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her hands in the shirt as she turned to look at him.
    “He saved you by bringing you here. Everything happens for a reason, Mina.” She felt her chest tighten at the gentle look that came into his features. Those blue eyes seemed even softer in the low light of the oil lamps. Mina felt something inside her unfurl as she blinked up at him. When he reached out a hand, she swallowed at the touch of his index finger to the sore on her cheek. “You need to keep this covered.”
    Disappointment flooded her as he grabbed the empty plate to move away from her. Looking down at her hands, she released the material of his shirt and stared at her mother’s ring. Daren had saved her. He’d been a brute the last couple days, but could she blame him for that? No, she decided with a sigh. Her cousin had done the best he could with what the world threw at him. Had she even thanked him?
    Her eyes burned as the answer shamed her. Guilt tore her in two. She hadn’t even thanked Gabriel Landing for risking his life to save her. The mattress depressed with his weight as he sank down next to her.
    “Lift your head, Mina.” She looked over to see him holding a tube of antibiotic ointment and a sterile gauze pad. He turned her head and wiped a finger coated in ointment over the cut.
    “You don’t have to do that,” she protested.
    “Yes, I do. You don’t want infection.” He had the gauze pad in place seconds later. “There. You’ll live.” She reached out blindly, her fingers tingling at the contact with his wrist. He stopped to look at her, questions and caution in his look.
    “I want to thank you.” Mina inwardly cringed at the way her voice was shaking. She was Senator Benjamin Brady’s eldest daughter and she could barely speak right. He nodded his head, a dark patch of hair falling over his eye as he tilted his head.
    “It’s just a patch-up job, Mina.” His lips pulled back into a wry smile that had her tummy flipping.
    “You didn’t have to save me, but you did.” His head pulled back and he looked down at her hand on his wrist.
    “Like I said, this is my last duty to your family. I’ll get you to the summer house tomorrow, if the weather cooperates with us.” He pulled his arm away from her and stood up. “Get some sleep while you can. I’ll take the first watch.” Mina realized he was taking the dirty plate with him on his way out of the cave.
    “Wait!” She was up and moving right behind him. Her body smashed right into his as he stopped suddenly to turn around. His arm with the plate wrapped around her waist, his other hand clutching her hip to keep her from falling.
    “Mina!” His wide eyes narrowed in irritation as he looked down at her. Mina realized she was holding onto his arms for dear life with her breasts crushed against his solid chest with only the soft fabric of her shirt between them. She watched as his eyelids drooped and his head lowered toward hers. Tilting her chin up, she focused on his mouth as it drew closer to hers. “You are an accident waiting to happen.” He quickly pushed her back, creating enough space between them to ensure they were no longer in full body contact.
    “Sorry. I just...” What the hell had she wanted? She looked down at the beautiful chest in front of her and bit her lip hard.
    “You just...what?” There was that edge to his voice that told her he didn’t want her here. She was an intruder to his world, uninvited and unwanted. Nothing new, she thought with a sadness that hurt deep.
    “What duty do you owe my family?” She released his arms as he let her go. Hugging her waist, she watched as he rubbed at his neck and looked away from her.
    “I’m not getting into this with you, Mina. What I owe to your father is my business. Not yours. Do us both a favor, go to sleep and stay out of my way.” He turned and left her standing there with her mouth wide open and her emotions swirling in turmoil. The nerve of the man! Turning, she stamped her way back to the