dragon archives 02 - pursued by a dragon Read Online Free

mud,” she said. She leaned over the table, examining the bright hues.
    “Oh, that’s too bad,” the woman responded. “I’m afraid I don’t have any more green ribbon, but I do have some lovely blue which I will show you.” She scratched around under the table, pulling out a hank of sapphire-blue ribbon.
    “I’ll take it,” Cathryn said immediately. 
    It took her a few more minutes to complete her selection and pay the young woman before she moved off in the direction of a merchant displaying a selection of quills. She glanced around as she walked, taking note of the crowds of shoppers, when a tall form caught her attention. He was turned away from her, but the red hair, gleaming in the morning sun, gave him away. Cathryn felt the breath catch in her throat as she looked at the man who had haunted her memories, before quickly turning in the opposite direction in a panic. The man roused within her a yearning she had never before experienced, a desire that threatened all she held to be true. She had covered quite a few hurried yards before she forced her pace to slow down, chagrined at her instinctive response to run. Adopting a far more sedate pace, she crossed the last few yards to where the jewelry merchant displayed his wares. Silver glittered in the sunlight, and she stroked the smooth surfaces, her finger tracing the delicate swirls and curves, before choosing one with a pattern of trailing flowers and slipping it onto her wrist. Holding out her hand, she twisted it this way and that, watching the metal sparkle against her fair skin.
    “This one, I think.”
    A voice, soft and masculine, startled her, as a hand reached around her and lifted another bangle from the dark-colored cloth of the table. Cathryn knew without turning who it was that stood behind her. The voice had pursued her through many dreams, and as his warm breath brushed against her hair, she felt her heart speed up and the blood pound in her ears. For a brief moment she closed her eyes, silently pulling in extra breath, before slowly turning around to face him.
    “Sir, er, Drummond, was it?” she said. She glanced up into his face, before quickly looking away again.
    “Drake,” he corrected. He looked at her with eyes narrowed. “But you knew that. I saw you rushing across the market in an effort to avoid me. Now why would you do that, I wonder?”
    Cathryn raised startled eyes to meet his. “That is a very arrogant assumption. Why would I want to avoid you?”
    “Why indeed? Is it because your thoughts have bent towards me more than you care to admit?” He held her gaze for a moment, then glanced down at the bangle in his hand. Intricate lines of silver twisted and curled around each other, in a never-ending pattern that looped around the bangle between bands of silver. Pulling her hand into his, he gently tugged the bangle she still wore off her wrist and replaced it with the one he had chosen.
    “There,” he said, “that suits you perfectly. Small and dainty, but with a strong and determined design.” He watched her as she frowned down at the piece of jewelry adorning her wrist, her expression wavering between approval and chagrin. Finally, digging into her purse, she pulled out a few coins and handed them to the merchant before turning away.
    “Aren’t you going to thank me?” he asked, falling into step beside her.
    “Thank you?”
    “Yes. For finding you the perfect piece to complement your graceful wrist.”
    “You are insufferable,” she said, annoyed. Annoyed at him, for making her indebted to him. And even more at herself, for being affected by him.
    “How is your betrothed?” he said. “Shouldn’t he be here, attending to you, showing his affection and showering you with gifts?”
    She took a deep breath before replying. “My marriage to Geoffrey Beaumont has nothing to do with affection,” she said, lifting her chin as she responded. “It is a business partnership, nothing more. Not,” she added, “that