Page 24 of Unforgiven

Her heart felt like it had just stopped. “You scared me!” He must have been hiding in the thicket of bushes just beyond them.

“Sorry, but the temptation is hard to ignore. You’re always afraid that someone else will be here.”

“It’s to be expected. We canna be the only people who come here.”

“I think we are, though. I thought you’d never get here. And why are you laughing?”

As always, his dark blond hair was covered by a dark gray knit hat. His eyes were almost the same color and as piercing as ever. He was wearing a dark shirt and pants too.

All the girls in their school had long ago decided that he was the most handsome and most dangerous-looking boy they knew. Melonie wasn’t sure if that was the case anymore. After all, her brother, with his scars and tattoos, looked far more scary. But Lott was a close second. Especially since he sometimes acted as if he didn’t have a thing to lose.

“I’m laughing because you wanted to make sure it was me, even though you say no other boy comes calling.”

“You never know.”

Stepping closer, Lott looked her over from head to toe. His gaze, so slow and thorough, felt like a caress. It made her feel self-conscious but so many other things too. Mature and pretty. Worthy and special. All wrapped up in a neatly tied bow of guilt. Neither her parents nor Seth were going to like that she was meeting him in secret.

She could handle her parents’ disappointment. After all, they always seemed to be disappointed in her for one reason or another. But upsetting Seth was another thing entirely. She didn’t want to hurt him in any way. He did so much for them. It wasn’t right that she didn’t seem to mind disappointing him.

“Hey, what’s wrong? You’re frowning.”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about something.”

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Don’t think about it, then,” he whispered in her ear. “We only have a few minutes together.”

“You don’t want me to think about anything else but you?” she teased. Inside, she was melting, though.

“That’s right. I want you all to myself. Even your thoughts.” He grinned.

She knew he was joking. How could he not be? But there was a part of her that felt a little bit apprehensive. Was it normal for a man to be so in love with her that he wanted all of her to be focused on him? Even her thoughts?

Deciding to think about that later, she lowered herself onto an old barrel. “Tell me about your day. How was work?”

He sat down beside her and shrugged. “It was all right.”

“You don’t like it?”

“I like it fine.”

“Lott. Talk to me.”

“I don’t know.” He stared straight ahead as if visualizing his workplace. “Since I’m a brand-new apprentice, I have to do everything no one else wants to do.”

“Like what?”

“Errands. Pick up trash. Sweep floors.” He rolled his eyes. “I do the same things every day. It’s so boring.”

“What do you wish you were doing?”

“I want to do real woodworking like your brother does. Or have a cool job like your father’s.”

“Work for rich and clueless Englishers?” She knew the Jensens were more than that, but there were times when that description fit them best.

“Carter and Emory are rich, but they’re good people. I think it’s gut that they know to hire your daed to take care of their things.” Lott studied her expression. “What does your father think? Does he not like that job?”

“He likes it a lot. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put the Jensens down. Daed has told me more than once that he wished more gentleman farmers cared enough about their land and stock to hire someone who knew what they were doing to take care of them. Plus, they care about our family and always ask about us. They’ve given my father nice bonuses too.” Considering all she’d just shared, she added, “And now I reckon that I’ve made them sound like saints.” She slumped a bit.

Lott sighed. “Melonie, I’m the one who should apologize to you. I’m in a bad mood because I want to be happier. I want to have a job I love. I want to be making enough money to propose and marry you and live on our own. I want things to be different. Your daed glared at me the entire time I was at your haus.”

---