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the next thing you remember?”
    He moved his hands to cover hers. She realized hers were trembling. That caused her to blush again, but she didn’t retreat.
    Why is it I chose to live out here, far away from all human contact?
    Dante gently put his hand on the back of her head, drawing her even closer, slowly closing the couple of inches that still separated them.
    “Ouch!” She gasped, wincing from the sudden pain.
    Now she remembered why she preferred solitude… it was the pain. Humans always found a way to cause pain.
    “Apologies, I completely forgot about your bump.”
    Jenevier pulled back from his touch, leaning once again upon Raven.
    “You,” she whispered.
    “Me?”
    “You were the next thing I remember. I woke up over there.” She pointed to the old leather lounge. “And when I opened the door… there you were. But I thought it was only a dream.”
    “Who? Me?” His smile beamed, wickedness now flashing in those enchanting gray eyes. “Yes, fair maiden. Most women claim me to be but a dream.”
    Jenevier stared at him for a moment, trying to maintain control. But she could no longer contain her laughter. It started out as a muffled giggle before turning into a soft laugh.
    “What?” Dante exclaimed, feigning innocence.
    “I am positively certain they do, kind sir. Yet, most men wouldn’t dare such a boast.”
    “You do not think me a dream?” He pretended to pout.
    Jenevier put her hand to the painful wound on the back of her head. “More like a nightmare.”
    “I apologized for that,” he whispered.
    “Yes, you did. Yet your apology erased not the pain.”
    He moved closer. “Shall I try again?”
    She put her arm up, blocking his advance. “Gratitude, Dante. But… I am weary.”
    Jenevier tried to stand, but he was still too close for her to move. He waited a brief moment, let out a sigh, and then backed away.
    She slipped her sock back on, kicked off her other boot, and began spreading the extra blankets on the floor of Raven’s stall.
    “You’re not going back to your house? I’ll help you. The storm has nearly died away.”
    She nodded towards Raven. “No. I’m staying here until he wakes. You’re welcome to stay if you wish. You have done me a great service and I want to repay the favor properly.” She pointed to the couch in the hallway. “It’s not a feather bed. But it sleeps better than the floor.”
    “Then you should sleep there, Milady.”
    “I want to be near him. If I’m by his side, perhaps he won’t be too frightened when he wakes.”
    “I would not advise sleeping here. When he does wake, he may be groggy from the medicine and accidentally step on you.” He raised one eyebrow, cocking his head to the side. “It would pain me to see further injury to such a lovely maid.”
    She could tell he was enjoying teasing her, and she almost liked the playful repartee he was instigating. She wasn’t used to a two sided conversation. She liked it.
    “You may be correct, good doctor. But we cannot both fit upon the lounge. There simply isn’t enough room.”
    She saw the wicked glint in his eye and could no longer suppress her giggles. Jenevier knew he was playing. But the suggestive look now painted upon his handsome face gave her that light-headed twisty-tummy feeling.
    She placed her fists on her hips. “Like I said, we both can’t sleep there. There’s only room enough for one.”
    His smile only widened. “Then we’ll just have to double up.”
    “You would continue to tease an injured woman?”
    He chuckled. “It was but jest. I’ll not sleep this night. I will sit up with your stallion. And… I’ll keep a close eye on you as well, fair lady. You do have a head injury, after all.”
    “But you’re not a healer. Not a people doctor.”
    “Perhaps I’ll get some practice tonight.” He winked playfully.
    Jenevier only smiled again and headed for the lounge. She was too exhausted to play anymore. As she walked by Dante he grabbed her arm.
    “Let