Page 5 (1/2)

“Perhaps on’t an to untwine her ars He eased himself out of the basket and pulled her after hi her to catch her balance, but as even that made her oddly breathless, she was relieved when he finally stepped away

“Thank you,” she said with stiff politeness “I arateful”

“You’re not hurt?” He ducked his head to see into her face, he being so much taller than she Close up, his eyes weren’t quite so dark, and there was a little scar on his chin

She ht, thank you”

Evidently he believed her He turned to Mr Keith “You’ve s, Ian”

“And worse ones, Max” Mr Keith didn’t even look up frorateful You’re in one piece, aren’t you?”

Max grunted, then took a few steps away and gave a bone-jarring stretch

Marietta stood and watched—she could not see, she could attest to that—the fluid movement of his muscles and sinews, the purely sensual enjoyment on his face as he tested hi very attractive about Max, but at the sa to remove herself as far from him as possible

“Miss Greentree, you are unhurt?” Mr Keith had finally reht be broken

“Yes, thank you Max…kept me safe”

Mr Keith’s ht,” he said evenly

Max stopped in lare at him over one broad shoulder “I’m not a nursemaid, Ian”

Stung, Marietta straightened to her full height—and still had to tilt her head back to meet his eyes “For your infore when I need a nursemaid”

Max sneered—or at least Marietta, who had never seen a sneer before but had read about them in

books, thought that’s what he did “Are you? You look a mere child to me”