laid eyes on in his life. He tried not to look at her while she’d changed, but she was only a foot away from him and she’d shed her clothes without hesitation. Her honeyed skin had tempted him, much to his consternation.
His body had stirred at the sight, more than that if he were honest with himself. He’d hardened in every way possible. Ben could appreciate beauty, but he hadn’t been drawn to anyone before.
Until now. Until Grace.
He sure as hell didn’t know what it meant. He was afraid to even consider what it meant. Ben understood he was fated to live without a mate. He loved his brothers and sisters and all their spouses and children. None of that was for him. That’s what he’d always accepted from the time he understood men and women were paired together.
They’d left the town behind them an hour ago. Ben’s stomach rolled in what he could only assume was fear mixed with arousal. He didn’t want to be tied up with Grace other than their bastard partnership. With each moment that passed, he felt the invisible thread between them growing shorter as they moved closer together.
How was he to help her find her son when everything made him want to turn and ride away?
“It feels odd to be in women’s garments again.” Grace plucked at the skirt. “Although I have to say, this is the finest one I’ve ever worn.”
“The shopkeeper was glad it had gone to
Grace was surprised when he pulled a small flat-brimmed hat from his saddlebags. It was simple but would keep the sun from her head and face. When he thrust it at her, she realized two things.
First, he was still a gentleman, although it lurked beneath the surface of a wounded creature.
Second, she was attracted to him and it wasn’t because of the clothes or the fact he was helping her get Henry back. She never expected to feel anything for a man again in her lifetime.
Their journey had just taken on a completely new challenge and she was afraid it could destroy her.
“What now?” She adjusted the hat and took a deep breath.
“We ride through town like nothing and nobody is chasing us. If we’re lucky, we lost him.” Ben looked both ways before he turned Paladin out onto the main street. They rode out of the alley and out of the small, nameless town.
“I don’t think either of us would call us lucky. Unless it’s bad luck.” She kept running her hands down the fabric. It shimmered in the sunlight like the color of deep water.
The two of them rode side by side, returning a few waves and nods from the friendly townsfolk.
“Do you want to eat at the restaurant and wait for whoever is following us?” She wasn’t hungry but his plan was to appear normal, whatever that entailed.
“Given how we’ve already been welcomed and treated, I think we’re already normal to these people.”
“People see what they want to see. Won’t someone ask at the store if strangers had been in town?” She wanted to be sure they had lost the pursuer.
“A stranger asking about strangers would raise more questions. No, he wouldn’t ask outright, he would likely wait for people to remark on anything odd.” Ben tugged his hat a little lower. “That’s what I would do if I was chasing someone.”
“We’ll ride straight out of town and wait until we’re a mile or two away before we start riding hard again. We should be at the river soon.” His voice was tight and he sounded as stressed as she felt.
She managed to sit up straight and attempted to ignore the gentle bounce of her bosom. She’d had her breasts strapped down for so long, she forgot how they moved with her. Yet another way she was uncomfortable in her own natural skin. Would she ever find a way to like who she was?
Chapter Five
‡
I t would take a week to untwist Ben’s gut. Seeing Grace in the incredible blue clothing had taken whatever thoughts, and breath, he had. She was stunning. More beautiful than anything he’d ever laid eyes on in his life. He tried not to look at her while she’d changed, but she was only a foot away from him and she’d shed her clothes without hesitation. Her honeyed skin had tempted him, much to his consternation.
His body had stirred at the sight, more than that if he were honest with himself. He’d hardened in every way possible. Ben could appreciate beauty, but he hadn’t been drawn to anyone before.
Until now. Until Grace.
He sure as hell didn’t know what it meant. He was afraid to even consider what it meant. Ben understood he was fated to live without a mate. He loved his brothers and sisters and all their spouses and children. None of that was for him. That’s what he’d always accepted from the time he understood men and women were paired together.
They’d left the town behind them an hour ago. Ben’s stomach rolled in what he could only assume was fear mixed with arousal. He didn’t want to be tied up with Grace other than their bastard partnership. With each moment that passed, he felt the invisible thread between them growing shorter as they moved closer together.
How was he to help her find her son when everything made him want to turn and ride away?
“It feels odd to be in women’s garments again.” Grace plucked at the skirt. “Although I have to say, this is the finest one I’ve ever worn.”
“The shopkeeper was glad it had gone to
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