Page 50 of The Very Virile Viking

What does he mean, "unable to return"? I wish he would stop playing games with me. "You could be a farmer here, too," she said, more testily than she had planned.

"I could, but I am developing a taste for"—he gave her a hot look, which spoke volumes—"grapes."

"Don't you dare jiggle your eyebrows at me."

He jiggled his eyebrows at her some more, supposedly to appear lascivious, but actually charming her with his parody of himself.

Time to change the subject. "You mentioned your brothers teasing you… tell me about your family back in Norway."

He rolled over on his side, his head propped on one hand. "I have no family back in Norway… not to speak of anyway. Just my daughter Madrene, who is married, and running my farmstead. And my son Ragnor, who is sixteen and taking my place at my father's estate in Vestfold. My parents died a few years back. My sister, Katla, is long wed and lives in Norsemandy. My brothers, Geirolf and Jorund,"—his voice cracked— "they are missing… presumed dead."

"You were close to your brothers, weren't you?"

He nodded.

"What happened?"

"Geirolf went off on a quest… an important errand… for my father. He never returned. Then Jorund went off in search of Geirolf, and he never returned either."

She understood suddenly. "That's why you and your children made this trip… you're looking for your brothers?"

"That is part of the reason," he admitted, "though my instincts tell me it is hopeless. They have gone to the other world—that is my conclusion." He made his face a blank, as if he did not want to discuss it any more. "I would rather talk about you… rather, us," he said. "What are we going to do about us?"

"Us?" she replied, suddenly breathless. "There is no us, Magnus."

"Ah, yea, there is, sweetling." He put a fingertip to the mole beside her mouth and caressed it as if it were something special.

Who knew a mole could be an erotic spot?

Then he traced her lips with several fingers.

I already knew lips were erotic spots. How could I not know, after last night?

"I want you very much, Angela."

Oh, my! Oh, my, my, my! That was certainly up-front and blunt enough. If my heart beats any faster, I'm going to blow a vein. "And your vow?" she managed to get out in a surprisingly calm voice.

"The vow," he repeated with a long sigh. "I keep trying to forget it."

This guy is so smooth. I'd better watch myself... or him . "Would you break it… for no reason other than you want to?"

"I could not do that. I am honor-bound, but…" He stared at her for a long moment with a look of intense longing in his eyes, and said, "Meet me tonight… in the garden house." He motioned toward the gazebo on the far side of the pond with its open trelliswork and climbing roses. It had been her playhouse as a young girl with Barbie dolls and dreams. But she was no young girl now; the Barbies were long tucked away, and she had no dreams anymore.

Did she?

She was spared an answer because Jogeir screamed just then, " Lida!"

All eyes turned to the little girl, who was about to waddle right into the pond.

Magnus was up like a shot and running across the grass, with Angela right after him. The four boys in the water were rushing toward the bank, hoping to catch Lida. Jow was barking up a storm. All to no avail.

She went under.

Magnus was the first to grab hold of her and yank her out of the water. After she'd sputtered and spit out water and swiped at her eyes with both hands, one of which still held a clump of wildflowers, Lida's little chin began to quiver. There was such a sad expression on the child's face that everyone began calling out her name and saying soothing things to her. Jow was still barking wildly.

Lida looked from one to the other, her chin still quivering.

Everyone waited with bated breath for the sure-to-come howl.