She stared back. She thought he might be filtering through the information he'd gained over the past hours, yet the strange expression on his face worried her. She was suddenly reminded of a story Black Harry liked to tell about the wonderful, unpredictable grizzly bears who roamed the wilderness of the Americas. The animal was such a cunning breed. Harry said the bear was actually much smarter than

his human trackers. Often he would deliberately lead his victims into a trap or circle back to attack. The poor unsuspecting hunter usually died before realizing he'd actually become the hunted.

Was Caine as cunning as the grizzly? That possibility was too chilling to think about. "Caine? You

frighten me when you look at me that way," she whispered. "I hate it when you frown."

She underlined that lie by wringing her hands together. "You're sorry you got involved in this mess,

aren't you? I can't fault you, sir," she added in a melodramatic tone of voice. "You're going to get

yourself killed if you stay with me. I'm very like a cat," she continued with a nod. "I bring people terrible luck. Just leave me here in your barn and go on home. When darkness falls, I'll walk back to London."

"I believe you've just insulted me again," he drawled out. "Haven't I already explained that no one

touches what belongs to me?"

"I don't happen to belong to you," she snapped, somewhat irritated he hadn't been impressed with her theatrics. The man should be trying to comfort her now, shouldn't he? "You can't just decide that I…

oh, never mind. You're shamefully possessive, aren't you?"

He nodded. "I am possessive by nature, Jade, and you will belong to me."

He sounded downright mean now. Jade valiantly held his stare. "You're not only in error, sir, but you're horribly stubborn, too. I'd wager you never shared your toys when you were a child, did you?"

She didn't give him time to answer that allegation. "Still, I didn't mean to insult you."

Caine pulled her to her feet. He put his arm around her shoulders and started toward the doors.

"Caine?"

"Yes?"

"You can't continue to protect me."

"And why is that, love?"

"A father shouldn't have to lose two sons."

The woman certainly didn't put much store in his ability, he thought to himself. Still, she sounded so frightened, he decided not to take exception. "No, he shouldn't," he replied. "Your brother shouldn't

have to lose his only sister, either. Now listen to me. I'm not sorry I got involved, and I'm not going to leave you. I'm your protector, remember?"

Her expression was solemn. "No, you're more than just my protector," she said. "You've become my guardian angel."

Before he could answer her, she leaned up on tiptoe and kissed him.

"I shouldn't have done that," she said then, feeling herself blush. "I don't usually show much affection, but when I'm with you… well, I find I like it when you put your arm around me or hug me. I do wonder about this sudden change in me. Do you think I might be wanton?"

He didn't laugh. She seemed too sincere and he didn't want to hurt her feelings. "I'm pleased you like it when I touch you," he said. He paused just inside the door and leaned down to kiss her. "I find I love touching you." His mouth captured hers then. The kiss was long, hard, lingering. His tongue rubbed against her soft lips until they opened for him, then slid inside with lazy insistence. When he pulled

back, she had a most bemused look on her face again.

"You tried your damnedest to become my shield on that horse, didn't you, love?"

She was so surprised by that question, her mind emptied of all plausible explanations.

"What did I do?"

"You tried to become my shield," he answered. "When you realized the shots were coming from…"

"I didn't," she interrupted.

"And the other night, when you threw yourself into me and knocked me off center, you actually saved my life," he continued as though she hadn't interrupted him.

"I didn't mean to," she interjected. "I was afraid."

She couldn't discern from his expression what he was thinking. "If there is a next time, I promise not to get in your way," she rushed out. "Please forgive me for not being very logical, Caine. You see, I've never been chased after before, or shot at, or… do you know, I don't believe I feel very well now. Yes,

I feel sick. I really do."

It took him a moment to make the switch in topics.

"Is it your head, sweet? We should have asked Christina for something to put on that bump."

She nodded. "It is my head and my stomach and my side, too," she told him as they walked toward the front of the main house.

She was weak with relief, for her aches and pains had waylaid his attention. Jade glanced around her, realizing for the first time how beautiful the landscape was. When they turned the corner, she came to

an abrupt stop.

The drive seemed to be unending. It was lined with a multitude of trees, most at least a hundred years old by Jade's estimation. The branches arched high across the gravel drive, providing an enchanting canopy.

The redbrick house was three stories high. White pillars lined the front, adding a regal touch. Each of the oblong windows was draped in white cloth and each was identically held in place with black tiebacks.

The front door had been painted black as well, and even from the drive, the attention to detail was very apparent.

"You didn't tell me you were so wealthy," she announced.

She sounded irritated to him. "I live a comfortable life," he answered, a shrug in his voice.

"Comfortable? This rivals Carlton House," she said.

She suddenly felt as out of place as a fish on the beach.

Jade pushed his arm away from her shoulders and continued on.

"I don't like wealthy men," she announced.

"Too bad," he replied, laughing.

"Why is it too bad?" she asked.

Caine was trying to get her to move again. She'd stopped at the bottom of the steps and was now staring up at the house as though it was somehow a threat to her. He could see the fear in her eyes.

"It's going to be all right, Jade," he said. "Don't be afraid."

She reacted as though he'd just defamed her family. "I'm not afraid," she stated in her most haughty

tone and with a glare to match.

It had been instinctive, giving him that setdown for daring to suggest such a sin, but she soon realized her blunder. Damn, she was suppose to be afraid. And now Caine was looking at her with that unreadable expression on his face again.