Free Simon's Brides by Allison Knight Page B

feelings about the estate. He was a sailor, a man of the sea. He shouldn’t be concerned with the land. Women, however, were another story. With the occasional willing widow to satisfy certain needs, women had never played an important part in his life and he had no desire for one to occupy a special place now. At thirty, he’d made his choices.
     
    The sea! His ships!
     
    Definitely not a woman.
     
    Yet, just looking at Amy sent a shaft of desire through him. He found himself thinking about taking her to his bed, about pleasuring her and himself until she screamed with it. His groin tightened and he grimaced. He shouldn’t think about that now. No, instead he should concentrate on the missing woman. He tried to remember what Beth looked like but Amy’s face appeared, blocking out the faces of her sisters. He swore silently, grateful when the cottage came into view.
     
    “Simon,” Amy’s shaky voice drew his attention. “I just happened to think of something. I doubt it means anything, but I believe you should know.”
     
    Simon glanced at her. “What should I know?”
     
    He stopped his horse and watched as she chewed her lower lip. Whatever she had to say bothered her. No, it was more embarrassment than concern, he decided.
     
    “You know Harold insisted I marry him.” She shifted on her horse. “One day, shortly after we moved to the cottage, he came here. He said he had ways of making certain I did what he wanted. He thought to force me into accepting his suit by telling me that he would sell my sisters if I didn’t agree to ah--marriage. He--ah--he said he’d make sure his bestial friends did the buying.”
     
    “You haven’t mentioned any of this before. Did you tell your sisters?”
     
    She shook her head.
     
    Simon groaned. “Why not?”
     
    Her head snapped up and she glared at him, “I-I didn’t want to worry them.”
     
    “Come on.”
     
    Simon gave a disgusted grunt and urged his horse forward. Again, they stopped, this time in front of the cottage. He dismounted, fastened the reins of both horses to a nearby tree and hurried to her.
     
    “Let’s check the cottage.”
     
    He reached up to help her dismount. When she placed her hands on his shoulders she shuddered. He glanced at her, but she’d closed her lids, shielding her eyes. Her warm body slid against his and he sucked in a large draught of air. Her scent, spring flowers and woman, sliced through him. Quickly, he set her on her feet, cursing himself. What was the effect she had on him?
     
    “Let’s find Beth,” he muttered, his voice husky with desire. He cleared his throat and stepped away. For another second breathing was difficult and speaking became impossible. He watched her rearrange her dress, then stride to the door.
     
    “Beth,” she started calling even before she turned the door knob. “Beth! Beth? Are you here?”
     
    She paused and then opened the door. Simon followed. Now that he had himself under control he also yelled, “Bethany?”
     
    Silence greeted them.
     
    “I’ll check the back,” he ordered. “You go through the cottage.”
     
    She glowered at him and started up the loft steps, calling as she went. By the time Simon reached the second row of fruit trees, he heard a door slam followed by Amy calling him.
     
    At just the sound of her voice sudden heat surged through him. He swore to himself. Somehow he had to block his reaction to her.
     
    Amy followed him into the orchard. “She’s not there and it doesn’t look like she’s been there. Everything is as we left it. I’ll look on the east side of the cottage now.”
     
    Minutes passed.
     
    Then Amy screamed his name.
     
    He dashed around the building. He found her kneeling in the dirt. For a second, dread raced through him. He studied Amy, then the ground. She was bent over a package of some kind, not Bethany.
     
    Simon’s steps ate up the distance until he stood beside her.
     
    “What is that?”
     
    “This belongs to