He Loves Me Knot by Sarah McGregor

Author:Sarah McGregor [McGregor, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-25T19:28:58+00:00

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“Feeling better?”

“Definitely, although Sefton may have objections to my second helping.” Nick’s greatcoat did the trick and having stuffed ourselves with something I would call Sunday roast, we trot away from the village.

“He’ll manage.” Nick chuckles. “It was poor me had to hoist you up on his back.”

“I cannot believe you said that.”

He laughs, and after a minute I join in. How is it that danger and impending mayhem have taken down the invisible barriers I’ve felt between us till now? The chemistry we shared before was there from the start, but we haven’t spoken like this since the day at the stream. It feels good. Right.

“Is it bad to say I’m enjoying myself?”

Nick smiles at me and looks back over his shoulder. “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.”

“Hmm, carpe diem, in other words?”

“Indeed.” He’s distracted, looking around like he’s expecting an ambush or...

“Are we lost?”

“What? No, but the innkeeper made that comment about the village crawlin’ with swells. I’ll feel better once we’ve put the place behind us.”

“Ditto.”

“Pardon?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, indeed so. Do you know the rest of the poem—the one about the rosebuds?”

“Of course. What young lad doesn’t memorize an ode to virgins?”

I stare at him waiting for the explanation.

“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” he says. “The title.”

“Oh, dear. Are rosebuds...” Vaginas!

He laughs. “Poetry has as many interpretations as readers, Diana. If yours tend to journey there, well—”

“Stop.”

“I’m teasing. Here’s the last bit. Then be not coy, but use your time, And, while ye may, go marry: For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.” He eyes me with that hot as hell raised eyebrow, one side of his lips lifted in a crooked smile. “Perhaps I should have used it before.”

“Yes, threatening me with impending old age would have surely done the trick.” I snort, but if he knew the real story, well, it fits in more ways than one.

The trail from the woods opens at the top of a hill, the whole countryside seemingly spread out before us. “Oh, that’s beautiful. Can we get down and rest?” Now that we’ve left the village behind, all I can think of is a nap, probably the result of residual drugs in my system, the thought of which makes me cringe.

“We can afford a short one.”

Nick’s voice settles me, and I shake off contemplation of Horace and the reason behind this little jaunt. We dismount and holding hands and mounts, we skirt the edge of the woods to a swale. Far in the distance the village looks miniature, as if set up for a toy train.

I find a sturdy branch and tie Sefton before flopping down on a nice flat spot. “Ah, this is heaven.”

Chuckling, Nick settles Cherokee next to Sefton and joins me. “Just a few minutes, mind.” He lies back, arms folded behind his head.

Jesus, he looks like a centerfold waiting to happen. It’s distracting to say the least. I close my eyes, but there’s a lump under my shoulder so I wriggle to a new spot.

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