Free Lover's Gold by Kat Martin Page B

buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves, enjoying the day. The sunshine felt warm against his chest and the back of his neck.
    “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Mr. Morgan.”
    “Please, my name’s Dan—or at least that’s what you told me.” The mare clip-clopped along the rural lane, the swaying movement of the buggy almost hypnotic. Purple lupine, gay yellow mustard, and tiny white snowballs rippled in the gentle April breeze.
    Elaina smiled. “I’m not sure that stopping is a good idea, Dan .”
    “You’re not sure. That means you’re not sure it’s a bad idea, either. You’re not still afraid of me, are you?”
    “Afraid! Why of all the— I was never afraid of you, Mr. Morgan.” Elaina stiffened her spine and clucked the horse into a trot.
    “Dan,” he reminded her.
    She smiled in spite of herself. “Dan . . . All right. I guess stopping for a little while couldn’t hurt anything. There’s a lovely place up ahead. I used to go there when I was a little girl. I haven’t been back in years. It might be kind of fun.”
    “Up around that bend?” he asked, pointing to an opening through the dogwoods.
    “Why, yes. How did you know?” She eyed him suspiciously.
    “Just a lucky guess,” he lied. In truth he had no idea how he knew. He just did.
    The buggy jounced along the dirt road until Elaina turned down a narrow path heavily overgrown with honeysuckle. Tiny bees worked the white blossoms that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. She knew she shouldn’t be going alone with a man to such a secluded place, but her life had been so dull these past few years, and the challenge had clearly been laid down. Besides, she’d been able to handle Morgan before. This time would be no different. She might even let him kiss her again. After all, she wasn’t officially engaged yet.
    Morgan’s wounds appeared to be healing nicely. He was able to climb down from the buggy on his own, though he tore his white shirt in the process. The gaping hole revealed taut muscle over rib and conjured unladylike thoughts in Elaina’s mind.
    She spread the blanket near a small stream, remembering all the times she’d come to the spot as a child. She and Tommy Daniels had discovered it, and except for showing Ren, they’d kept it their secret.
    “There’s a cave over there.” She knelt on the blanket and pointed through the trees. “It’s got Indian writing on the wall.”
    “Great. Let’s go take a look.” He extended a hand to her.
    “No!” she answered too quickly. “I mean . . . we haven’t got that much time.” She glanced away. “Besides, I don’t like dark places.”
    He looked at her oddly, then shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself.” Lowering himself onto the blanket, he stretched out his long legs and made himself comfortable.
    “So you sneaked up here without your mother knowing,” he teased, and Elaina was glad he’d forgotten about the cave. “Pretty far from home for a little girl, weren’t you?”
    Elaina glowered. “You men. Why is it all right for boys to have adventures but not for girls?” She picked up his black hat, which he’d set on a corner of the blanket, and threw it at him in mock anger.
    Morgan smiled ruefully, catching the hat easily and setting it aside. “Such a spitfire. I like a woman with fire.” His blue eyes danced mischievously as he shifted his weight on the blanket, moving a little closer at the same time.
    They broke into the lunch and ate heartily, licking the chicken from their fingers, childlike, then ate apple pie for dessert.
    “That was delicious.” Morgan wiped his hands on the delicately embroidered napkin Mary had provided. “Mary Colson’s quite a cook.” Again he moved closer.
    “Yes, she is,” Elaina agreed. For the first time she realized just how close he was.
    “Are you?”
    “Better than most,” she said honestly, beginning to feel more than a little uncomfortable at his nearness. His open shirt revealed the