Mcalistairs Fortune by Alissa Johnson

Author:Alissa Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Historial Romance
Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

Fifteen

Even in the years to come, Evie would never be able to look back at what happened next without laughing and wondering what in the world had possessed her to do something so childish, so petty, so ill-advised as pitch the dark and dangerous James McAlistair into a dirty pond.

But that’s exactly what she did. She just reached out, planted the flat of her hand against his back, and gave one mighty shove to send him toppling headfirst into the green, slimy water.

Despite not knowing exactly why she’d done it—aside from feeling rather put out over being called naive—Evie was certain, even then, that she’d never regret it. Not for a single minute.

He went in with a loud splash, and for a split second he disappeared beneath the murky water. Then he broke free of the surface. He didn’t come up gasping or swearing or any of the things she rather suspected she’d be doing if she’d been tossed into the water. He rose smoothly, almost gracefully. Then he just stood there, staring at her.

Aside from his less-than-ideal reaction, Evie thought it priceless, absolutely priceless, to see the extraordinarily unflappable McAlistair standing chest deep in a pond, sopping wet from head to toe. Water ran in steady rivulets from his dark hair. A long strip of plant matter draped his shoulder. Something black and gooey marred his right cheek. Still staring at her, his dark eyes slitted, he wiped it away slowly with the back of his hand.

“Care to rethink your opinion of me?” she asked sweetly, and wisely began to quickly back away toward the shore.

“Come here, Evie.”

She swallowed down a laugh and took the last step off the dock. “Would you add simpleminded to your list of compliments?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he kept his gazed fixed on hers and began an unhurried but determined walk toward the shore—toward her.

She danced farther away from the water’s edge as the first bubble of laughter slipped out. “You’ve no right to anger, you know. You insulted me.”

“I said you were delicate.” He reached the muddy beach.

She pointed an accusing finger at him. “Exactly.”

He came at her in long, deliberate strides. She yelped, dropped her hand, and made a somewhat belated dash for it.

She didn’t get far.

He caught her from behind. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her back and up against his chest, lifting her off her feet. Then he headed toward the water.

“No! Stop!” She squirmed and kicked, but protests were rarely taken seriously when laughter was involved, and she was laughing so hard she could barely get the words out.

He walked to the end of the dock and let her feet dangle over the edge. “Can you swim?”

She hesitated before answering. “No.”

“Liar.”

He grinned and stepped off the dock.

There was just sufficient time to either scream or take a deep breath. She took the breath.

Then she was underwater. It wasn’t quite cold enough to hit her as a shock, but it was a very near thing, and when he brought them back up to the surface, she was gasping, laughing, and swearing.

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