Hours later, Ray's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. His muscles tingled from all the running, and he wondered how the boy could still be jumping around so happily. Of course, he hadn't been able to deny the brave, tough native his victory in the end.

"Awwo-ho-hoo-hoo!"

With this victory cry on his lips, the little, brightly painted, and feathered cheeky badger danced around the spruce tree that was to serve as a torture stake. Although the brave warrior's loyal companion did not understand what was happening, he was clearly infected by the joy of his hairless friend and occasionally joined in with his howls.

The spruce was Ryker's very own little prison. Tied up with the garden hose, the ends lay loose on the ground but were held in place by the multi-layered loops around his legs and stomach. It made any movement impossible because the little Indian had put him out of action with his excellent knotting skills.

"Liam? Ray? Do you know where?" Eve's voice rose above the loud cheering shortly after the cottage door opened, and the young woman stepped out onto the patio.

"Look, Mom, I've got... Oh!" The winner's voice on the lawn broke off mid-sentence as he turned to beam proudly at his mother. Instead, the boy's eyes widened with excitement. "You look great!" squealed Liam, seeming to have forgotten about Ray and the game.

And Liam was right.

Ray's heart skipped a beat as his eyes followed the source of the voice like the needle of a compass, inevitably pointing north. He stood there in amazement and had to control himself so his jaw wouldn't drop.

Eve looked utterly different. But... Well, different. Her blonde curls had disappeared, replaced by a bright sea of red waves that played wildly around her face. The top of her head had been moved more to one side so that her hairstyle discreetly covered her scarred skin like a veil.

A black, tight-fitting dress fell into further folds from the waist, ended just above the knees, and was rounded off by a lace neckline. Against the cool autumn wind, Eve wore a black leather jacket trimmed with shimmering silver sequins, knee-high leather boots, and semi-transparent, matte tights. Riona hadn't exaggerated when she said the clothes they bought were sexy. The soft fabric emphasized the feminine curves in just the right places, which Eve usually hid under her loose-fitting dresses because she was ashamed of them.

'Oh ... my ... God ...'

His thoughts began to do somersaults as he stared like a deer in headlights. Suddenly, his mouth was dry, and his adams apple bounced as Ray swallowed harder. Wow. Just wow. Ray stared at her and couldn't tear his gaze away even if he wanted to.

Stunning.

It wasn't until Eve burst out laughing when she spotted him with the green tube on the tree that his frozen body began to move. His head sank to his chest to hide the hot blush, turning his cheeks and ears red.

Attracted by the resounding laughter, Riona curiously stepped behind her cousin and shortly afterward joined in so loudly that it almost seemed as if the blonde would fall to the floorboards at any moment and roll over.

"That settles the question of who won your game," Eve snorted, chuckling and holding her stomach with laughter. Only then did she take an audibly deeper breath as if trying to collect herself.

Ashamed, Ray looked up and saw Eve strolling towards them. The dress looked good on her, and her whole outfit seemed to have boosted her confidence, for there was a slight sway of her hips in each of her steps, sending a glowing heat through his belly.

Tenderly, Eve stroked her son's head and smiled at him.

"Thanks for the compliment, sweetheart," she said with a smile, her voice reminding Ray of sweet Maple Toffee. "Go on in and wash your hands, will you? Ray will be here in a minute so you can eat. I still have to put our brave cowboy out of his misery. Otherwise, he'll be at the stake tomorrow and might fall victim to the big wolf if he gets his breakfast too late."

Ryker felt his face turn bright red, like an overripe tomato, as Liam stormed past his mother into the cottage.

"What's the matter, big, brave soldier? Have you been defeated by a child?" giggled Eve as she stepped behind him and untied the hose until the last coils fell to the floor. "Do you think you can look after the wild Indian for an evening without me having to untie you somewhere later?" she teased him, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Either she really liked his situation or was covering up her nervousness with her words.

When was the last time she had gone out?

Was she perhaps wondering if he liked her look?

How could Dylan, that idiot, let this woman go?

Before he could find an answer to these questions, Eve came around him. She spun on her heel once so that the hem of her dress lifted a little like a ballerina's and presented herself with a nervous smile.

"How do I look?"

'How you look?! Oh God, Eve...' he groaned inwardly, suffering. Did she really have no idea what she was doing to him?

Ray couldn't resist letting his gaze slide over her again, more slowly and with obvious pleasure. Was he mistaken, or were her cheeks getting rosier? Heavens, it was enchanting the way the tip of her tongue slid over the kissing lips, accentuated all too seductively with red lipstick.

Ray couldn't suppress the smile that crept onto his lips as he melted the distance between them with two steps.

He saw Eve swallow.

Acting impulsively, he grabbed one of the red strands that had strayed into her face and wrapped the soft hair around his index finger. His own heartbeat pounded like encouraging drums in his ears as he pushed it behind her ear and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips.

'Professional. Professional!' it pounded in his head as he stared at Eve as if there was nothing else in the world.

"Beautiful," he finally breathed softly. Everything in him longed to pull her into his arms and kiss her again. To show her that she didn't have to go away to turn a man's head ... But instead, he remained silent.

He had clearly fallen helplessly victim not just to Liam that day but to Eve as well.