Page 56 of Lawless Rivals

“No.”

“Saint.”

“Harrington.”

She huffs. “Ugh. You’re an asshole.”

“And you’re more hassle than you’re worth.”

I carry her toward the trees; the movement driving heat into my veins. My boots trample through brush until the land dips and the wind drops away.

When I reach a patch of grass that’s shielded on all sides, I sink to one knee and set her down.

“While I’m gone, strip off the wet clothes,” I tell her. “They’re making ya colder. I’m getting wood for a fire.”

I straighten, looking down at her. “Can I trust you not to wander off and make this worse?”

“Take your time,” she mutters, refusing to look at me. “The longer you’re away, the better.”

“Don’t be a brat.”

“Or what?” She glares at me. “You’ll drown me?”

I swallow hard, the twitch in my hand flaring, then rip off my drenched vest and scrub myself down with the shirt before pulling it back on, noticing a few buttons are gone.

“I’m not going far,” I say, running a hand through my damp hair. “Stay put.”

I turn and head back into the wind, hunting for fallen branches and dry brush for kindling. The cold cuts straight through me, damp jeans clinging like ice to my legs as I work fast.

By the time I return with an armful of wood, she’s wrapped in my coat, bare legs tucked close, her wet clothes abandoned beside her.

My pulse jumps, irritation flaring hot on its heels. I’m a grown fucking man. I can handle a half-drowned Harrington.

“You okay?” I ask.

Last thing I need is her passing out or getting sick out here.

“Ask me that when I’m in my bed with a hot water bottle and a glass of wine,” she says, voice dripping with mockery. “And I mean my bed. My home. My wine.”

“For me to ask that question, I’d have to be in bed with ya,” I say with a dry tone. “D’ya think your daddy would be happy with that?”

I cock a brow, taunting her because I want that bite of hers back.

“Oh, please.” She snorts. “You’ll be on your side of the heath with your cheese toasties and a stretch of Tallon land that clearly doesn’t want a Harrington breathing on it.”

“Funny that.” I smile as I build the fire on my knees. “Our land has never wanted Harringtons on it.”

She rolls her eyes. “Then you should’ve listened instead of dragging me over to your side.”

I move closer and pat the coat she’s wearing, checking the pockets for my lighter and smokes.

“What are you doing, pervert?” She leans away.

An abrupt laugh breaks out of me, catching me off guard.

“If that were true,” I say, digging the lighter out, “I’d be warming myself up another way.”

She opens her mouth, thinks better of it, then looks away. “Just… Hurry up and light the fire.”