Maggie rushed toward them to see a small sheep caught in the fence. Braden was kneeling in the mud, trying to free the little beastie.
Relief poured through her at the sight. He wasn’t in another woman’s arms! She felt like crying out in happiness. He had only stopped to free the animal.
She ran to his side.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked as she stopped beside him.
Unwilling to admit her suspicions, she changed the subject. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Aye, get back inside before you catch your death.”
It was all she could do not to kiss him. At that moment, he was more beautiful to her than he had ever been before, and she felt terrible that she had so misjudged him. “Let me see if I can help.” She knelt down and held onto the sheep.
“Keep her still.” Braden stood up, then leaned over the railing to free the animal’s hind leg.
The sheep jerked and bleated again.
Lifting up a piece of wood that had fallen, Braden finally freed it.
The sheep took off, running across the yard and vanishing into the night.
“We need to get you inside before you freeze.” Braden took her by the hand and ran with her back into the stable.
Oh, how she wanted to shout! He was such a good, sweet man.
Sin had been right. Braden was her perfect hero.
Braden opened the door for her and the two of them entered the musky building.
“You’re chilled to the bone,” Braden snapped at her as she shivered just inside the doorway. “What were you thinking when you went out there?”
She responded by sneezing.
“Bless you.” He retrieved a plaid and wrapped her up in it. He urged her toward the only empty stall, in the back by the four horses. “Now, go get out of those clothes before you become ill.”
Smiling up at him, Maggie nodded, then went behind the gate where she could have a bit of privacy. She heard Braden walking, but didn’t look up to see where he was.
“Why didn’t you stop her?” Braden asked Sin.
Maggie frowned at the rage she heard coming from Braden. It was so unlike him to be angry over anything, especially something as minute as a simple dousing.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” Sin said, his tone level and calm.
“Well, you should.”
“Ease off, little brother. I don’t care for your tone.” This time, she heard the note of warning in Sin’s voice.
Braden growled at Sin.
Quickly, she removed her wet plaid, binding and saffron shirt, then wrapped the dry plaid around her. She stood on her tiptoes to ask one of the men to bring her a new shirt, but the words died on her lips as she caught sight of Braden’s back.
His naked back.
Her mouth went dry as her eyes feasted on the bare, tawny skin that gleamed in the candlelight. She’d known all her life that Braden was well formed, but never had she guessed exactly how fine a body he had.
A wealth of bronze flesh was stretched tight over muscles so toned that it made her burn.
Oblivious to her attention, he continued talking to Sin as he dropped his plaid and bared the whole length of his backside to her.
