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“Take good care a that wife a yer’s, Walker,” he said loudly as his parting words, and raised his arm in the air in a departing wave.
“Why does he travel by himself?” Evelyn whispered to Laurent.
“He prefers the solitude, I believe. Some men would much rather be alone than in the company of others.”
Evelyn shot a quick glance at Alex’s back. Was he a man who preferred the solitude? Was she merely a burden to him? He’d already told her that here in the mountains he had no one to answer to. He told her that he loved her, but did he truly want her to be with him?
You have to find a way to make him see you as his wife. Was she bold enough to try seducing her husband? Evelyn absently licked her lips. She didn’t know the first thing about seducing a man. She knew she enjoyed his strong arms around her. His kisses made her go weak in the knees and her heart race in her chest. What did Alex like? It had taken a kidnapping to get him to finally admit that he loved her. What would it take for him to truly see her as a woman? She nudged her horse in the sides to catch up to him. What did she have to lose? If she failed, perhaps nothing would change. If she somehow succeeded . . .
Alex’s head turned her way when she rode up beside him. The corners of his mouth curved in a soft grin, and his eyes roamed her face appreciatively. Evelyn smiled brightly at him, and Alex’s eyebrows rose.
“You seem more at ease now that the river is behind us.” He cleared his throat, and focused his attention straight ahead again. “I didn’t know you were afraid of water.”
Was that a hint of teasing in his tone? Evelyn’s heart sped up. He was usually so reserved and serious. Encouraged, she guided her horse closer to his. Her lower leg brushed up against his, and Alex shot her another quick look, then glanced down at their legs.
“You should know I’m not afraid of water,” she said. She raised her chin and shook some lose strands of hair from her face, and stared straight ahead.
“How would I know that?”
“Remember the summer you and Henry hung that rope over that big sycamore tree down by Willow Creek? It was a really hot day, and you were both nude from the waist up, and Henry suggested you should remove all your clothing, and . . .” Evelyn glanced to the side at him. Her face flamed. Alex looked straight at her, and the smile vanished from his face. His eyes locked onto hers, and Evelyn thought she might drown in their blue depths. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she laughed.
“You were spying on us?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“No.” She quickly shook her head in denial. “I was . . . ah . . . merely coming to the creek for a drink of water, and I overheard. I left immediately.” Evelyn wished she had a cool glass of water available to her at this very moment. Her attempt at seduction wasn’t going so well.
“Is that why I saw you sitting by the creek in that same spot later that day in only your shift?”
Evelyn’s head snapped to the side. Her mouth fell open. “Alex Walker,” she feigned outrage. “Now who’s the one who was spying? Besides, I know you were watching me.”
Alex grinned broadly, and Evelyn thought her heart would melt. She hadn’t seen such a devilish smile on his face, ever. Abruptly, he leaned over toward her, and his hand reached for the back of her head. He pulled her toward him, and kissed her softly on the mouth. Evelyn stopped breathing. When had the tables been turned on her? She didn’t even have the chance to try her hand at a game of seduction, and Alex had managed to seduce her. Not that he needed to.
“Relax, Evie,” he whispered. “You were, what, twelve years old at the time? Not much to look at . . . I mean, unlike now.” He pulled away from her, averting his eyes. “Ah, hell,” he growled, and kicked his horse into a faster pace.
Evelyn stared after him, her mouth open. Had he just told her she was attractive? His annoying habit of walking away from her was getting . . . well, annoying. “You’re not running away this time,” she said under her breath, and urged her horse forward. Finally, he’d shown her a side of him that wasn’t dark and moody, and she would not allow him to clam up again.
Alex looked surprised when she pulled her horse up alongside him a second time. His forehead wrinkled, and a frown marred his handsome face.
“How much longer until we make camp?” she asked, glancing at the sky. It had to be getting close to early evening. The sun reached far into the western horizon, already casting shadows along the snow-tipped peaks of the mountains.
“See those woods up ahead?” Alex nodded toward the forest. “Nestled amongst the trees, just at the base of the mountains, is a series of small lakes.” He turned to look at her. “It’s where I plan to build my . . . our cabin. We’ll be there within the hour.”
