Sage glanced down, sweeping her blonde bangs from her face. “My attire?” She discreetly brushed her hand across her shorts. They were zipped. And she didn’t curse. Much.
“My thanks for the tempting offer, but I do not cavort in such a way anymore.”
“Cavort?” She dug her nails into her palm. “Not that kind of ride you...you...” She almost called him a jerk, but something stopped her. Maybe it was the lurch of disappointment that he thought so lowly of her. Why should she care what he thought anyway? She bit back the curse at the tip of her tongue. “Just leave.”
“I assumed—” Palms upturned, he dipped his head to meet her eyes. “I see I am mistaken. I pray ye can forgive me.”
The awkward silence that followed was interrupted by a surprising thought.
Stay
. Though she was pissed he thought she was a prostitute, she wished she hadn’t told him to go. By choice, she hadn’t dated since her breakup a year ago, and she was okay with that. So why this disappointment at the thought of this man leaving? “Take—”
“Indeed. I should take leave.” He turned, heading deeper into the nature reserve.
She’d meant take a walk with her, not his weird way of stating he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.
Fine. Go.
“Wait!” she said, much louder than she’d meant. Her mind said go, her heart said wait. She was downright flummoxed by her reaction to this man.
He paused, but didn’t say anything. She stared at his broad back for a moment. Did an odd energy beckon and tug at the distance between them? “If you want to hit the road, you’re headed the wrong way.”
He turned slowly, a smile softening his expression. “Hit the road? Why would I do such a thing?”
“To get back to your fair, or wherever you’re from.”
“I told ye, I am from Surrey.”
She almost said sorry again. Jeez, this was like a scene straight out of Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s On First”. She laughed. “Oh! It’s a place. I get it!”
He dipped his head a bit and clasped his hands behind his back. “Forgive me, but I know not what ye are blathering on about.”
She blinked several times. This guy was cute, but maybe a bit stupid. “Is Surrey—your home—near here?”
“I suppose. I could not have strayed far.” Confusion clouded his disarming dark eyes. “I dare say I cannot discern how I came to be here.”
“Let me guess.” She paced, stopping when Tex raised his leg by a tree. “You partied too much and passed out.”
“I did what?”
“Then your friends brought you here as a joke.” She shaded her eyes and looked up. “Not sure how they got you up that tree though. It’s pretty high. And you’re a big guy.” She drummed her fingers on her chin. “Yeah, I kind of doubt they dragged you up there. Maybe you climbed up and forgot. Trying to get away from a—”
“Sage.”
“A coyote.” She met his gaze briefly, which had her scrambling to collect her thoughts. “Do coyotes climb trees? Or attack people? I see them once in a while and they never attacked me... But then again, I have Tex with me.” She bent down and dragged her fingers between the dog’s ears. “Did I tell you he’s very protective?”
Cade’s smile broadened with each word she uttered. It traced a path directly to her heart then took a detour down her shorts. What was up with her? She never reacted like this; she wouldn’t even kiss on a first date.
Stop thinking about kissing
.
“I’m rambling.” She jammed her hands in her back pockets. “
Surrey
‘bout that.”
He chuckled. “Ye have the oddest way of speaking.”
She pointed to herself, Tex’s leash hanging from her wrist. “I talk funny?” Her voice pitched higher. “Are you fu—Are you kidding me?”
Tex lunged for a rabbit, barking furiously. The leash raked her wrist and slipped off. “Dammit, Tex!” She ran after him, leaping over brush and downed branches. Hearing the crash of his boots behind her, she stopped, gasping when Cade nearly ran into her.
“Fear not. I am but assisting ye in restraining the unruly cur.” He gingerly held her sunglasses between his thumb and forefinger. “And ye dropped this...thing.”
“Oh.” She cleared her throat and slipped them on.
“Why do ye hide such beautiful blue eyes?”
She resisted the whim to toss them over her shoulder. “Well, hell, it looks like they’re scratched.” She’d just hook them on her tank top. Nothing too obvious. It would’ve worked too, if she had paid attention to what she was doing. Absorbed in his knowing smile, she missed the scooped neckline and the sunglasses fell to the ground. Heat crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. She bent down to retrieve them before shoving them in her back pocket and facing him. At least a foot taller, he towered over her. She swallowed hard.
His gaze focused on her mouth. Were there remains of the chocolate bar she ate earlier still at the corners? She licked her lips and he took a step closer. Who knew temptation felt so...warm? No. Steamy. Definitely steamy.
“Tex doesn’t know you and he’ll...” Sage forgot what she was going to say when he raised that damn eyebrow again. “He’ll, um...”
“Bite me,” he reminded.
“Okay.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at her gaffe. “I mean—just stay here. I can get my own damn dog.”
“As ye wish.” The sun filtered through the leaves, brightening his chiseled features. He gestured for her to go on.
She didn’t move. Tex’s barks sounded farther than she wished to hike. Or maybe she just wanted to stay here.
Yeah, hang out with an armed man.
Oddly, she felt safe just the same. It made no sense. “Actually, I should just let Tex chase that rabbit. He always comes back eventually.”
“He hunts for ye?”
“Hunts?” She shook her head. “Though once he brought back a head of a possum, but it was half rotted.”
Shut up. Just stop talking
. “So anyway... He’ll be back shortly.”
“I see.” He crossed his arms. His muscles twitched with the movement. Her gaze darted away.
“I just didn’t want him rolling on a dead animal. He stinks so bad when he does that.” Why couldn’t she shut up? And now she was talking about dead animals. No wonder she didn’t have a boyfriend anymore.
Cade’s sudden laugh filled the forest.
“I’m glad I amuse you.” She rubbed the raw spot on her wrist and winced, more at her rambling than the pain.
“Let me tend it.” He took her hand.
Something in her quivered at his touch, every receptor in her body prickling to attention. What the hell was that? She yanked her hand away. “It’s fine.”
His smile faded. “Did ye feel—”
She changed the subject. “Was that barking?” A part of her wanted his touch again, but the shock of it startled her. Sage cupped her shaking hands around her mouth. “Tex, get back here!” She waited several moments then shrugged. “Can’t help but love that idiot dog.”
“Tex. Come. Now!” She jumped at Cade’s shout.
Tex bounded through the trees toward them, his tongue hanging from the side of his mouth. Traitor.
“Show off.” She placed her hands on her hips. “How the hell did you do that? He never listens to me.”
Cade shrugged. “Mayhap ‘tis a man’s command that makes the cur obey.”
“Mayhap? ‘Tis?” She rolled her eyes when Tex ducked, butt in the air, daring her to grab the leash. “I’ve heard of staying in character, but you really overdo it.” That was a bit smart-assed, but his comment was chauvinistic. Still, she felt bad. “Is Surrey the name of an actor’s retreat or something?”
He tilted his head, seemingly waiting for her to go on.
“Well, is it?” He still didn’t answer. Why was he staring at her as if she was the weird one? She giggled. Damn her nervous habit. “What?”
“I see ye are not from these parts.”
“Actually, I live a mile from here. You’re the one who’s lost.” She snatched at Tex’s leash, but he darted away. “Use that man command and get him back here.” Her smile disappeared at his worried expression. “You okay?”
He raked his fingers through his ebony hair. “Ye are correct. I am lost. Yet Surrey must be nearby.”
“Hey, don’t worry.” Sage touched his arm. Heat seeped into her fingertips and traveled up her arm. By the way his head shot up, she knew he felt it too. She’d heard of this sort of...connection. Her best friend swooned each time she talked about how her husband could make her insides molten, but damn. This was a volcanic eruption.
“Shit.” She removed her hand, but the after effect still resonated within her. Showered in the sensation, yet oddly chilled without the warmth of his touch, an involuntary shiver ran through her. “Who the hell are you?” she whispered.
“C-Cade. Sir Cade—of Surrey.” His eyes clouded. “Damnation, woman, are ye a witch?”
Despite the seriousness of the moment, she couldn’t help but smile. “A witch? Um, definitely not. I think it’s you.” She braced herself. “Watch.” As soon as she laced her fingers through his, he sucked in a breath.
Her eyelids twitched then closed, and she fell into the depths. The pulse of pleasure, like a bubble of air in a pond, slowly rose and popped at the surface of her mind then rippled. It felt...right.
“Pray thee! Ye must cease this.” Cade slipped from her grasp, his eyes wide.
She gasped at the sudden disconnection. “I didn’t do...whatever that was.”
He took several steps back, his eyes nearly black with...was that fury? “Ye harbor power over my...emotions.”
Oh, that wasn’t fury she imagined, but passion.
“I—” What could she say? It was as if there was an electric current pulsing through him. One that singed the very core of her and made her quake with need. Her heart quickened at the thought of his fingers running over her body, searing her with his touch. She had no doubt it could ignite into something truly magical.
Kiss him,
a voice inside her urged. Surprised by the thought, she almost followed through. Who was this strange man with electrifying hands?
“Is Surrey a planet?” she blurted. “Are you an alien?” The shock created stupidity, the only explanation for her ignorant remark. “I mean, where is Surrey?”
He tilted his head, a crooked smile conflicting with his furrowed brow. “I dare not ask what an alien is. Or a planet for that matter. But, I assure ye, Surrey is here in England.”
It took a moment for his words to sink in. “Oh, Cade.” She took his hand, but he snatched it away. She eyed the muscles straining against his shirt when he ran his hand over his face. She wanted to rip his friggin’ clothes off. “You’re in New York.”
“York, England?”
Shit, the hope in his eyes was painful. She hated to snuff it out. “No. Upstate New York.” His blank stare made her continue. “Have you heard of Grand Island?” Still nothing. “In between Niagara Falls and Buffalo?”
He slumped to the forest floor. “Hell’s teeth,” he whispered. “’Tis not a place I have ever heard of.”
“Well, the island is tiny, but surely you’ve heard of Niagara Falls?” Her giggle cut short at the shake of his head. “Oh shit.” She sat beside him. “You’re teasing me, right?”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “I jest not.”
A thought gnawed at the edge of her mind. A weird, outlandish thought. “Okay.” She opened her mouth, clamped it shut, then tried again. “Now let me get this straight. You’re from England.”
“Aye.” He propped his elbows on his knees and cradled his face.
“And you’ve never heard of New York?” Her words sounded wooden, even to her own ears.
“Or the place of falls.” His hair draped over his face. She wanted to brush it aside to see if he was smiling. Messing with her. Anything to ease her racing heart.
“What curse is this? Ye swear ye are not a—”
“I’m not a witch, Cade.”
He muttered something, but she couldn’t make out his words over Tex crashing through the underbrush. She grabbed the leash and scrunched her nose. “Ugh, you stink.” The dog responded with a yap and leaned into her while she scratched him behind his ears. Cade didn’t even look up.
“Hey, we can figure this out.”
He raised his head. “We?”
Oddly enough, she wished to kiss the worry from his eyes, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Yeah. I was the one to find you.” She shrugged and nudged him. “Finders keepers and all.”
He chuckled and patted Tex. Both Cade and Sage jumped at the dog’s piercing howl.
He snatched his hand away and stood. “I hurt him! Ye speak the truth, ‘tis my touch. God’s eyes, did ye curse me?”
She jumped up. “No! I don’t know why your touch—” She nearly confessed how it made her want to kiss him, run her fingers through that dark hair, find out what lay beneath his strange clothes. Made her want to make love to him. Discover him. And herself. “Listen.” She paused, hoping he wouldn’t deem her a nut case. “I think have this figured out.”
Tex barked and ran in circles, wrapping the leash around their ankles.
“The poor cur, I have driven Tex mad with my touch.”
“Get a grip,” she said, trying to free their legs. “He’s fine.”
His eyes widened. “This is natural behavior? Running about like a fool for nay apparent reason?”
“It is for Tex.” She plopped on her bottom to untangle the leash, dismayed at the crack of her sunglasses. For once she appreciated her dog’s idiocy because it interrupted what she was about to say. Cade already suspected she was a witch. If she told him what was on her mind it would no doubt freak him out even more.
He seemed to read her thoughts. “What is thy explanation?” He offered to help her up, then jerked his hand away the moment she was on her feet.
“Wait, don’t move.” Entranced, she ran her finger along his palm. An odd waver distorted the air around it.
He sucked in a breath. “Sage, ye know not what ye toy with.”
She peered up at him from behind her lashes. “Oh?” She tickled his wrist with her fingertips. Her whole arm vibrated from the inside out. “I think I do.”
He shook his head. “I feel...” His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow.
“I feel it too.” She brought his hand to the bare skin above her tank top. The force of the emitting tremors to each breast made her moan in ecstasy. It felt as if she’d been lifted from the ground, but she could see she hadn’t moved. Oh, but the warm, heady feeling seeped from her chest to her stomach...and below.