An Accidental Seduction by Lois Greiman Read Free Book Online Page A

enthralled by every pair of pouty lips.
    “And because of me shortcomings, I feel the need to set things right.”
    Her teeth shone between her plump, berry-bright lips, her eyes looked as soft as moonlight. “They feel pretty right,” she murmured, and he almost laughed out loud.
    How the mighty had already fallen. He smiled, giving her a little of that sainted bandit. “I feel it me duty to check your shoulder, me brave little Amazon.”
    “My shoulder?”
    “The injured one,” he said, and leaned forward, ready to kiss the skin just above her severe neckline, but in that moment she launched from her position on the ground and sent him sprawling like a spanked bairn.
    “Fetch the gelding,” she ordered. Her tone was rock solid, the softening maid long gone as she glared down at him. “And quit your foolery.”
    With the setting sun sinking red in the gentian skybehind her, she looked as perfect as an Irish rose, as formidable as a Scottish thistle. And for a moment he almost forgot all. His brother’s slide into dissipation. His father’s death, his own vow to set things right. But he brought himself firmly back to reality. Back to anger. Back to revenge.
    “I suppose worry over an injury seems foolish indeed to a warrior woman such as yourself,” he said.
    “I am not a warrior.”
    “Ahh, but they’re you’re wrong, lass. A brave little Amazonian is what you are.”
    Anger flashed in her eyes. “I am no such—”
    “Indeed, I believe I’ll call you Lady A.”
    “You’ll call me Lady Tilmont. Or Clarette, if stringing two words together is too difficult for one of your limited resources,” she insisted, and he almost laughed as he won another round.
    “As you wish then, Clarette,” he said, but as he rose, he stumbled on a tussock behind him and almost fell.
    And in that moment she reached for him, hands strong and steady against his arm. “Are you well?”
    “’Tis naught to worry upon,” he said, and grinned a little at this odd turn of events. Had she softened so much already that she actually cared? He barely dared to hope. “I but landed wrong when you rose so abruptly.”
    She drew her hands away. “You’re saying this is my fault?”
    He almost laughed at the taut anger in her tone. “Not a’tall, lass,” he said, and turned away with a carefully pronounced limp. “I shall be about fetching the gelding now.”
    She let him hobble off for several yards before stopping him. “Come back here.”
    He turned carefully, hiding his humor. To be honest, his ankle did hurt a bit. “You are in need of something afore I go, me lady?”
    How could her scowl look so bonny? It made no sense. “At that rate it shall be morning before you catch up with the steed.”
    He glanced toward the sun. It was nearing the horizon. “I shall try to make haste, me lady.”
    She stared at him a moment, then gave an impatient huff and glanced toward the chestnut. “Take the mare.”
    He raised his brows in honest surprise. “And leave you here afoot? I could not.”
    “I’m quite sure you’re wrong.”
    “I don’t mean to argue, but—”
    “Then don’t.”
    He grinned a little at her tone. “But I vowed on me life to keep you safe.”
    “These fields are hardly filled with ravaging beasts.”
    “Perhaps not, but I cannot afford to lose this job.”
    She scowled at him. He waited, then turned slowly and took one limping step toward the horizon.
    “We’ll ride together.”
    He stopped, smiled into the distance, sobered carefully, and turned. “I couldn’t ask you to—”
    “And you didn’t. Can you mount or do you require assistance?”
    He didn’t allow the surprise to show in his eyes. “I’m certain I can—” he began, then grimaced artfully as he stepped toward the mare.
    “Stay where you are,” she insisted.
    “Truly, me lady—”
    “Not another step,” she ordered, and hurrying to where the mare grazed, led her to him. “Put your arm ’round my shoulder.”
    He