I know that,” she said with exasperation. “I meant, take me to bed and make love to me so I don’t have to think about this turning business anymore for now.”
A laugh slipped from Mac’s mouth before he could catch it back, and he scooped CJ up into his arms and headed out of the kitchen, saying, “My God, you’re a demanding woman. Are you going to be ordering me to make love to you often now that we’re life mates?”
“Every chance I get,” she assured him, running her hand over his upper chest.
“A ballbuster and a sex fiend.” Mac clucked his tongue and shook his head. “Damn, how’d I get so lucky?”
“Some drug addict was tweaking and set your house on fire,” CJ said dryly as he carried her into the bedroom. “It was obviously meant to be.”
“Obviously,” Mac agreed on a laugh, kicking the bedroom door closed behind them.
An Excerpt from What She Wants
Turn the page for a peek of
WHAT SHE WANTS
a Lynsay Sands classic historical romance
Available Summer 2021
One
The door flew open, slamming into the cottage with what would have been a crash if it had been made of stronger material. Hugh had been about to dismount, but paused to run a wary eye over the old woman now watching him from the open door.
Eada. She was very old, age bowing her shoulders and gnarling her hands and fingers. Her hair was a long coarse cape of white around a face puckered and wrinkled by the passage of years. Only her cobalt eyes still held any hint of snapping youth. They also held a knowledge that was unnerving.
She can look into your eyes and see your soul, pick out every flaw you possess, along with every grace. She can read your future in the dregs of the wine you drink and read your past in the lines on your face.
Hugh had been told all of this and, still, a jolt went through him as he looked into the eyes of the old witch. He felt a shock run through his entire body, as if she truly were looking right into him. As if she could see all the way down to his presently curling toes. She held Hugh in thrall for a moment with just her eyes, then turned to walk into the hovel. She left the door open—undoubtedly an invitation for him to follow.
Hugh relaxed once she was out of sight, then glanced at the mounted man beside him: Lucan D’Amanieu, his friend and confidant for years.
Hugh had rather hoped his companion would soothe the foolish superstitions suddenly rising within him. The old childhood beliefs in witches and haunts were all rattling to life in his suddenly fancy-filled mind, and he’d been counting on Lucan to arch one amused eyebrow and make some derisive comment that would put everything back into perspective. Unfortunately, it appeared his sensible friend was feeling rather fanciful himself today. Rather than soothe him, Lucan appeared nervous himself.
“Think you she knows?” he asked.
Hugh gave a start at the question. It hadn’t occurred to him that she might. He considered the possibility now, his gaze fixed on the hovel. “Nay,” he said at last. “How could she?”
“Aye,” Lucan agreed with less confidence as they dismounted. “How could she?”
The old woman was fussing over the fire when they entered the shack. It gave the two men an opportunity to survey their surroundings.
In contrast with the filthy and dilapidated state of the outside of the cottage, the inside was clean and quite homey. Flowers sat in a wooden bowl in the center of a rough-hewn table at one end of the room, while a narrow cot was pressed up against the wall opposite. A fire was built into the wall across from the door, and it was here the woman stood stoking the flames. Once satisfied, she moved back to the table and collapsed upon one of the three chairs, then waved Hugh and Lucan to the others.
After a barely noticeable hesitation, Hugh took the seat opposite the woman, placing his back to the door. Lucan took the seat adjacent to her, leaving him a clear view of the door, should anyone enter. They then waited expectantly for the woman to ask their reason for coming. Instead, she took the wine flask from the center of the table and poured two mugs full. Ignoring Lucan, she pushed one to Hugh, then lifted the other to her mouth.
For want of anything better to do, Hugh drank. He