A sense of obligation had prompted Alanna to deliver an apology, but she was surprised by how much his question hurt. "No, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I had a message of my own."
Hunter cursed his own stupidity for even imagining Melissa might have sent her cousin in her place, but he wasn't so lost in his own misery that he didn't notice the sudden change in Alanna's mood. The newly confident young woman who had stood before him only moments before had disappeared, and in her place he saw the same sad, sweet waif he had known. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disappoint you either. Turn around, and I'll come out and dress."
Alanna did as he asked, but what had struck her as a good idea when she had left the house, now seemed a fool's errand. Like so many men before him, Hunter was infatuated with Melissa, and he wouldn't care what Alanna had to say. He probably wouldn't even hear it. When he touched her shoulder, she jumped in surprise, but managed a faint smile as she turned toward him.
He had donned only his britches, and the water dripping off his hair was rolling down the muscular planes of his chest in slippery trails that caught her eye, and made it difficult for her to meet his gaze. The deep bronze of his skin added to the aura of masculine perfection, and while she knew she was staring, he was so attractive it was impossible not to. This was the first time she had seen him as a man rather than a dreaded savage. That he would prove to be so appealing was such a shocking sensation, she fought to force it away, but she had to clasp her hands tightly to resist the temptation to reach out and touch him.
Thoroughly distracted, she could scarcely recall why she had come looking for him. Finally, she began haltingly, "The last time you were here, my memories governed my behavior, and I was very rude to you. You didn't deserve it, and I wanted to tell you how sorry I am."
Alanna's expression was so painfully sincere, Hunter had no difficulty believing her. He now doubted that Melissa had meant anything she had told him, but Alanna impressed him as a woman whose emotions couldn't be hidden to enable her to lie. "The fault was mine, too," he replied.
"Oh, no, it was not," Alanna argued. "You were very kind, and I simply wasn't able to appreciate it. I know I must have hurt your feelings, and I'm so sorry."
Hunter frowned slightly. "Most people do not even realize Indians have feelings."
Alanna glanced back over her shoulder and, seeing no one in view, hastened to add another thought. "Please, you mustn't judge Melissa too harshly. Men have always adored her, but I fear she seldom took their attentions seriously. It's plain that you like her, and I understand why finding she's married Ian would disappoint you, but you mustn't dwell on it. Whatever casual flirtation you shared is over. She loves her husband dearly."
To have such an innocent creature lecture him on love was more than Hunter could bear. He reached out to grab her shoulders and replied in a tone she could not mistake for anything but rage. "You know nothing of what happened between Melissa and me. I'll stay here only one night, and I want you to tell Melissa I have to see her alone. She knows when and where to meet me. If she refuses, tell her I'll have a long talk with Ian in the morning."
When Alanna was too frightened to speak and simply stared at him wide-eyed, Hunter shook her. "Do you understand?"
Trembling badly, Alanna managed a nod.
"Good. Now repeat it. What are you going to say?"
Alanna had to swallow hard to force back her fear. "You want Melissa to meet you tonight. She's supposed to know when and where. If she doesn't, you'll talk with Ian in the morning."
Satisfied, Hunter dropped his hands to his sides and stepped back. "Deliver my message, and there will be no further need of apologies between us."
"No," Alanna swore as she backed away. "It's you who owes me one now." Panicked, she picked up her skirts and ran toward the house. Ian was expected home soon, and Melissa had gone upstairs to their bedroom to rest until he arrived. Alanna knocked lightly at their door, and waited for her cousin's welcoming call before she entered. Still shaking badly, she took the precaution of locking the door to insure their privacy before she approached the bed.
She studied her cousin's expression closely as she repeated Hunter's demand, but Melissa showed not a flicker of interest, let alone dread. "He's furious with you," Alanna warned, "and if there's something you'd rather he didn't tell Ian, I think you ought to get up and speak with him now."
Melissa covered a wide yawn. "I'll do no such thing, and I don't want you talking to him again either. Because he was my brothers' friend, I tried to be nice to him when he was here in April. Obviously he misinterpreted my friendliness for something more. It's unfortunate, but I won't compound the problem by talking with him now, or sneaking out at midnight either."
"Is that when you met him before?"
Aghast at the secret she'd just revealed, Melissa sat forward and attempted to save herself. "No, of course not. That was what he asked though, so I'm sure that's what he means now."
Recalling the vehemence of Hunter's tone, Alanna was amazed by her cousin's calm. "What is it he's threatening to tell Ian?"
"I've no idea," Melissa insisted. "The man's a savage. He might make up any wild tale, but don't worry, I'll speak to Ian, so there won't be a problem no matter what Hunter says."
Hunter had reacted as though he had a right to feel betrayed, but he had terrified Alanna, and she found it impossible to plead his case. "I hope he does leave tomorrow."
"So do I. I wonder why he bothered to come."
Alanna made an easy guess. "Apparently he thought the trip was worth making. I wish you could have seen his face when your mother said you'd married Ian. He may have meant nothing to you, but it was plain you meant a great deal to him."
"He's an Indian."
"He's also a man who cares about you."
Melissa raised her hand to massage her forehead. "Please, Alanna, no more. I'm not feeling well, and I don't think I'll come downstairs for supper. Will you please ask my mother to send up a tray?"
As Alanna unlocked and opened the door, she heard Ian coming up the stairs. "Shall I make that two trays?" she asked her cousin.
"Yes, please do." Melissa held out her arms to welcome her husband with an enthusiastic embrace. "That awful Indian is here again, and somehow he thought that I liked him. I'm so embarrassed that he could have mistaken my friendliness for affection, that I'd rather not sit at the same table with him. Do you mind?"