Free Lancelot's Lady by Cherish D'Angelo Page B

as she had expected. Instead, it led to the small cottage she ' d seen from her bedroom window. As she approached, she took in the well tended vegetable garden and pruned bushes. Candlelight flickered through a window. Soft music flowed from inside, an unspoken invitation.
    Mrs. Atkinson ' s home, she realized.
    Rhianna raised a hand to knock, but the door opened.
    A startled Mrs. Atkinson gasped in shock. " Ms. McLeod! You gave me quite a start. I thought my husband was imagining things when he said someone was outside. " She smiled. " Come inside, dear. "
    Rhianna hesitated on the porch. That ' s when Mrs. Atkinson noticed the torn, mud-splattered dress.
    " What happened to you, dear? Are you hurt? "
    " I ' m fine, Mrs. Atkinson. I went for a walk and lost my balance at the falls. "
    " And I tried to rescue her, " a familiar voice growled behind her.
    " Is that what you call it? " Rhianna muttered, refusing to turn around.
    Mrs. Atkinson gaped at Jonathan. " You ' re covered in mud too, Mr. Tyler. What happened to the two of…? " Her voice faded as a glimmer crossed her eyes. " Ah… "
    " It ' s not what you ' re thinking, " Rhianna said quickly.
    " Of course not, dear. "
    Rhianna whipped around. " Tell her. "
    Jonathan ' s eyes narrowed and he cocked his head to one side. " Tell her what? "
    " That we didn ' t―that we weren ' t―you know. "
    " Do I? "
    Rhiann a let out an aggravated sigh. " Nothing happened, Mrs. Atkinson. I slipped in some mud and when Jonathan tried to help me up, he slipped. End of story. "
    Mrs. Atkinson shook her head slowly and made ' tsk-ing ' sounds with her tongue. " Jonathan Tyler, take your guest on home. She needs a warm bath. And you could use one yourself. " She herded them off the porch. " Run along now. It would be a shame if either of you caught a chill. "
    " Yeah, " Jonathan mumbled. " A damned shame. "
    Rhianna clenched her jaw.
    ~ * ~
    Jonathan stomped off in the direction of the house, while Rhianna tripped and cursed behind him. There was no way he was slowing down for her. His stranded houseguest was turning out to be a real pain in the ass. Already, she ' d made him look like a fool in front of his housekeeper.
    Whose side is Mrs. Atkinson on, anyway?
    Last thing he needed was a troublemaking guest .
    A vision of Rhianna ' s smooth skin to mind. He recalled gently rounded breasts encased in a wet bra, the droplet of water that had trickled down her throat and disappeared between her breasts, and long, limber legs made for wrapping around―
    You don ' t want her!
    But he knew that was a lie.
    ~ * ~
    Rhianna trailed after Jonathan, although he wasn ' t making it easy. It was more like a marathon than a moonlit stroll. Was he taking a longer route just to pay her back for dragging him into the mud? It sure felt that way.
    She cursed the day she ' d set foot on Angelina ' s Isle. Higginson and JT would have a lot of explaining to do when she got back home.
    Home. It seemed so far away.
    She thought of Mrs. Atkinson ' s last remark. ' I ' m not blind. ' What exactly was she seeing that no one else could? Or could it be that the housekeeper was simply being protective, motherly?
    He doesn ' t know how lucky he is, Rhianna thought.
    She would have given anything for a strong motherly role model in her life. But that wasn ' t what fate had in store for her.
    A few yards ahead, Jonathan whirled around, his open shirt flapping in the breeze. " Let ' s not be out here all night. "
    " I ' m walking as fast as I can. "
    Looking away, she noticed a small, barn-like shed situated within a copse of trees. " What ' s that? "
    " That, " Jonathan stated, " is off limits to you. "
    " Why? What is it? "
    When he didn ' t answer, Rhianna couldn ' t resist having a little fun. At Jonathan ' s expense.
    " I bet it ' s a secret still. You ' re brewing moonshine back there. " She let out a false gasp. " Or maybe you ' re a drug smuggler. "
    He stopped in front of her and turned slowly.
    " Maybe I ' m