She followed him for what seemed like miles, but was probably not all that far. The unfamiliarity of her surroundings and the depth of the night made everything seem strange and alien.
They had been walking a fairly level though rough trail. Now, suddenly, Larkin struck off up a hill, the path virtually invisible. But Larkin, like the wolves for which the family was named, was sure-footed and silent as he prowled. Winnie, not so much. She caught her toe on a root and cried out.
Larkin whirled around. “Are you hurt?”
“No. Not really. But I could use some help.”
His patent reluctance to touch her might have made her laugh if the atmosphere hadn’t been rife with sexual tension. His hand closed around hers, the palm large and slightly calloused. “We’re almost there.”
She gripped his fingers with hers and pressed close to his back. She wasn’t at all sure what wildlife might be lurking just off course. Suddenly, they broke free of the tree line, and Larkin drew to a halt. His abrupt stop, combined with her momentum, propelled her into his back rather enthusiastically.
He drew her to his side. “Careful,” he said.
At their feet, the world fell away into nothingness. Vertigo threatened for a few moments, but Winnie took a deep breath and reminded herself that Larkin would never let her come to harm.
The view in front of them was eternity, the valley below nothing but a dark void dotted here and there with pinpoints of light. Overhead, a concave bowl arced across the heavens, encompassing stars that appeared to reflect man-made illumination below.
Winnie gripped Larkin’s hand, unaccountably nervous. “It makes my stomach jumpy,” she whispered, not wanting to desecrate the hushed night.
He released her fingers and slid an arm around her waist. “You mean holding hands with me?”
Smiling in the darkness, she rested her head against his shoulder. “Sure,” she said. “That’s what I meant.”
Kissing her hair, he pulled her in front of him and encircled her with his arms. “We loved to come here as kids. Devlyn even thought of trying to rappel off the side once, but thank God we talked him out of it.”
“So you weren’t a daredevil?” She loved the sensation of utter safety she felt in his embrace. For so long she had carried her burdens alone. The yearning to have someone with whom to share them was part of the reason she was unsure about making love to him. Larkin’s presence in her life was limited. He would be a wonderful lover, she had no doubt. But without anything more, would the sex seem empty and meaningless?
She felt his laugh rumble against her back, his breath warm. “I could be wild on occasion. But for whatever reason, I was always the one trying to keep my big brother grounded and my little sister protected.”
“Must have been exhausting.”
“You have no idea. Now that they’re both happily married, I feel free for the first time in my life. I’ve passed the torch to Gillian and Sam.”
Though the tone of his voice was teasing, she knew she was hearing the unvarnished truth. And it explained a lot. Larkin didn’t need any more complications in his life. His business was flourishing, but his personal life was a sailing ship becalmed on the sea. No waves. No danger.
And he liked it that way.
Though the night remained as impenetrable as ever, gradually Winnie began to see the light. Her life was not uncomplicated. She had chosen a path that would always involve a certain amount of personal sacrifice. And she couldn’t imagine ever turning her back on the hundreds of women and children who sought refuge beneath her wing. If anything, she planned to build another house for boarders, another haven for the lost and hurting.