Page 47 of When a Duke Loves a Woman
Thorne twisted around to find Aiden leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded over his chest. “Why would you think that?”
“You didn’t look about, didn’t hesitate. You knew exactly where to find her bed.”
“I was jumped about a week ago. She nursed me back to health.”
He slowly nodded. “That explains some things.”
Hearing a soft moan, he turned back to Gillie, sat on the edge of the mattress, took one of her hands, and placed the palm of one of his against her cheek. “Easy, sweetheart. Easy.”
Her eyes fluttered open; she grimaced. “It was Charlie McFarley and his boys who attacked you. He wouldn’t tell me where he fenced your watch.”
“That’s the reason you jumped him? You idiotic—”
“I wouldn’t yell at her if I were you,” Aiden said calmly, evenly, but also quite threateningly.
He hadn’t been yelling but his voice had been reverberating with displeasure. He reined in his temper; still the thought of this woman coming to any harm had him shaking.
She lifted a hand to her crown, grimaced. “My head—”
Tenderly he took her wrist, pulled her fingers away. “Careful. You’ve a gash there. A physician is coming.”
“I don’t need a doctor.” She made a move to sit up, dropped back down, groaned. “Head hurts.”
“I imagine it does. Someone slammed a chair against it.”
A corner of her mouth hitched up. “That wouldn’t have stopped me. I’m too hardheaded.”
Only it had stopped her. It had knocked her out, left her on the floor where she could have come to more harm. “Let the physician make sure you’re all right before you do anything.”
She blinked as though trying to sort things out. “What are you doing here?”
“I needed to speak with you.”
“About?”
He glanced over his shoulder at her brother. “Must you lurk about like a miscreant?”
He flashed a grin. “I am a miscreant.”
“Aiden,” she growled, a warning in her voice despite her injured state.
“I’m not leaving him alone with you.”
“I’ve been alone with him before.”
“Then he and I will be having a talk outside in a bit. I need to introduce him to my fist.”
“Don’t be daft. Nothing untoward happened. Besides, I can see to myself. Stop hovering in my doorway.”
Unfolding his arms, he straightened. “I’ll go prepare you a cup of tea. Door stays open.” With that, he stomped away.
“Sorry,” she said. “He’s a bit overprotective.”
“I’m actually glad of it.” Thorne cradled her cheek again, stroked it softly, taking unwarranted pleasure from the silkiness of her skin. “What were you thinking to confront them?”
“Having thieves in my tavern is bad for business.”
He chuckled low. “So it was all about business?”
