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her but it didn’t do much to ward off the incessant wind.
    He pulled her close. “I should have fetched that coat.”
    She relished his warmth, his scent. “Why do you smell so good?”
    He thought a moment. “I bathe?” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Now, do ye fare well enough to listen? You look upset.”
    “You think?”
    “I do.”
    Sarcasm was lost on this man. She cuddled underneath his chin. “Go on. Explain.” Yeah right. How could she listen with his arms wrapped around her? She took a step away. “I’m listening.”
    “Wren rewarded me with the stone—though I thought it an odd gift at the time.”
    “Rewarded? For what?”
    “I rescued his daughter from drowning. Her celebratory ball was last eve.” He frowned. “Or mayhap longer—but time may have held while I was gone.”
    God, couldn’t he explain this later? She just wanted him to kiss her to bring her home to her dog. At least it was warm there. She settled for snuggling deeper into his arms while he continued.
    Two dimples graced his cheeks. “Ah, what a pleasure, fair one.” He bent and she inhaled his woodsy scent. A shiver ran through her when he brushed his lips on hers. “However, kissing ye distracts me,” he whispered. “Do ye not wish to hear the rest?”
    She grabbed his neck and kissed him hard then looked around. “Damn. That didn’t work.” Oh but it did, just not the way she intended. Her body responded, her pulse quickened, but they didn’t travel back to the nature reserve.
    Cade shook his head. “Wilt thou cease thy spells long enough to listen?” He continued without waiting for an answer. “Now, about the celebration—”
    Was he waiting for her to interrupt? She pursed her lips, a smile itching to escape.
    He grinned and continued. “He held it on the first day of the new year for his daughter’s birthday.”
    “Is she another of your girlfriends?” she blurted.
    “She is but four years old.”
    “Oh.”
    He chuckled. “Do not fret, I do not have a woman, a wife, nor a maiden who captures my heart. Never have.”
    Something tore inside her soul. What about me? “Yeah, well about that rock.” She lowered her voice. “And you say I ramble.”
    “Nay, ye said that. Not I.” He ran a finger along her forehead. “Do not frown, fair one. I adore the ramble of thy words.” He tipped his head to meet her eyes. “I shall do my best to explain everything.”
    Explain why your touch reaches straight to my heart then .
    “Wren freely partook in the festivities—the food, the music, the wenches.” He raised his brow. “But even more so of the ale.”
    So now he was talking about the drunken sorcerer with a bird name. She had a feeling this was going to take a while. The whole time her dog was probably searching for her. Still, she loved the cadence of his voice, his accent, and the tender way he ran his hand down her back as he spoke
    Dammit. She loved him .
    “Why do ye look at me like that?” Busted. Her emotions must be written over her face.
    She grinned and pulled him deeper into the alley—and farther away from Margery, who was still watching them from across the lane. “About the Wren dude,” she prompted.
    “Wren’s wife died several years since, and he thought it time to find a soul mate. So he created this stone.” He held up the stone, which was shaped like a heart. How original.
    When she touched it, she was surprised to find it was warm—or maybe she was frozen solid. Shivering, she peered closely at its shine, which gleamed as if it were intermixed with stone and gems. “Beautiful,” she whispered.
    “He was drunk, and I figured he merely needed to believe in the stone. I listened as a friend would, and accepted it when he said he could not bear to use it.”
    “So you decided to use it?” He knew? And yet didn’t tell her?
    “Nay. I forgot he said it would carry my heart to find true magic...and true love.” His face flushed. “He witnessed my guests’ antics