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Her insides squeezed at his words. Was she even breathing?
A predatory howl on the wind drew their attention to the tree line.
She removed her bag from her shoulder, cleared her throat, and said, “We should start a fire, it will keep animals at bay.”
He nodded and moved to the edge of the woods to collect kindling. “What’s in the bag?” Krieger addressed her over his shoulder.
After she knelt beside a downed log, she emptied the contents. “Just a few things I thought we might need.” She removed a rolled blanket and her ferro rod to start a fire, then pulled out a jar filled with a dark red liquid. “And something I thought we might want,” she said as she shook the container.
His lips widened into a smile as he made his way back to her to arrange the wood and dry grass. She used the rod to spark a flame and blew on it until it began to smolder. The light spread, the kindling crackling as the fire took hold.
Krieger moved to the log and rested his back against it. The sun had nearly set now, the last light of the day extinguished, and the stars burned brighter as the darkness overtook the sky. The full moon would come into view soon.
Eva held her hand above the flame, the warmth a welcomed delight this time of year. Krieger picked up the rolled blanket and unfolded it, offering her to join him. She eased next to him and arranged the fabric around her body. Once she was settled, she grabbed and unscrewed the top of the jar, took a long pull of the ruby liquid, then turned to him.
“Here, I think you’ll like it. It’s Tucker’s famous wine.”
He accepted the glass from her, and she watched as he drank deeply. A bead of wine escaped his lips, and she had to force herself not to reach for it.
“You got a little something, here.” She pointed to the corner of her mouth.
Eva couldn’t help but to watch as his tongue removed the excess wine from his lips, and she swore her heart stopped beating. To be that droplet...
After he took another drink, he handed her the jar of wine. “You’re right, it is delicious.”
A smile played on her lips as she put the top back on, and after she set it beside them, he put his arm around her shoulders, tucking her against the warmth of his side.
She closed her eyes just for a moment as she absorbed this feeling. Safe, protected, cared for.
For years now, she had to be strong, take the lead, be in charge. But with Krieger... He was a man she could truly rely on. Even trust.
He rubbed her arm and asked, “Are you warm enough?”
As she stared into the fire, filled with contentment, she nodded.
“So, that conversation with your father the other day, I couldn’t help overhearing, what does ausländer mean? He seemed to be saying it a lot.”
She tried to muffle the laugh that escaped her. “You picked up on that?”
“Well, yeah, I was worried. He didn’t look happy.”
“Ausländer is German for outlander, it means foreigner.” She turned in his arms to better see his face and pointed to his chest. “You.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Me?”
“He believed you could still be in earshot, so he didn’t use your name. But he thought—” She paused, not knowing if she should tell him.
“What did he think, Eva?”
She released a heavy sigh. “My father thinks there is something going on between us.”
Her eyes bored into his chest, afraid to see what his gaze held. Nervous if he pressed her, she would tell him about the peace treaty and ruin this night with him.
He put his finger under her chin, lifting it to tilt her face up. “Your father is a perceptive man.”
Her heart was hammering in her chest so loud. Could he hear it?
With slow motions, he leaned toward her. Heat coiled in her abdomen as her eyes dropped to his lips. His arm tightened around her, bringing her closer to his chest as she inhaled his pine and completely male scent, which was all his own. One she swore she would remember for the rest of her life.
