you’re here, I was hoping you could help me with something. Not
sure if I mentioned it before, but I’ve come here to research my family tree.
Aunt Kathleen never got around to finishing it.”
He followed
her to the desk and leant over her, his arms brushing along hers. Her face
burned hotter. Tingling sensations raced up and down her spine. She must focus
on her task. Which was not an easy job with such a handsome distraction close
by.
She cleared
her throat. “Okay, I’ve been reading about all sorts of things.”
“You can
read so well?”
Had she
misheard? “Er, Yes. What do you mean, Rowan?”
“Most women
I knew couldn’t read more than a few words. It wasn’t needed.”
She was
gob-smacked. Never in this day and age had she ever thought she would hear such
a remark. “Well, Rowan, I can read and very well too, actually. In fact, all
the women I know can read exceptionally well and in many different languages.
That was a very sexist comment.”
“Sex-ist?
What is sex-ist?”
Her jaw
dropped. “You know…sexist. When a man thinks a woman can’t do everything he can.”
He nodded.
“No, they can’t.”
She ducked
under his arms, stood away from the desk and faced him. Well, at least looked
up at him. Sure, they were in the country, but things couldn’t be that backward
here. Which wasn’t the point. “Oh, I can assure you they can. In fact, I defy
you to name anything a man can do that I can’t!”
He stood
his ground only a foot away. Her heart pounded, but she wasn’t about to give
in.
“Very well.
It’s men’s work to plough the fields.”
Crossing
her arms, she tipped her chin. “Nonsense. I am a herbalist and a botanist. I’m
always digging and planting in the dirt. In fact, I’ve been to places many
would consider to be highly dangerous, and I didn’t even have a bodyguard.”
He leaned
in closer to her, mere inches away.
“It’s a
man’s place to defend his home and protect his woman. And in future, if anyone
is to guard your body, it will be me.”
Her throat
went dry and bottom lip quivered. Now was not the time for her knees to go
weak, but they did as they pleased. There was something in his tone and the
dark look in his eyes. He was serious.
Too bad.
She’d never relied on any man. “Really? I can look after myself, thank you.
I’ve taken more karate and judo classes than you’ve had-had, Irish stews!”
Where did that come from? Good grief. Too late. “I don’t need a man to look
after me.”
In the
silence, her rapid breathing seemed to echo through the room. He bent down
until his face was poised a hair’s breadth away. Lord, she was angry, but damn,
he exuded such dominance.
She didn’t
know if she wanted to slap him or kiss him.
A tiny part
of her hoped maybe he would decide.
Her breath
began to fog as it came out of her mouth. The room suddenly turned cold.
Rowan’s eyes shone like icy green fire, his face looked like stone. What was
happening?
“It’s not a
woman’s place to fight.” It wasn’t a statement, but a command. “Have you no sense?”
“What? Of
course I do.”
“Nae near
enough!”
“Nae? Look,
Rowan, I appreciate your concern, but we’re not in the middle ages. Most women
rely on themselves these days--” A sudden pain ached within her heart.
Fragments of her past crept through, unbidden. “…because men always want
something in return.”
Damn her
ex-boyfriend. She thought she’d buried his memory for good.
Becoming
emotional was making her lose focus on their argument. As she turned away, Rowan
clutched her around the waist, forced her to look at him. Tears welled,
stinging her eyes.
No. She was
the plant queen--cool, scientific. Logical.
In his
embrace, she felt like a child.
“I see.
And, is that what you think? If I help you, then I will expect something from
you?”
Help her?
Was that all he meant to do?
God, she
felt confused. Words caught in her throat.
He let her
go and stormed from the
sure if I mentioned it before, but I’ve come here to research my family tree.
Aunt Kathleen never got around to finishing it.”
He followed
her to the desk and leant over her, his arms brushing along hers. Her face
burned hotter. Tingling sensations raced up and down her spine. She must focus
on her task. Which was not an easy job with such a handsome distraction close
by.
She cleared
her throat. “Okay, I’ve been reading about all sorts of things.”
“You can
read so well?”
Had she
misheard? “Er, Yes. What do you mean, Rowan?”
“Most women
I knew couldn’t read more than a few words. It wasn’t needed.”
She was
gob-smacked. Never in this day and age had she ever thought she would hear such
a remark. “Well, Rowan, I can read and very well too, actually. In fact, all
the women I know can read exceptionally well and in many different languages.
That was a very sexist comment.”
“Sex-ist?
What is sex-ist?”
Her jaw
dropped. “You know…sexist. When a man thinks a woman can’t do everything he can.”
He nodded.
“No, they can’t.”
She ducked
under his arms, stood away from the desk and faced him. Well, at least looked
up at him. Sure, they were in the country, but things couldn’t be that backward
here. Which wasn’t the point. “Oh, I can assure you they can. In fact, I defy
you to name anything a man can do that I can’t!”
He stood
his ground only a foot away. Her heart pounded, but she wasn’t about to give
in.
“Very well.
It’s men’s work to plough the fields.”
Crossing
her arms, she tipped her chin. “Nonsense. I am a herbalist and a botanist. I’m
always digging and planting in the dirt. In fact, I’ve been to places many
would consider to be highly dangerous, and I didn’t even have a bodyguard.”
He leaned
in closer to her, mere inches away.
“It’s a
man’s place to defend his home and protect his woman. And in future, if anyone
is to guard your body, it will be me.”
Her throat
went dry and bottom lip quivered. Now was not the time for her knees to go
weak, but they did as they pleased. There was something in his tone and the
dark look in his eyes. He was serious.
Too bad.
She’d never relied on any man. “Really? I can look after myself, thank you.
I’ve taken more karate and judo classes than you’ve had-had, Irish stews!”
Where did that come from? Good grief. Too late. “I don’t need a man to look
after me.”
In the
silence, her rapid breathing seemed to echo through the room. He bent down
until his face was poised a hair’s breadth away. Lord, she was angry, but damn,
he exuded such dominance.
She didn’t
know if she wanted to slap him or kiss him.
A tiny part
of her hoped maybe he would decide.
Her breath
began to fog as it came out of her mouth. The room suddenly turned cold.
Rowan’s eyes shone like icy green fire, his face looked like stone. What was
happening?
“It’s not a
woman’s place to fight.” It wasn’t a statement, but a command. “Have you no sense?”
“What? Of
course I do.”
“Nae near
enough!”
“Nae? Look,
Rowan, I appreciate your concern, but we’re not in the middle ages. Most women
rely on themselves these days--” A sudden pain ached within her heart.
Fragments of her past crept through, unbidden. “…because men always want
something in return.”
Damn her
ex-boyfriend. She thought she’d buried his memory for good.
Becoming
emotional was making her lose focus on their argument. As she turned away, Rowan
clutched her around the waist, forced her to look at him. Tears welled,
stinging her eyes.
No. She was
the plant queen--cool, scientific. Logical.
In his
embrace, she felt like a child.
“I see.
And, is that what you think? If I help you, then I will expect something from
you?”
Help her?
Was that all he meant to do?
God, she
felt confused. Words caught in her throat.
He let her
go and stormed from the
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