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“I’m sure you will—” They’d reached the trees, so grasping her waist, he lifted her up into the air before she could object, settling her rump on a thick branch just above his shoulders.
She gasped in a breath, stiffening in his arms until her behind settled firmly on the branch.
“Well?” he asked, his gaze trained directly on her knee. “How is it?”
One of her hands let go of his shoulder and then she reached for another branch. As she pulled herself higher, he watched her shift until she could gain purchase for one of her boots on the branch and then she pulled herself to standing.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
He stepped back, watching her scan the land, her breath coming in excited bursts as she strained up on her toes.
“Be careful, Red.”
“Red?” she asked, looking down at him.
He shrugged, and then he was swinging himself up into the tree next to her. When he stood, one foot in front of the other, he started walking heel to toe toward her. “It’s what I call you in my head.”
She wrinkled her cute little nose. “I don’t like it.”
He grinned. “Too bad. I’m completely enamored with your hair.”
Her green eyes widened at that, and he took her surprise as an opportunity to move closer.
He wouldn’t do anything of consequence. Despite his teasing comments about kissing, he had no intention of ruining Natalie. His uncle and hers would see him trussed and tied before he could say the words innocent kiss.
But he could acknowledge that the attraction he felt toward her crackled. And just now, having her alone like this…
He moved in close enough to catch a whiff of her scent. She smelled of vanilla and musk, sweet and spicy just like her personality.
She took a half step back, her boot sliding off the branch, and she cried out.
He quickly wrapped an arm about her waist, pulling her close. “I won’t let you fall.”
“It was your proximity that caused me to…” But she tapered off as her gaze met his. For a moment their eyes locked and held. Yes, he’d just claimed that he’d not kiss her. But he was a man who took opportunity when it was presented and this moment…
“Miss Blake,” the footman called, panic lacing his voice. “Miss Blake, I couldn’t find the kitten and now I can’t find you.”
“I’m here,” Natalie called, not moving away. “In the tree. I thought to get a better view.”
He grinned. She was learning already.
“Do you see the kitten?” the man asked.
“Yes, further down the bank. Hurry.”
He chuckled softly as he reached up his hand up to gently trail his knuckles over her cheek.
She turned her face from him. “My mother thinks I’ll do quite well in London.”
“Does she?” He raised his brows but didn’t ask about the change of topic.
“Now that I know you don’t want to marry, I’ll tell you the truth. She wants me to wed as soon as possible to ensure her own future.”
He winced. He wasn’t the only one fighting family marriage plots. “I see.”
“Emma did not marry as well as she hoped which only leaves me to provide her a titled lord with a dowager house for his widowed mother-in-law.” Her face pulled taut with tension. “She’ll look for any excuse to marry me to you, just so you know.”
“And you don’t want that.” He was surprised at the sting those words had. His entire plan was to remain unwed. Why would he care that she didn’t want him, either?
