Free Alexandre by Shelley Munro

eat?” Lily asked. “We can use the tables over there or take one of the walking paths and find a place in the sun.”
    No sooner had she spoke than Killer took off down the track, paused briefly and then darted down the right-hand fork.
    Alex wrestled the cane picnic basket away from Lily. “I guess we’re going the same way as Killer.”
    Lily pulled a tartan blanket from the back, locked the vehicle and fell into step with him. A small bird with a fanlike tail flitted about them while Alex heard the guttural call of another bird in the distance. The situation reminded him of an outing on Dalcon with a special female. He’d attended many picnics before he’d grown smart enough to realize the attraction was his status and not his company.
    They headed along a dirt track that wound between mounds of rocks and manuka trees. A series of clicks sounded, and Alex decided it must be a tui. He’d actually absorbed a lot of knowledge during the long, sleepless night. The guidebook hadn’t put him to sleep, but he’d learned a fair bit about New Zealand.
    The track narrowed, and Lily went first. Alex’s gaze zoomed to her butt. To his frustration, the black skirt she wore was shapeless, making it difficult to ascertain the female form beneath. The long red jumper didn’t help much even though the color suited her. He wished she’d wear a garment that showcased her beautiful curves instead of hiding them. Then again, perhaps not. Other men would ogle her.
    The court painters would offer many gold coins to paint her naked form. He hated the thought of other males seeing her lush curves. The visual that popped into his mind sent his system into full arousal, his tom stabbing against the loose cotton pants he’d taken the precaution of wearing today to lessen the pain. While the idea had been good in theory, in practice he still ached. All over.
    The rush and bubble of water filled the air as Alex and Lily rounded the curve in the track. The dim light beneath the trees gave way to sunshine when they stepped into a clearing. Alex caught a flash of white from the corner of his eye as Killer bounded across the swift-flowing water and leapt up the grassy bank on the other side.
    Lily slowed to a halt and stared at the water.
    Alex caught the look of trepidation. “I’ll carry the blanket for you. You’ll be fine. The stones are close together.”
    Lily gazed at the six stones that jutted from the water with something akin to horror. This was the stuff of a clumsy person’s nightmare. It wouldn’t be much easier wading through the stream. The water would be freezing cold despite the sunny day and the rocks would be slimy underfoot. That was assuming it wasn’t too deep for her to cross.
    “You go first.” Her voice sounded faint and more than a little frightened. She wanted to look elegant for once in her life.
    Alex speared a look at her but didn’t comment. “Okay. Sure.” He tugged the blanket from her nerveless fingers and tucked it under his arm.
    Lily caught Killer’s faint bark as she tore ’round and ’round the small clearing on the other side, her nose to the ground chasing rabbit scents. Then she turned her attention to Alex. He made the crossing look easy despite carrying the blanket under one arm and the cane basket in his right hand. He seemed to glide over the stream, stepping from stone to stone with barely a pause. Suddenly, it was her turn. Lily debated on whether to go back to Sam’s car. She could sit and wait for them.
    “Should I come back for you?” Alex called.
    Lily swallowed, her fear creating a huge knot inside her throat. Yeah, right. Then she’d look stupid because she couldn’t manage on her own. Memories of her ex crowded her mind along with the jokes that still haunted her. She inhaled then slowly exhaled. When she glanced down at her feet, she saw she’d bunched her hands into fists. Unconsciously, she’d clenched her fingers so hard the knuckles had turned white. She released