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barking furiously. The leash raked her wrist and slipped off. “Dammit, Tex!” She ran after him, leaping over brush and downed branches. Hearing the crash of his boots behind her, she stopped, gasping when Cade nearly ran into her.
    “Fear not. I am but assisting ye in restraining the unruly cur.” He gingerly held her sunglasses between his thumb and forefinger. “And ye dropped this...thing.”
    “Oh.” She cleared her throat and slipped them on.
    “Why do ye hide such beautiful blue eyes?”
    She resisted the whim to toss them over her shoulder. “Well, hell, it looks like they’re scratched.” She’d just hook them on her tank top. Nothing too obvious. It would’ve worked too, if she had paid attention to what she was doing. Absorbed in his knowing smile, she missed the scooped neckline and the sunglasses fell to the ground. Heat crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. She bent down to retrieve them before shoving them in her back pocket and facing him. At least a foot taller, he towered over her. She swallowed hard.
    His gaze focused on her mouth. Were there remains of the chocolate bar she ate earlier still at the corners? She licked her lips and he took a step closer. Who knew temptation felt so...warm? No. Steamy. Definitely steamy.
    “Tex doesn’t know you and he’ll...” Sage forgot what she was going to say when he raised that damn eyebrow again. “He’ll, um...”
    “Bite me,” he reminded.
    “Okay.” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling at her gaffe. “I mean—just stay here. I can get my own damn dog.”
    “As ye wish.” The sun filtered through the leaves, brightening his chiseled features. He gestured for her to go on.
    She didn’t move. Tex’s barks sounded farther than she wished to hike. Or maybe she just wanted to stay here. Yeah, hang out with an armed man. Oddly, she felt safe just the same. It made no sense. “Actually, I should just let Tex chase that rabbit. He always comes back eventually.”
    “He hunts for ye?”
    “Hunts?” She shook her head. “Though once he brought back a head of a possum, but it was half rotted.” Shut up. Just stop talking . “So anyway... He’ll be back shortly.”
    “I see.” He crossed his arms. His muscles twitched with the movement. Her gaze darted away.
    “I just didn’t want him rolling on a dead animal. He stinks so bad when he does that.” Why couldn’t she shut up? And now she was talking about dead animals. No wonder she didn’t have a boyfriend anymore.
    Cade’s sudden laugh filled the forest.
    “I’m glad I amuse you.” She rubbed the raw spot on her wrist and winced, more at her rambling than the pain.
    “Let me tend it.” He took her hand.
    Something in her quivered at his touch, every receptor in her body prickling to attention. What the hell was that? She yanked her hand away. “It’s fine.”
    His smile faded. “Did ye feel—”
    She changed the subject. “Was that barking?” A part of her wanted his touch again, but the shock of it startled her. Sage cupped her shaking hands around her mouth. “Tex, get back here!” She waited several moments then shrugged. “Can’t help but love that idiot dog.”
    “Tex. Come. Now!” She jumped at Cade’s shout.
    Tex bounded through the trees toward them, his tongue hanging from the side of his mouth. Traitor.
    “Show off.” She placed her hands on her hips. “How the hell did you do that? He never listens to me.”
    Cade shrugged. “Mayhap ‘tis a man’s command that makes the cur obey.”
    “Mayhap? ‘Tis?” She rolled her eyes when Tex ducked, butt in the air, daring her to grab the leash. “I’ve heard of staying in character, but you really overdo it.” That was a bit smart-assed, but his comment was chauvinistic. Still, she felt bad. “Is Surrey the name of an actor’s retreat or something?”
    He tilted his head, seemingly waiting for her to go on.
    “Well, is it?” He still didn’t answer. Why was he staring at her as if