"Enjoying yourself?" he drawled.
She touched her lips with trembling fingers, her face burning. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were . . I had no idea anyone was around."
He chuckled softly. "Don't apologize to me, I was enjoying the show."
Her face grew hotter and she gnawed at her bottom lip. "I must have made quite a spectacle."
His face was sober, the blue eyes probing her mind again. "Where were you going?" Suspicion touched his voice and eyes.
Her heart was racing, but she forced innocence into her voice. "I was going to explore this path. It looks so inviting!"
He nodded and dropped his arms to his sides, moving lithely away from the tree. "Lots of dangerous trails look inviting around here. Don't be wandering off alone." He bent down and retrieved her shoes, handing them to her. His eyes held a glint of humor. "I'm hungry. What's for supper?"
"I have a roast in the oven. It should be ready now." She slipped into her shoes, still smarting from his reproach. "You know, I was brought up in these hills. I'm not afraid."
Silence escorted them to the house. When they reached door he paused, gazing down at her with an unreadable expression. He reached out and took one of her curls in his big hand and studied it. Her hair sparkled in the sunlight against the dark tan of his hand. He lifted his gaze to hers. "Like spun gold," he said softly tossing it across her shoulder, where it poised and then bounced down her back. "I suspect I'd have a lot of young men to answer to if anything happened to you out here."
She stared up at him defiantly ignoring his reference to the countless nonexistent suitors. "Are you telling me I can't go for a walk?"
His mouth twisted in a sardonic smile. "Would it do any good?"
She shrugged. "I can take care of myself."
He shook his head in defeat and opened the door for her, bowing deeply. "Ladies first." A smile was plastered on his dark face, but it didn't reach the smoldering eyes.
She preceded him into the house and swiftly burdened the table with lunch. Why was he so concerned? Outside of snakes and insects, there was nothing dangerous about the forest. There were bears and mountain lions, but in all the years she had lived here, she had never known of anyone being attacked. His concern probably had little to do with her safety, though. More than likely it was born of self-preservation. What was down that path that he didn't want her to see? The idea of a lurking mystery quickened her pulse. A meth lab? She eyed Giddon covertly. It was hard to picture him involved with anything illegal . . . but why? He was certainly mysterious, even a little eccentric, but . . . what did she know about the business? Maybe he was the typical drug lord. And Sarah?