Part 2 (1/2)
”Anything I can do to sway your choice?”
”Tell me what brought you to Scotland.”
His brown eyes glared down at her. ”I'm here to find my half brother and I don't intend to leave until I do.”
Chapter 3.
”I t's a long story and I don't want to bore you with it. Needless to say, it's imperative I find my half brother, and I've been told that I might find him in Dunwith,” Burke said. He would feed Storm what was necessary for her to help him, for now, especially since he had discovered there might be a bounty on his brother's head.
”Does he know you search for him?” she asked.
”He doesn't know of my arrival.” That his brother didn't even know of his existence wasn't something he
was willing to share with her just yet. Her suspicion of his explanation was obvious in the tight set of her rosy lips and the squint of her turbulent blue eyes.
”What exactly do you want of me if I grant you permission to remain with us?”
He could tell that she was giving it thought, so he was confident he could convince her to let him stay;
besides, she intrigued him. She was a pint-sized bundle of courage and d.a.m.ned fair on the eyes. He couldn't help but wonder how she'd look without the stocking cap.
”I need to learn what I can of your land and its people.”
”What in particular?””I'm not sure. I don't know exactly what will help me locate my brother. I think if I familiarize myself withScotland and its people, it might help me to understand my brother and then eventually help me to findhim. Otherwise I feel like I'm shooting at a target in the dark.” That all wasn't exactly true, but it wasn'tnecessary for her to know that he had hired detectives to help locate his brother and they had given him astarting point.
She smiled, and he felt a catch in his heart. It was such a sincere smile and sparked a beauty in her face that he found hard to ignore.
”Targets can easily be hit in the dark, Burke.”
d.a.m.ned if he didn't like the way his name rolled off her tongue in her sweet Scottish burr.He took a step closer to her. ”You'll have to teach me the secret of hitting a target in the dark.” Not thathe didn't already know, but it would make for an interesting evening.
She shook her head, her smile never wavering. ”I think you already have such skills.”Burke rubbed his hands together and grinned. ”I think we'll get along well together.””As long as you can obey me.””Back to that again?””If you want to remain with my group, you will follow orders like everyone else,” she said firmly.”So if I agree to obey you, then you'll let me join the group?””Remain with the group,” she corrected. ”You won't be joining in any rescues.””Somehow I doubt that.”She laughed. ”We'll see about that, Burke.”
d.a.m.n, he really liked hearing her say his name.”So what do you say? Follow my orders and I'll help you find your brother for an agreed-upon fee.”He held out his hand. ”I accept.”She hesitated. ”I'd rather hear you say you will follow my orders.”She was going to be a challenge for sure, but, h.e.l.l, he lived for challenges. Besides, she had amended ”obey” to ”follow,” so he could live with that.”I'll follow your orders.”She accepted his handshake. ”Then we have a deal.””As to the fee?””We'll talk on that later. I have things to see to.””Anything I can help with?” he offered. He wasn't out to impress Storm, but he did want to show her that he would pull his weight.”Something tells me you're a good hunter.”His grin turned to a low laugh. ”Something tells me you're perceptive.””Be wise and remember that.””I've never been called a fool.””There's always a first time.” Storm smiled and signaled Tanin, who hurried to her side. ”Take Burke here with you to hunt for tonight's meal. He's going to be staying with the group for a while.”
Storm walked off, stopped abruptly, and spun around. ”Burke, Tanin's my right-hand man; obey him asyou would me.””Whatever you say, Storm,” Burke said.She laughed, shook her head, and walked off.”We're limited in weapon choice,” Tanin said.Burke was forced to take his eyes off Storm's retreating back, actually her curvaceous hips. Her snug dark trousers let all eyes know that she was definitely female. And being male, he appreciated the beauty of her sensual sway.
”I'm versatile when it comes to weapons. What have you got?”
Storm watched the prisoners eat the roasted venison with gusto. They had made it across the river and into the thick of the woods hours ago. They would not be followed. The king's men feared her forest. They believed she had bewitched it to serve her purposes, and with good reason. Not one of the king's men who had entered had ever left or been found.
She smiled at the thought. A few of the soldiers had begged to join her group, while others took flight to freedom. And stupidity had claimed the lives of the rest.
Tanin approached with a piece of meat for her.
She took it with a warning. ”Not another word of how proficient Burke is with a bow and arrow.”
”I tell you, Storm, I have never seen anyone with such remarkable skill. He focused on his target, drew
back on his bow, and-” He shook his head. ”He fired on a fast-moving target and hit it dead on.””So you have told me, what? Ten, twenty times now?””He will be an a.s.set to the group.””A temporary one,” she informed him.”Who looks forward to his time with all of you.”Storm would have toppled off the rock she was sitting on if Burke hadn't quickly wrapped his arm around her middle and held her firm.
”Easy now,” he said, standing behind her.
”I didn't hear you approach,” Tanin said with awe.
”A skill I learned from a tracker friend of mine.”
Storm rested her back against his chest, his heat seeping into her, and for a moment, she felt relaxed and
secure. The thought jolted her, and she quickly dislodged his arm and scooted across the large rock,
turning to face him.
”I don't appreciate you spying on us,” she said, annoyed.
”Not my intention,” Burke a.s.sured her. ”I simply took a brief walk, heard voices, and, recognizing them, decided to join you.”
”Your friend can track in the dark?” Tanin asked, his awe still obvious.