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Tate and motioned for her to rest her legs in his lap. It took several tries to wash away all the caked-on blood and dirt. He smeared some antibiotic cream on her scrapes and covered the one deep cut with gauze and surgical tape.
    â€œAnything else hurt?”
    She held up the palms of her hands. “They’re not bad though. A little soap and water, and they’ll be as good as new.”
    Eyeing her bruises, he shook his head. “Yeah, right. We’ll see if you’re still singing that tune in the morning.” Not that he planned to be anywhere near her tomorrow.
    As he cleaned up the mess he’d made, he realized he was using it as an excuse to hang around Tate’s old-fashioned kitchen. It was definitely time to get out of there, especially since she hadn’t yet brought up what had happened between them. Maybe she got shoved up against a tree for a brain-rattling kiss so often that it wasn’t worth mentioning, but he doubted it.
    â€œI’m out of here.”
    She immediately stood up, wincing as she did so. “Thanks for the first aid.”
    â€œIf you minded your own business, it wouldn’t have been necessary,” he reminded her. “I’ve got better things to do than play nursemaid to you.”
    She hobbled over to block the door. “Yes, well, maybe I thought you were more important than the possibility of a little spilled blood.”
    He caught her jaw with his hand and angled her face up to look straight at him.
    â€œNo, I’m not, little girl, so next time leave me the hell alone.”
    â€œYou better get your eyes checked, mister, because I’m not a little girl. In fact, I’d bet we’re about the same age.”
    â€œLike hell we are.” He probably had ten years on her. “I’m not talking about years, sweetcakes, but experience. I’m out of your league.”
    Tate looked insulted and even a little hurt. “I don’t remember hearing you complain back there in the woods.”
    She crowded closer, her blue eyes daring him to deny it. Then she moved in for the kill and kissed him. Her tongue swept in and out of his mouth, tempting him down the road toward utter ruin. He had to stop this, had to, but God, she tasted so damn good and felt even better. Another few seconds of this and he’d be shoving her back onto that kitchen table, taking her any way he could. He couldn’t wait to find out if she tasted that sweet all over.
    Tate moaned and dug her nails hard into his arms. The pressure was enough to cut through the madness that had possessed him. He wrenched his mouth away from Tate’s. Holding her at arm’s length, Hunter stared down at her swollen lips and defiant smile, praying for his brain to kick back into gear.
    The words finally came, snapping out of his mouth with the power and speed of a cracking whip. “I’ll say it one more time. Stay away from me.”
    Then he stepped around her and out into the darkness, where he belonged.

Chapter 4
    â€œT ate, dear, what did you do to your leg?”
    Mabel stopped just inside the door of the tea shop, her two sisters hovering beside her as they stared at Tate’s bandaged knee.
    â€œI tripped and fell out in the yard, but I’m fine. It looks worse than it is.”
    That was a lie. Everything ached, and a poor night’s sleep didn’t help. She’d dreamed about being chased by shadow people with spooky voices. Then there was the part where she’d had mind-blowing sex up against a tree with a mysterious lover and then again in her kitchen. But she wasn’t about to share her smokin’ hot dreams or her late-night adventures with three elderly ladies with heart conditions.
    â€œI’ll get your tea and scones.”
    Margaret and Madge made their way to the table, but Mabel stood her ground. “Where’s that nice young man, Tate?”
    Nice young man? “Do you mean Hunter