I'm wearing a man's shirt, for heaven's sake.'
You're wearing my shirt, he silently corrected. And that made all the difference in the world to him. Seeing her in his favorite, worn-out shirt made him feel extremely possessive toward her. Everything about her aroused him. He wanted to protect her from harm, comfort her, hold her, love her. And in his heart, he wanted the same from her.
Harrison tried to think about his life back in England. Nothing about his daily routine appealed to him now, however. How cold and empty his life had been. Until he had come to Montana, he hadn't known what it was like to feel alive. He had always felt as though he were standing on the outside of life, looking in. He observed. Hadn't Mary Rose used just that word to describe him? He wondered if she had any idea how accurate her evaluation was.
'Now what are you thinking about? You look worried. Are you?'
'No.'
'I was bemoaning the fact that I wore such a heavy skirt. It's taking forever to dry. Now it's your turn to tell me what you were thinking about. I shall only hope your thoughts weren't nearly as boring.'
'You were thinking about practical matters. I wasn't. I was thinking about my life back in England.'
'Don't you mean to say Scotland?'
'All my work is in England. I have a town house in London. I rarely have enough time to go back to the Highlands.'
'Because of all of your work?'
'Yes.'
'You miss the Highlands though, don't you?'
'I miss what it represents.'
'What is that?'
'Freedom.'
He hadn't realized he was going to use that specific word until he said it.
'You've let duty become your chains, haven't you?'
'A man has to repay his debts before all other considerations.'
'Do you owe your employer this debt? Is that why you've never had enough time to pursue your own dreams?'
'Yes and no,' he answered. 'Yes, I owe him a debt. But it's more complicated than that. My dreams have changed. I used to love what I was doing. I don't any longer. I think maybe you're right, Mary Rose. Winning isn't everything.'
'I'm pleased to hear you admit it,' she said. 'You like our paradise, don't you?'
'Yes.'
'And you're happy here.'
'Yes.'
'Then quit making everything so complicated. Stay and be happy. See how simple it is?'
'No, it isn't simple at all.'
'I'll only ask you one more question,' she promised. 'If it were simple, would you stay here?'
'In a heartbeat.'
She knew she'd just promised not to ask any more questions, but she couldn't stop herself from asking one more. 'Have you made up your mind to leave then?'
She was gripping the edge of her skirt, praying he would tell her what she desperately wanted to hear.
'I haven't made up my mind about anything. I'm not being evasive, just honest. I don't have enough information yet to know what road I should take.'
'I don't understand.'
Her arms were aching from holding up the skirt to dry. She finally gave up and put it away. Then she moved back, covered her legs, and leaned against the rock wall next to Harrison. She sat so close to him her upper arm pressed against his.
She stared into the fire and let it mesmerize her. She didn't want to think about the possibility of Harrison leaving, not when she was just about to decide to fall in love with him, and so she tried to think about something else.
'I know you must be hungry. I'll be happy to find something to eat.'
'Where?' he asked.
'Out there,' she answered with a wave of her hand toward the mountain.
'I'm not that hungry. If you are, I could go outside and find something for you to eat.'
She smiled but didn't look at him. Harrison had sounded arrogant when he spoke.
'You haven't had to stay out overnight much, have you?'
'Actually, when I was in service, I did,' he replied.
'Do you mean the military?'
'Yes.'
'Tell me about London. What's it like living there?'
'It's beautiful. The architecture is remarkable. Cole would appreciate the quality and the workmanship. I think you would like living in London,' he added. 'Once you got accustomed to the differences.'
She couldn't imagine living in a city. Paradise was all she needed, or wanted. Why couldn't Harrison understand?
'Have you ever had to stay outside with a woman in the Highlands or in England?'
The question made him want to laugh. 'I'd be married now if I had.'
'Why?'
'The woman's reputation would have been ruined. Marriage would be the only honorable solution.'
'But what if nothing happened? What if the circumstances were as innocent as ours are tonight?'
'It wouldn't make any difference,' he answered. 'She would still be condemned.'
'What about the man? What would happen to him?'
'Not much,' he admitted after a moment's reflection. 'It isn't all absolute, of course. If she comes from a powerful family, or if an influential friend decides to help, there is a chance she wouldn't be shunned. A remote chance,' he added. 'But still a chance. Before you judge too harshly, I'll remind you that your society in New York is similar.'
'It isn't my society,' she argued. 'Out here, we don't have time for such nonsense.'
A sudden thought made her smile. 'If what you say is accurate, then you would have to marry me tomorrow if we were in the wilderness in England. They do have their own paradise, don't they?'
'Yes,' he assured her. 'They do. There are untouched areas just as breathtakingly beautiful.'
'Honestly?'
'Honestly.'
'What about my other question? Would you have to many me?'
She turned to look at him. He slowly turned to look at her. She saw the sparkle in his eyes and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
'Probably not,' he told her. 'My employer is a very powerful man in England. He would come to your aid.'
She looked disgruntled by his answer. Harrison laughed.
She was getting a crick in her neck. She moved again, got up on her knees to face him, then leaned back against her ankles. The side of her thigh touched his.
He tried once again not to think about her closeness or her lack of attire. It helped if he stared at her forehead-not much, of course, but he was a desperate man. He would take what he could.
'Now why are you frowning? Tell me what you're thinking about?'
'Approaching sainthood.'
She didn't understand. He wasn't going to enlighten her. 'You're a puzzling man, Harrison. One minute you're laughing, and the next you're frowning like a bear.'
'Bears don't frown.'
'I was being metaphorical.'
'Another word on the chalkboard?'
