Free Taken By Storm by Donna Fletcher Page A

are you?”
    “Astute when it comes to attraction.”
    Storm didn’t have a chance to respond, for Williamand Philip approached and Burke took his leave.
    She saw the two men off once the plans were finalized. It was agreed that if they had not returned in a week’s time, Tanin and Angus would come after them. She said a silent prayer for their safe journey and returned to sit for a moment alone at the campfire.
    What had Burke meant by “astute when it comes to attraction”? Was he attracted to her? Did he think she was attracted to him? They barely knew each other. How could he surmise anything?
    It hadn’t taken Daniel a long time to make his attraction known to her. He had stopped one day at the farm where she lived, and she had given him and his horse water. He returned every day after that until finally, a month later, he proclaimed his love for her and asked her to marry him. He told her he was a tenant farmer two villages away, and while his plot of land was small, it could sustain them both.
    She left with him, but her dream of finally finding someone who would love her and never leave her ended when Daniel died only two years after they wed, leaving her alone yet again.
    The crunch of leaves alerted Storm to someone’s approach.
    “Deep in thought again?”
    “Taking a moment for myself,” she said as Burke stepped out of the dark. “Thank you for letting me know of your approach.”
    “Didn’t want to startle you again and I don’t want to intrude on your privacy.” He turned to walk away.
    “You’re not intruding. I had my moment.”
    He turned around and sat beside her. “It was awfully brief.”
    “I would ask how you knew that, but no doubt you have been watching me.”
    “Keeping a safe eye on you. You were injured only a few hours ago,” he reminded with a glance to her shoulder.
    “I appreciate your concern, but I really am fine and I can really look after myself.”
    “You’ve proven that, but I”—he tapped his chest—“feel better keeping an eye on you. You never know. You may faint again.”
    “And you’ll be there to give me a good solid slap.”
    Burke laughed and shook his head. “Not likely. You’d be in my arms before you could hit the ground. Then I’d carry you to bed, where you should be now resting, and would see that you stayed there until properly healed.”
    Storm cut loose with a hearty laugh, and when she was done and holding her side from the laughter, she said, “That will never happen, Mr. Longton.”
    “You’re sure of that?”
    “I’m sure,” she said with the last snicker of laughter escaping. “I’ve never fainted, and I seek my bed when I’m ready and rest when I want to. So what you suggest could happen is simply impossible.”
    “Never faint?”
    She shook her head. “Not once, and as you’ve seen today, I prevented it. And as far as carried to bed?” She stuck her booted feet out and wiggled them. “I have two good solid feet to get myself to bed.”
    Burke stuck out his arms. “And I have two good solid arms to carry you.”
    Before Storm could scoot out of his reach, he had her up in his arms and was walking off with her.
    “Put me down,” she ordered calmly though firmly.
    “I will,” he agreed.
    “Now.”
    “No.”
    “I order you—”
    “To put you down and I will,” he said.
    “Now,” she reiterated.
    He dropped her to her feet, grabbed her around the waist, and coiled the rope around his arm to have them springing up the tree.
    Before she could voice her objection, he once again had her up in his arms and carried her into her quarters to plop her down on the narrow bed.
    “Is this supposed to prove me wrong and you right?” she accused, hurrying off the bed, only to be stopped short by a searing pain to her shoulder. She stumbled and would have toppled over if Burke hadn’t grabbed hold and eased her down on the bed.
    “You are stubborn,” he said, keeping hold of her.
    “I’m vigilant,” she corrected and