Ever After Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Of course not! I was never in danger. I swim like a fish.”
    I laughed, shaking my head. “ ’Twas all an act then, was it?”
    She nodded and snatched off her cowl, letting her dark hair spill out onto her shoulders to frame her heart-shaped face. A few wet tendrils clung to her cheeks, giving her an impish appearance. “You realized I was a woman,” she explained, flouncing back onto the grass beside me. “What was I to do? I saw very quickly I couldn’t best you in combat. I had to use other weapons at my disposal.”
    I leaned in conspiratorially. “And you fig’red bein’ a man and all, I couldn’t resist ye?”
    She batted long dark lashes at me. “It worked, didn’t it?”
    I peered down at her, utterly captivated by soft pink lips that begged to be kissed. “Why’re you here in these woods, a slip of a girl like you? ’Tis a dangerous place, this.”
    â€œI rob from the rich and give the spoils to the poor, making sure those who have do their part for those who have not—whether willing or no,” she explained. “I’ve made quite a name for myself.”
    I chucked her gently under her defiant little chin. “And what name fair fits ye?”
    She bounded to her feet and bowed with an exaggerated flourish. “Those who dare to speak of me, sir, call me Robin Hood.” Her eyes lit up with anticipation as she asked eagerly, “Have you heard of me?”
    I had indeed heard of such a person, but it wasn’t the legend that so enchanted me at that moment. “That’s what they call all the petty thieves. What’s yer true name?”
    Her mouth curved up in one corner and she gave me a playful wink. “Ah, but we don’t use our real names here in Sherwood Forest, friend. Too dangerous, that.”
    â€œThen what d’yer men call you?” I tried, sitting up to drape my arms over my knees.
    She sent a sidelong glance my way. “What men do you mean, sir?”
    I gestured casually toward the wood where I sensed at least a dozen individuals hiding among the trees, some with their bows at the ready to defend their leader should I make one false move.
    A slow smile curled her lips and her eyes flashed with amusement. “Clever boy.” She waved to her band of thieves, motioning for them to come out in the open. The ragtag bunch slowly emerged, sizing me up as I got to my feet. I easily towered over even the tallest of them. “And what shall I call you , my gallant hero?”
    I opened my mouth to tell her, but she held up a finger in warning. “No real names,” I recalled, inclining my head. “Very well, then. I suppose you can call me . . . John.”
    She pursed her lips. “John, what? We’ve got three among us already. John Good, John Swift, John Fletcher . . .” She eyed me up and down. “Perhaps we should call you John Little, eh?”
    â€œLittle?” I repeated with a chuckle, lifting an eyebrow, enjoying this brand of sparring far better than the staves. “I guarantee ye, lass, there’s naught little about me.”
    Her mouth hitched up at one corner in an amused smirk. “I’ll be the judge of that.” She then turned and addressed the others. “Well, men, what say you? Shall we add another John to the lot?”
    There was a little murmur among them, which apparently was enough to assure her that I was welcome. Her coquettish grin growing, Robin strolled toward me, her hands on her hips. “Well, lads,” she said, lifting that impudent and lovely face to mine, “it looks as though we now have ourselves a Little John.”

    When I awoke the next morning, the book still lay upon my chest where it had been when I’d fallen asleep. Grinning from a night filled with dreams of my little love, I rose to return the book to its coveted spot upon my shelf. But before I set it aside, I took one last