She’d never realized that she was so shallow, but it seemed she was susceptible to the superficial appeal of a handsome face and a few muscles. Her eyes scanned the broad shoulders, bulging arms, and rock-hard chest. All right, maybe quite a bit more than a few, but it was no excuse to be as weak-kneed and starry-eyed as a lovesick girl. She was a member of the elite Highland Guard, for goodness’ sake. She might not wield a sword like her brethren, but her job was just as important—maybe even more so.

She had a task—a duty that she’d dedicated her life to and never strayed from since she’d seen her mother in that cage. It was disconcerting to realize how susceptible she was to feminine weakness from which she’d thought herself immune. By all rights, she should be.

Annoyed by her silly reaction to him, she gave him an acknowledging nod and tried to walk around him. No luck. He shifted to block her path, forcing her to reach out and steady herself against that chest she’d just been admiring or risk plowing right into him and probably ending up in a very undignified sprawl on her backside.

“Where’s your escort?” he demanded angrily.

So much for niceties. She dropped her hand from his chest before she was tempted to do something like spread her palm over the steel-hard plane. Holding the package with both hands now, she took a step back to avoid the warm scent of soapy male—in this case myrtle—failing horribly.

“Why would I need an escort when I have you following me?”

“I wasn’t following you.”

She arched a brow.

“This time,” he modified. “Although it appears maybe I should have. You shouldn’t be walking around town alone.”

She tried not to roll her eyes or let her temper spark. But clearly that protective streak of his made him deaf to her wishes. If he were her husband, he’d probably lock her in a tower somewhere. Though the thought was in jest, she couldn’t help but think of her mother. But Alex wasn’t anything like her father . . . was he? How well did she really know him? And how many times had she pointed out that it was none of his business?

“I thank you for your concern, my lord, but I have no need of an escort for a quick trip into town.” She smiled. “Just as I have no need of unsolicited advice from overzealous knights in shining armor.”

The only indication that he’d heard her was the slight quirk of his mouth. “What were you doing?”

She debated repeating that it was none of his business, but realizing that would only make him more curious and harder to shake, she said, “Running an errand for my cousin.”

He eyed the package in her arms. “I presume that is the errand?”

She nodded.