“We’ve done everything and still he eludes me,” Slatter argued.

The cottage door opened. “Have you tried setting a trap?”

The three men looked at Willow.

“You should have whispered—though I don’t think any of you know how to do that—if you didn’t want me to hear,” she said.

A slight smile broke at the corners of Slatter’s mouth at his wife’s blunt remark and his eyes remained fixed on her. She looked refreshed after a good night’s sleep, her cheeks a rosy color, her green eyes bright, and her dark red hair loosely plaited with a few wavy strands falling around her face. She was beautiful and she was his… for now.

Willow walked over to her husband relieved to see that he had made it here safely. When she woke and found herself alone, she feared something may have happened to him. It was when she caught a whiff of his scent on her that she realized he had been wrapped around her last night. She had hurried and dressed, eager to see him. That was when she had heard the men talking, and she had listened.

She smiled when Slatter stretched his hand out to her before she reached him. She took it and was immediately planted snug against him and tucked in the crook of his arm.

“Willow, this is Devin, a longtime friend,” Slatter said.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Devin said and gave a nod toward her.

“We must talk so I can learn more about my husband,” Willow said and it wasn’t lost on any of the men that she made it clear she was Slatter’s wife, her intention.

“Devin is sworn to secrecy,” Slatter said and chuckled, “unless you give him a pint or two.”

Willow smiled and seeing the look the two men exchanged, she had no doubt Devin would keep Slatter’s secrets. That Slatter had such a loyal friend was a good thing to know, since it told her that Slatter was just as loyal to Devin. Not something you would expect from a man known for his charming tongue and lies.

“Have you tried setting a trap?” Willow repeated, refusing to have her question ignored.

“It’s difficult to set a trap for one so slippery,” Walcott said.

“Then one must be as slippery as he is,” Willow said.

“So how does one set a slippery trap?” Devin asked with curiosity.

“My wife doesn’t need to be involved in this,” Slatter said.

“Why not?” Willow turned her head to look at him. “It seems that this problem, for some reason, takes precedent over the problem of our unconventional marriage. Once it is settled, we can take the necessary steps to see our marriage absolved and to see you rewarded for saving me.”

Slatter understood what she was saying. Once this was done, they could end their marriage and his reward would be freedom from punishment for his previous deeds. Had that been her thought when she attempted to escape Tarass’s warriors?