King's Treasure (Oil Kings Book 3) by Marie Johnston (great novels .TXT) 📗

sounds of frogs and the fresh smells of spring.

How was it so green around here already?

Trees crowded the house, but it looked like someone had beaten them back. The cabins the driver—who thankfully spoke French—had told me about were hidden among the trees.

My gaze had no time for the small white structures. I desperately sought out one person and one person only.

There he was.

Xander’s stunned expression told me what I’d known when I set out for my travels. He hadn’t been expecting me—ever.

I gave him a tentative wave and he only cocked his head, his mouth dropping open and his eyes narrowing like he was focusing a lens on me, making sure I was real.

“Hey,” I said as if the wave hadn’t been enough.

“Savvy?” He snapped straight and shook his head. “What are you . . .”

What was I doing here? Wasn’t that the question of the day? I wanted him. I wanted to talk about us.

I drank him in. Sweat wicked down the black shirt he had under his flannel. It was one of my favorites, but it wasn’t going to survive that rip. His sleeves were rolled up to show his muscular forearms.

He had no idea how much I liked that part of his body. Strong forearms, with a hint of veins that grew more defined when his muscles bulged. They did that when he worked with his camera.

Two strides and he was out of the garden, nearly bowling over the girl next to him.

My mind rippled with Who is she? but the closer he got, the less I cared.

“Savvy.” His gaze swept behind me. “Did you . . . Did you come alone?”

“Someone should’ve told me in high school that German would come in handier.” My chuckle was nervous. We still had an audience and I wasn’t sure how he felt about my arrival.

He lowered his voice. “Why are you here?”

His tone wasn’t combative. He sounded downright mystified. Was it that unbelievable I’d packed up and left home to travel here by myself?

Hadn’t I just been thinking the same thing?

“You,” I said quietly.

He stopped in front of me and the corner of his mouth hitched up. He brushed a hand against my hair. I inhaled all that was him. He smelled like fresh soil, clean mountain air, and man. The best cologne money couldn’t buy.

“Chief gave you time off?”

“I quit.”

Surprise flashed in his rum irises. He danced his fingers under my chin. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he murmured and stepped in.

I lifted my face. He was closing the distance when a female voice broke in. “Too bad she can’t stay with you.”

He scowled and straightened.

Eris shot the girl a hard look and said something in their language before switching to English. “Of course she can, Rina. She’s Xander’s wife and she’s had a long trip.”

Rina crossed her arms and spoke clearly, likely for my benefit. “You told me that I had to earn my keep, and I have been. Xander and I work this land as hard as you and Hector. The garden. The trees. The fence.”

Acceptance crossed Xander’s face. Rina wasn’t exaggerating. They were earning their keep and not by doing menial chores. Those trees hadn’t been cleared by heavy equipment. That had to be backbreaking work.

He glanced over at Hector, who’d only broken into a wide grin when I’d told him who I was looking for. “We can find a place in town.”

Hector was about to brush him off but I caught the look on Rina’s face. Smug.

“I can work,” I said before I could scare myself out of it. I barely ever vacuumed. What did I know about fences other than some were metal, some were wooden, and some were plastic?

Rina raked a dubious look down my black leggings and cashmere sweater. They’d been comfortable to travel in, but would last no more than two minutes doing whatever Xander had been working on when I arrived.

“Savvy, you don’t have to—” Xander started.

I lifted my chin, feeling every inch the petulant child I must resemble. “I can work. I catch on quick.”

That lopsided smile sent my belly flopping. “I’m staying wherever you’re staying.”

I returned his smile. We drifted closer, only to be broken apart by a loud clap.

Rina snorted. “I’m sure Eris and I can come up with plenty to do. It’ll be nice to have another strong back around.”

Eris rubbed her back and I noticed a rounded belly under her baggy shirt. “Perfect timing. I wasn’t looking forward to planting. Savvy can certainly help me there.”

Rina huffed and stormed past us. I was grateful I didn’t understand what she growled to Eris as she passed.

“Don’t mind her,” Hector said. “She’s probably more disappointed to lose the challenge than to lose the guy. Xander kept her from being bored.”

I locked eyes with Xander.

“We just worked together,” he said softly.

“Is it all right that I came?” I hadn’t allowed myself to have doubts the entire thirty-six hours that I’d been traveling. Xander didn’t seem upset, but my presence had disrupted his routine, disturbed the peace he’d wanted to find here.

He didn’t answer, but glanced at Hector. “Mind if I take a break and get her settled? I’m sure she’s had a long trip.”

Hector’s knowing grin sent a flush up my neck and into my cheeks. He had more faith than I did that my husband wasn’t bothered by my arrival. “Eris and I wanted to run to town for some more seeds for the container garden. We’ll take Rina along.”

“Appreciate it, man.”

Hector and Eris disappeared inside, leaving me alone with Xander. I opened my mouth to ask once again if it was all right that I’d come, but Rina’s shouts from inside caught me off guard.

“She doesn’t want to go,” he said.

“Sounds like it.” I swallowed hard. “You and her . . .”

“Nothing happened. I didn’t want it to, and like Hector said, she was bored more than anything. It’s just us out here.”

I nodded. We stood across from each other as Rina and Eris argued all the way to the car. Doors slammed