Three Weeks Last Spring Read Free Page A

ran down her spine. The cabin was isolated, and even if there were another house within screaming distance, no one would be at home at this time of day. Skye considered her options as the tall figure approached her. If he were to prove difficult she could always push him into the sea, and run b ack to the safety of the cabin.
     
    The stranger halted a mere foot from her, forcing her to look up.
     
    He grinned. "Sorry to startle you, ma’am, but I wasn't sure if you were planning on taking anythin g else off besides your shoes."
     
    Skye's mouth opened but she couldn't utter a word.
     
    "Because if you were, you'd only last about thirty minutes before hypothermia set in, and being the gentleman that I am, I would feel duty bound to come right in after you. That would be a shame, because I'd planned on going home and cooking this fish for lunch."
     
    Coughing and spluttering, Skye choked on her coffee. So a fish was more important than saving someone from freezing to death. She inclined her head to examine him more closely and saw that she’d been right about his eyes. Here was a man who didn't suffer fools gladly. Well, ‘ Mr. Damn Your Eyes ’ could just go back to where he came from and take his fishy friend with him!
     
    "You’ll be relieved to know, that I had no intention of taking anything other than my shoes off. The thought of going for a swim hadn't entered my head. But now you've mentioned it, it's not a bad idea. As for you coming in after me, I'll take a rain check, if you don't mind. Not, I might add, that what I do is any business of yours. I was assured that this was private property . May I ask just what you think you are doing prowling around s caring the hell out of people?"
     
    "My, my, we're mighty touchy. What happened, someone wake you up too early?" The icy blue eyes flashed. There was a trace of laughter in his voice .
     
    Skye felt intimidated by the stranger's height. She stood up in one fluid movement. Not one inch of her five foot five frame gave her anymore confidence. She barely came up to the man's chest—a chest that any woman would feel co mfortable snuggled up against. S till feeling at a disadvantage, she took a long look. Close up he didn't appear quite so intimidating—‘impressive’ was a better adjective. In fact, she could think of a number of suitable adjectives to describe him , including handsome, rugged, not to mention offensive and arrogant. This guy would stop traffic in London, but there he would be completely out of place. Here in the rugged mountains of the Pacific Northwest he was totally at ease.
     
    Skye revised her estimate of his height. He was at least six feet four, possibly more. His eyes were deep set and she’d been right about the colo u r . He had a scar over one eyebrow and a smaller one on his chin. She wondered how he'd acquired them, but had no intention of asking. He was dressed in black jeans, which fit him like a glove , and a navy blue check work shirt worn open at the neck, revealing a tangle of dark hair. He held a fishing rod in one hand, and a fish in the other, and looked for the entire world, as if he had stepped right out of the pages of her guidebook.
     
    Skye stiffened. "Look, Mr ? Sorry, but I didn't quite catch your name, and at this particular moment, I don't even care to know what it is. I've had a long journey and I'm tired. As far as I'm concerned you're trespassing. I woul d very much appreciate it, if you would leave by whatever means you arrived and allow me to finish my coffee before it goes cold."
     
    "The lady obviously has a temper to match the colo u r of her hair. Now why don't you take a deep breath, calm down and enjoy the day? You're obviously not from around here otherwise you wouldn't jump down a perfectly innocent person's throat, especially one who's trying to give you some friendly advice. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll be on my way, and for future reference, the name is Walker. Jedediah Walker, but