Free Heart of the Diamond by Carrie Brock Page B

the fishing pole next to the door until we are prepared to leave! You might poke someone's eye out,” Nicki said sternly, at the same time the thought came to her that this expedition might prove to be more stressful than she imagined.
    “Safety is foremost in any sport.” Blake's eyes sparkled with deviltry. “I have an acquaintance who is quite fond of climbing . . . ”
    “Just look at the time! And here's Em with the picnic basket. We had best be going if we are to catch any fish at all. Come along, Shelby.”
    The earl turned to greet Em's arrival with a wry quirk of one dark brow, even as he carefully removed the picnic basket from the plump woman's stiff fingers. The arrogant man seemed completely unaware of the cook's countenance, staring and open-mouthed. Shelby had obviously been regaling the kitchen staff with tales of the Earl of Diamond's resemblance to a demon.
    Nicki retrieved her ancient rod from where it rested in the corner by the door and then led the way from the house, past Blake's fishing pole propped against the wall outside, down the steps and across the cobbled drive to a path leading through the woods. She glanced back briefly to check on Shelby and found him skipping along at Blake's side, chattering, perfectly satisfied with the brief comments the earl interjected in his drawling baritone.
    As she marched along the path, stones pressing lightly into her serviceable boots, Nicki forced herself to look neither left nor right, and certainly not back. She must remain aloof from the earl. This Blake Dylan was too charming by half and was someone she could come to like—very much. An impossible prospect, indeed. When Teddy arrived to rescue her, and she was certain he would come, she needed no emotional attachments to confuse her.
    At last she emerged from the wood at the grassy knoll that sloped down to the stream she and Shelby frequented. When she was a girl, Nicki had thought she'd accidentally stumbled into heaven when she found this place. Now she could not resist glancing at Blake.
    Did he feel the magic, too? It was almost as though the world paused and all sound ceased as she watched his gaze travel from the trees that allowed just enough sunlight to filter through their branches to brush the deep green carpet of grass dusted with a sprinkling of fallen leaves. Without taking her gaze from the earl's strongly etched features, Nicki could still see in her mind the promise of the flowers that would bloom in profusion when spring slipped by the winter chill and took a firm hold. She heard the song of the clear stream as it tumbled over stones and fallen branches, a perfect accompaniment to the enchanted glade.
    Something glowed in Lord Diamond's eyes, eyes that seemed to mirror the sheen of the water, and a joy squeezed Nicki's heart. He met her gaze and some emotion unknown to her, but devastatingly exciting, flickered in those silver depths. Quickly, she looked away.
    “I . . . I believe I shall take the picnic basket and go sit under my tree. Shelby, mind yourself.”
    Fighting a nervous breathlessness, Nicki retrieved the basket from Blake and busied herself to spread the blanket Em had provided, weighting the ends with polished stones. She cast her line carelessly toward the water and propped her pole against a fallen log.
    She had meant to remain aloof, to harden her heart against the handsome earl. No matter how good her intentions, her gaze continued to wander to Blake. Each time she looked at him she noticed something she liked. He removed his cloak and jacket and rolled the sleeves of his green shirt to his elbows to reveal bronzed forearms corded with muscle. Buff colored breeches hugged his hips and powerful thighs and disappeared into a pair of much-used Wellingtons.
    Merciful heaven, what had gotten into her? This man had deceived her. Deceived her father. She should be able to maintain her distance without effort.
    Yet when his eyes met hers, Nicki found she wanted to know what