better in that than I do. Now, take off those trousers.”
“Only if you do the same,” she challenged, realizing that despite everything, she still liked and trusted him. She’d never dreamed she could feel so free with a man, but there was something about Lewt. Maybe the way he tried so hard and dreamed so high. He’d risk his life for Duncan and for her.
He never took his eyes off her as he unbuckled his belt, pulled off his trousers, and hung them on a cottonwood branch near the fire.
She warmed, very much aware that he was watching as she unbuttoned her pants and pulled her long legs free. She wore no long johns beneath, but her cotton bloomers went almost to her knees.
“You look adorable,” he said, as he handed her the bedroll.
“You look hairy,” she answered, as she spread the blanket close to the fire where they could use one of the low branches to lean against. She began twisting her hair free from its braid.
“Oh, but you’ve seen me before. You had my trousers off the first day, remember,” he said, still watching her. “This is my first look at you.”
He frowned when she tugged her knees almost to her chin and shook her hair in the warm air to dry. A mass of waves tumbled almost to her waist.
“If anyone comes by, I’ll probably die of embarrassment.” She motioned him away. “Go over to the other side so I can’t see you.”
He ignored her order and sat down beside her. Apparently he didn’t think his hairy legs looked all that bad. “You’ve got sunshine hair, you know.”
She wasn’t distracted. “Doesn’t it bother you to have hair all over your legs like that?” She seriously considered them the ugliest thing she’d ever seen. Oh, they looked strong, and scarred in a few places, but the hair bothered her.
“My chest is hairy too,” he commented. “Want to see?”
“No.” She laughed.
“All right, I’ll just have to let my shirt dry on me.”
“Please do.” She pulled the edge of the blanket over her legs. Maybe he’d stop staring if she covered up more.
He leaned against the low branch brushing the ground in spots and crossed his arms.
“You going to stare at me until our clothes dry?”
“I was thinking about taking a nap, if you’ll stand guard.” He passed her the rifle. “Wake me if you hear anything.” He lowered his hat over his eyes and went to sleep.
The warmth of the fire made her wish she’d had the nap idea first, but one of them had to stay awake. The last thing she wanted was someone finding them here like this. So she watched through the trees for any sign of people and listened to the birds around them.
The day passed from morning into noon and still Lewt slept. Finally, she realized the clothes had to be dry, but she wasn’t sure how to wake him. She didn’t want to yell at him from three feet away, and touching him didn’t seem proper.
Em laughed. She was sitting next to him in her underwear and his vest. She’d already gone way beyond proper.
Finally, she crawled over to him and lifted his hat. His brown hair that he always kept combed back and neat was a mess. His face that had been so pale when he’d arrived at Whispering Mountain now looked tanned and rugged, with the beginnings of a beard darkening his chin. She thought she could see a bit of the boy in the man as he slept, and she wondered what had molded him into a gambler.
On impulse, she leaned forward and kissed him.
For a moment, he didn’t respond, and then she felt him smile against her lips and come awake. He pulled her to him as he returned her kiss. Em knew she should pull away, but the moment seemed magic. Time out of time.
She kissed him as he held her in the cradle of his arm. When he deepened the kiss, she went with him, knowing that this was a moment in her life worth saving, treasuring. When she remembered this moment years from now, she’d wonder if it really happened or if she’d just dreamed it.
His hand moved along her body so gently she barely felt it, but every sense followed his touch. She opened her mouth to him and the touch settled over her, stronger, bolder.
When he broke the kiss, she leaned her head back and let him brush his lips along her neck, warming