'You tried your damnedest to become my shield on that horse, didn't you, love?'
She was so surprised by that question, her mind emptied of all plausible explanations.
'What did I do?'
'You tried to become my shield,' he answered. 'When you realized the shots were coming from…'
'I didn't,' she interrupted.
'And the other night, when you threw yourself into me and knocked me off center, you actually saved my life,' he continued as though she hadn't interrupted him.
'I didn't mean to,' she interjected. 'I was afraid.'
She couldn't discern from his expression what he was thinking. 'If there is a next time, I promise not to get in your way,' she rushed out. 'Please forgive me for not being very logical, Caine. You see, I've never been chased after before, or shot at, or… do you know, I don't believe I feel very well now. Yes,
I feel sick. I really do.'
It took him a moment to make the switch in topics.
'Is it your head, sweet? We should have asked Christina for something to put on that bump.'
She nodded. 'It is my head and my stomach and my side, too,' she told him as they walked toward the front of the main house.
She was weak with relief, for her aches and pains had waylaid his attention. Jade glanced around her, realizing for the first time how beautiful the landscape was. When they turned the corner, she came to
an abrupt stop.
The drive seemed to be unending. It was lined with a multitude of trees, most at least a hundred years old by Jade's estimation. The branches arched high across the gravel drive, providing an enchanting canopy.
The redbrick house was three stories high. White pillars lined the front, adding a regal touch. Each of the oblong windows was draped in white cloth and each was identically held in place with black tiebacks.
The front door had been painted black as well, and even from the drive, the attention to detail was very apparent.
'You didn't tell me you were so wealthy,' she announced.
She sounded irritated to him. 'I live a comfortable life,' he answered, a shrug in his voice.
'Comfortable? This rivals Carlton House,' she said.
She suddenly felt as out of place as a fish on the beach.
Jade pushed his arm away from her shoulders and continued on.
'I don't like wealthy men,' she announced.
'Too bad,' he replied, laughing.
'Why is it too bad?' she asked.
Caine was trying to get her to move again. She'd stopped at the bottom of the steps and was now staring up at the house as though it was somehow a threat to her. He could see the fear in her eyes.
'It's going to be all right, Jade,' he said. 'Don't be afraid.'
She reacted as though he'd just defamed her family. 'I'm not afraid,' she stated in her most haughty
tone and with a glare to match.
It had been instinctive, giving him that setdown for daring to suggest such a sin, but she soon realized her blunder. Damn, she was suppose to be afraid. And now Caine was looking at her with that unreadable expression on his face again.
She never would have made that error if she hadn't been in such sorry shape. Lord, she ached.
'You insult yourself by saying I'm afraid,' she explained.
'I what?'
'Caine, if I am still afraid, then it would mean I don't have any faith in you, wouldn't it?'
Her sudden smile diverted his attention. 'As to that,' she continued, 'I've already counted eleven men with their weapons at the ready. I assumed they were in your employ, since they aren't trying to shoot us. The fact that you'd already seen to such nice precautions set my mind to rest.'
Her smile widened when she guessed he was thinking she was daft again. Then she stumbled. It wasn't another ploy to turn his attention, but a real stumble that would have felled her to the ground if he hadn't caught her.
'My knees are weak,' she hastily explained. 'I'm not accustomed to riding. Do let go of my waist, Caine. It aches a bit.'
'What doesn't ache, love?' he asked. His tone was filled with amusement, yet there was tenderness in
his eyes.
She tried to act disgruntled. 'I'm a woman, remember? And you did say all women were weak. Is that
the reason you're looking so smug now, sir? Because I've just given your outrageous opinion substance?'
'When you look at me like that, I seem to Forget all about Slow confusing you are. You have the most beautiful eyes, love. I think I know what green fire looks like now.'
She knew he was trying to embarrass her. His slow, sexy wink said as much. The man could be a tease all right. When tie leaned down and kissed the top of her forehead, she had to catch herself from letting out a telling
