“Get away
from me!” She shoved Clem hard to the side.
He
lost his balance, sending his shoulder into a tree trunk. He cried out in pain.
“Are
you okay?” Nick demanded, but quickly turned on Clem, yanking his skinny body
to attention like a rag doll.
Delaney
savored the plug of fear in Clem’s eyes. Served him right for making a stupid
move like that—what the hell was he thinking?
“Did
he hurt you?”
She
shook her head and breathed deeply. Straightening, she replied, “I’m fine.” As
much as she would enjoy seeing the burly Mr. Harris pulverize the loser, it
would cause more trouble than it was worth. Her mind quickly zeroed in on Nick’s
unannounced arrival. What was it with these men? Was she leaving a trail of
blinking lights behind her? Not only did they know where to find her, but why
were they interested? Delaney made a hasty mental note. Next time, cover
your tracks .
Nick
glowered at Clem, disgust seething in his dark expression, underscored by the
enormity of his physical presence. “If I ever see you touch her again, you’re
mine. Do you understand?”
Clem’s
head nodded like a shaken bobble doll.
“Now
get out of here.” Nick gave him a sharp push. “And don’t let me see you again.”
Clem
scurried away, a scared fawn fleeing an angry bear. Delaney gazed up at Nick. Shoulders
the size of boulders, muscles rock solid, eyes volcanic hot, he exuded an
ominous strength. She had no doubt this man could kill someone with his bare
hands. Finding it an attractive quality, she savored a private smile. “I guess
a thank-you is in order.”
“You’re
welcome.” After checking Clem’s progress, Nick returned his focus to her. His dark
gaze smoldered. “Does he do that often?”
“No.”
She shook her head. “I’m not even sure why he was out here.” She paused. Nick’s
brows furrowed, dark and dangerous. She cupped a hand to her forehead. “I’m not
sure why you’re out here either.”
“I
saw you head out here earlier, then I saw him do the same. He seemed in an
awful hurry.” Nick shrugged. “I figured I’d come and check on things.”
“Check
on things? What exactly did you expect to find?”
Caught
off guard by her insinuation, he chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know...that’s what I
came to find out.”
Delaney
didn’t believe him for a second. Nick Harris had already demonstrated his propensity
for rescuing damsels in distress. Did he think she wanted him to hover about
her? Though his interference did take the bite out of handling Clem herself. But
still...
Delaney
glanced about them and wondered why he really came. She was no neophyte when it
came to people’s true intentions. Rarely were they as they appeared on the
surface. No, people usually played one hand above water while the other was
dabbling beneath the surface into places it didn’t belong. Delaney took one
last look around and sighed. No sense in trying to investigate with him looking over her shoulder. She’d have to make yet another trip. Delaney grunted
and took off for the trail.
“Hey—where
are you going?”
“Home.”
“On
your own?”
“Same
way I came in.” She pushed wayward branches out of her path and headed for the
main trail. “I’m sure you can find your way out.”
“What
about that fellow, that—”
“Clem?”
She continued to press forward, appraising the terrain ahead as she trekked
over roots and rocks and leaves. She heard Nick crunching over branches behind
her.
“Yes.”
“I’m
not worried about him .” She grabbed a nearby branch and hauled herself
up a narrow path between rock and tree, but hands at her waist stopped her
cold. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, shock shooting through her body. She turned
around.
“I
just saved your butt back there.” A small smile pulled at his mouth, but his
eyes held a hint of tease. “Don’t you think it would be nice to show me the
trail back?”
Face-to-face
with a man she hardly knew, Delaney’s heart thumped
from me!” She shoved Clem hard to the side.
He
lost his balance, sending his shoulder into a tree trunk. He cried out in pain.
“Are
you okay?” Nick demanded, but quickly turned on Clem, yanking his skinny body
to attention like a rag doll.
Delaney
savored the plug of fear in Clem’s eyes. Served him right for making a stupid
move like that—what the hell was he thinking?
“Did
he hurt you?”
She
shook her head and breathed deeply. Straightening, she replied, “I’m fine.” As
much as she would enjoy seeing the burly Mr. Harris pulverize the loser, it
would cause more trouble than it was worth. Her mind quickly zeroed in on Nick’s
unannounced arrival. What was it with these men? Was she leaving a trail of
blinking lights behind her? Not only did they know where to find her, but why
were they interested? Delaney made a hasty mental note. Next time, cover
your tracks .
Nick
glowered at Clem, disgust seething in his dark expression, underscored by the
enormity of his physical presence. “If I ever see you touch her again, you’re
mine. Do you understand?”
Clem’s
head nodded like a shaken bobble doll.
“Now
get out of here.” Nick gave him a sharp push. “And don’t let me see you again.”
Clem
scurried away, a scared fawn fleeing an angry bear. Delaney gazed up at Nick. Shoulders
the size of boulders, muscles rock solid, eyes volcanic hot, he exuded an
ominous strength. She had no doubt this man could kill someone with his bare
hands. Finding it an attractive quality, she savored a private smile. “I guess
a thank-you is in order.”
“You’re
welcome.” After checking Clem’s progress, Nick returned his focus to her. His dark
gaze smoldered. “Does he do that often?”
“No.”
She shook her head. “I’m not even sure why he was out here.” She paused. Nick’s
brows furrowed, dark and dangerous. She cupped a hand to her forehead. “I’m not
sure why you’re out here either.”
“I
saw you head out here earlier, then I saw him do the same. He seemed in an
awful hurry.” Nick shrugged. “I figured I’d come and check on things.”
“Check
on things? What exactly did you expect to find?”
Caught
off guard by her insinuation, he chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know...that’s what I
came to find out.”
Delaney
didn’t believe him for a second. Nick Harris had already demonstrated his propensity
for rescuing damsels in distress. Did he think she wanted him to hover about
her? Though his interference did take the bite out of handling Clem herself. But
still...
Delaney
glanced about them and wondered why he really came. She was no neophyte when it
came to people’s true intentions. Rarely were they as they appeared on the
surface. No, people usually played one hand above water while the other was
dabbling beneath the surface into places it didn’t belong. Delaney took one
last look around and sighed. No sense in trying to investigate with him looking over her shoulder. She’d have to make yet another trip. Delaney grunted
and took off for the trail.
“Hey—where
are you going?”
“Home.”
“On
your own?”
“Same
way I came in.” She pushed wayward branches out of her path and headed for the
main trail. “I’m sure you can find your way out.”
“What
about that fellow, that—”
“Clem?”
She continued to press forward, appraising the terrain ahead as she trekked
over roots and rocks and leaves. She heard Nick crunching over branches behind
her.
“Yes.”
“I’m
not worried about him .” She grabbed a nearby branch and hauled herself
up a narrow path between rock and tree, but hands at her waist stopped her
cold. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, shock shooting through her body. She turned
around.
“I
just saved your butt back there.” A small smile pulled at his mouth, but his
eyes held a hint of tease. “Don’t you think it would be nice to show me the
trail back?”
Face-to-face
with a man she hardly knew, Delaney’s heart thumped
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