want to die.”
“Very good. Now, there is a track up ahead we could take into the forest, which will bring us to the point on the cliffs. Did ye wish to see the view?”
She pulled her horse to a stop and looked up at the hill that came to a head overlooking the sea. From this point, the hill reminded Kenzie of the white cliffs of Dover, except not as high or steep. And instead of the crystal-white chalk, this hill was covered in moss and rocks, right down to the surf, which was a little wilder than the flowing waves now beside them. “I would love to see it.” She’d often hiked up to the spot, spent hours reading on the clifftop with nothing but the sound of the sea crashing against the land. To see if it had changed between this time and hers was exactly what she wanted to do.
They rode into the forest and Kenzie was thankful she’d brought a warm woolen shawl with her. Under the cover of the large trees and dense foliage, the air was moist and cooler. Ben worked their way in the direction of the lookout but stopped suddenly, lifting a hand for her to be silent.
Kenzie did as he told her and the hair at the back of her neck rose.
“Get off the horse, lass.”
She quickly did as he bade, and with a gesture, Ben walked the horses off the little track and into the forest. Within only a few yards, the track was no longer visible, but Ben didn’t stop, just kept walking the horses farther in, as if to hide them.
“What did you hear?” she whispered, bumping into the back of Ben when he stopped.
“Men.”
Kenzie looked back toward where they’d come and listened, and finally she heard it, too. The muffled chatter of men. Why were they in the forest not far from Gwen’s home? And did Gwen know? What if they were on their way to kill her family?
“Shush, lass.” The whispered words against her ear made Kenzie aware of another danger—the one that stood beside her. Clad in a tunic, with his tartan kilt, Black Ben looked the part of a warrior Scot. A mixture of danger and delicious temptation.
“Do you know who they are?”
“Nay, I don’t recognize the voices.” Ben took a step toward where they’d come and moved some ferns to get a better look. “Ah, McDonnel men. Deserters, by the look of their filthy tartans.”
Kenzie came up behind Ben and peeked about his shoulder. Unconsciously, she clasped his hips to steady herself and regretted the action as soon as she did it. He was solid muscle. She wanted to run her hands downward to see if his ass was just as solid, just as firm.
Of course, she’d seen him naked, so she was very aware that he was well endowed. His body was practically perfect.
Shouts sounded from the trail, and Ben pulled her onto the ground, muffling her mouth with his hand. Kenzie couldn’t breathe, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the fright or that Ben was laying over her, his mouth awfully close to her cheek and his form running the length of her body.
Oh, dear Lord, I really should have stopped reading those romance novels…
“Horses have been here and not long ago. Let’s go, lads, before we’re caught.”
Everyone seemed to be in agreement, and not long after, Kenzie heard the sound of horses cantering away from their location. “Do you think it’s safe now?” she muttered under his palm.
Ben removed his hand, and she gazed up at him just as he looked down at her. Another mistake. He was so close.
“Ye have dirt on ye cheeks.” Ben wiped her skin with his thumb, his attention snapping to her lips.
Was he going to kiss her? Oh please, God, let it be so. Kenzie wanted to know what it would feel like to act on this overwhelming desire for the man. A man who was not meant for her, no matter how much she found him physically attractive.
“We should go. Come, lass,” he said, standing and pulling her up. “Those men are long gone, and we can still make the point, if we go now.”
“Okay.” Kenzie walked to her horse and with Ben’s help, mounted. His hands stayed on her hips longer than they needed to, and she adjusted her seat, trying to calm the heart that beat a million times too fast in her chest.
She watched as he swung up