AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Was that a flicker of amusement on that usually unreadable face? Before she could decide, he turned and headed for the stairs.
She took a deep breath before she followed him. Was she being foolish to trust him? She’d certainly trusted her ex-husband far too easily, but then Ken would never have stepped in to protect her or anyone else. Celenk hadn’t told her pretty lies, but he’d protected her and he made her feel safe. She was going to trust that feeling.
As she stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her with an odd feeling of finality, Caralt came hurrying out of her rooms. Lottie had gone to see her earlier that morning to let her know what she was doing. She hadn’t gone into any details - just told her that she was accompanying a friend to a settlement in the country to make a fresh start. Caralt had clearly had her doubts, but she’d finally sighed and nodded.
“I know what it’s like to want to start over - and I know you haven’t been happy here. I wish you well.”
She’d give the other woman an impulsive hug and promised to keep in touch, but she hadn’t expected to see her again.
“Here.” Her friend thrust a bag into her hands. “I put together some food for the trip. Just to get you started.”
“That was very sweet of you. Thank you.”
Caralt smiled at her, then looked thoughtfully at Celenk, already striding down the stairs.
“He’s impressive, isn’t he?”
She knew she was blushing as she followed her friend’s gaze to Celenk’s tall, powerful frame.
“Yes. Very.”
“I can see why you wanted to go with him. Just think of all those long nights on the trail…”
An odd tinge of jealousy hit her at the speculative look in her friend’s eyes, but she simply shook her head.
“It’s not like that.”
“But it could be,” Caralt teased, then smiled at her. “If it turns out he has a single friend, you’ll send for me, right?”
“I promise.”
She kissed Caralt’s cheek and hurried down the stairs. Celenk was already outside, stowing her trunk in the back of a compact mechanized wagon. As she went to join him, the faint sound of her landlady’s disapproving voice drifted down from above.
“Honestly, I can’t believe that girl is running off with a stranger. It’s not right. And those alien men - no decency. Heaven only knows what he’ll expect.”
What would he expect, she wondered now, sneaking a look at him from under her lashes and remembering not only Mrs. Harper’s words but Caralt’s teasing about nights on the trail. It’s not like that, she told herself again, even as her imagination whispered, but what if it could be? An image of those strong, scaled fingers trailing across her bare skin flashed through her mind and heat filled her cheeks.
The thought was not… distasteful. For the first time since her ill-fated marriage she felt a spark of interest in a male, a pulse of warmth starting low in her stomach. Stop it, she ordered herself. He’s only interested in the job. Nothing more.
He suddenly made an odd sound and looked down at her.
“Are you hot? Your face is flushed.”
Her cheeks heated even more, but she seized his excuse.
“It is a little warm.”
“A disadvantage to traveling during the summer, but it should get cooler as we head north.”
“How long will it take to get to the farm?”
“If we followed the main road, it would take three to four weeks, even though we will travel faster on our own than as part of a caravan. The road follows a somewhat circuitous route in order to connect the towns along the way so I propose to use some smaller trails and travel cross country instead - that should get us to the farm in just under two weeks.”
So they would be completely on their own for the next two weeks? Those nights on the trail suddenly seemed all too real. She stroked Raja’s soft fur, carefully not looking at Celenk.
“You must be in a hurry to get started.”
He shrugged and the gesture caused his arm to brush against hers, leaving a trail of heat behind. Why was she so hyper aware of him all at once? Because now the image of him touching her had appeared in her mind, it was impossible to ignore. It’s just a job.
