Chapter 58

Heavily accented but recognizable, he’d complimented her in her language. Dianne had blushed bright red as if this were a courting man outside her cottage bearing flowers and a gift of smoked sweet meat. “Thank you.”

Then came the teasing “Aren’t you going to tell me I look pretty too?”

Giggling, giggling, Dianne stepped back, tray secure in her hands, and went to her fur. “If you’re trying to be pretty, I’ll gladly sew you a dress. I’m not sure how you keep warm as it is.”

“I would gladly have you keep me warm, any way you choose.”

When she looked up, she found such heat in his eyes. Longing, hunger, desire, adoration. He looked at her just as he had that first time, only seeing it now didn’t send her heart thumping in fear. Nor did his impossibly deep voice. What had at first sounded like two mountains scraping together now reminded her more of a rumbling sea. Soothing, constant, even warm as he changed the subject and talked to her about…

What had he been talking about?