Page 40 of The Warlock's Kiss

She swung the basket out of his reach. “I’m fine, Danny. I want to help. I don’t want to sit around being useless.”

“You’re not useless, Addy, you’re sick.”

“I’m fine. Really. It’s been days since I’ve had a headache or any symptoms at all.” She glanced at Merrick.

He was staring at her with an indecipherable expression on his face, his eyes veiled. There was an almostguiltycast to his features; she couldn’t imagine why, couldn’t be sure if it was just her imagination.

“Take a break, Adalynn,” Merrick finally said. There seemed to be a hint of strain in his voice. “You, too, Daniel. There’s some water in one of the empty baskets. You’ve both been working hard, and it’s a hot morning.”

Though she knew Merrick was right, she couldn’t help but feel as though he was calling for a break only because of her; having Danny also stop was a way to lessen the blow. Merrick had been pulling weeds ceaselessly since they entered the garden—which felt like hours ago—and she’d not seen him stop or slow the entire time.

Adalynn and Danny sat on a stone bench in the shade of a pear tree. As soon as Adalynn allowed herself to relax, every one of her muscles protested; the longer she was still, the sorer her body felt. It waswonderful. She hadn’t pushed herself like this in so long—at least not bychoice—and she’d forgotten what a good workout felt like. The dampness of sweat on her skin, the fire in her muscles, and the thumping of her heart were all the sweeter because she’dchosento work, to contribute. The rush of having to flee or fight for one’s life was a wholly different experience—one she’d rather do without.

While she and Danny rested—mopping sweat from their faces, drinking from the water bottles, and nibbling on bits of their harvest—Adalynn found herself watching Merrick.

He wasn’t dressed like a man toiling in a garden—he wore black dress pants and a white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to just above his elbows. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail with loose strands hanging around his face. The strangest part, however, was that despite the smudges of dirt on his clothing and the tall rubber boots on his feet, he pulled off the outfit. He lookeddignified.

Her eyes drifted to his strong forearms; toned muscles played beneath his skin as he worked.

He pulled off that lookverywell.

Danny elbowed her. It caught her so off guard that she nearly toppled backward off the bench and into the mud; she stopped herself only by extending her legs and digging her heels into the ground.

Once she’d regained her balance, Adalynn turned her head to glare at him. “What the hell, Danny?”

“You’re checking him out.”

A heat totally unrelated to the sun suffused her cheeks. “And?”

Danny’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’re not going to deny it?”

“No. Am I supposed to?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Why?”

Danny shrugged. “I don’t know, because you’re mysister, and I don’t need to see you checking guys out.” He glanced briefly at Merrick. “I’ve seen him check you out, too. You guys need to at least learn to be subtle about it.”

“We’re grown adults, Danny.” She raised the water bottle and took another drink.

Merrick hadn’t pressed her any further since their kiss in the ballroom. He was leaving the decision to her. But even if he hadn’t said anything directly, he’d not stopped flirting with her, hadn’t stopped looking at her with undisguised want in his eyes—the same way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

Adalynn’s nights had become torturous; she’d lie in bed, replaying their kiss in her head, fantasizing about it going beyond that. It was harder and harder to resist him with each passing day.

He was just so…charmingwhen he wanted to be. And seeing the interactions between Merrick and Danny…

“Isn’t he…old?” Danny asked.

Unable to hold back her laughter, Adalynn nearly choked on her mouthful of water. She swallowed it down and wiped her lips with the back of her arm. “He’s not that old.”

“Did you ask him?”

“No, but he doesn’tlookthat old.”

“You both realize I’m only thirty feet away, don’t you?” Merrick asked without looking up from his work.

Adalynn ducked her head and covered her face. “Kill me now.”

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