A Persistant Attraction by Silvia Violet

talking to. Perhaps that was the answer.
    Loud laughter echoed through the taproom which smelled of ale and sweat. She had no intention of admitting it, but she was thankful for Rhys’s presence. This was not a place she would want to enter on her own, no matter how well-armed she was.

    Rhys found a table and ordered them each a pint of ale. He looked at her sharply when she took a sip of hers, but he’d ordered it for her. Did he really expect her not to taste it?
    Her back was to the room, but she could feel eyes watching her. She started to turn around, but Rhys reached across the table to restrain her arm. “Don’t move. The last thing we need is you attracting more attention than you already have.”
    “You think some of the men here have figured out I’m female?”
    “Several of them appear quite interested in you whatever gender they’ve taken you for.”
    Before he could say anything else, a man approached his table and nearly collapsed against it. He smelled like stale urine, and Amanda fought to keep from gagging.
    “Is he yours?” he asked Rhys, jerking his thumb toward Amanda.
    Rhys visibly tensed. “Yes.” The “s” came out like a hiss.
    “Shame,” the man said. He started to turn away then looked back at Rhys. “I don’t suppose you’d consider sharing. I’d be willing to offer you plenty.” He pulled some coins from his pocket and flashed them at Rhys.
    “No deal.”
    The stranger started to say something else, but Rhys gripped his arm tightly. “We’d appreciate if you’d leave us alone.”
    “You can’t blame a man for trying,” he said and stumbled away.
    Amanda couldn’t understand why someone would offer money for her. Did he really need a servant that badly? Surely there were plenty of lads around who’d be willing to work for a few coins?
    Rhys pushed his chair away from the table. “We’re leaving now.”
    “You got rid of him. Surely he won’t bother us again.” Rhys reached for her arm, but she jerked away. “I’m not leaving.” He expelled a long breath. “There is a man here I recognize. If he were to see me, we could have trouble.”

    Reluctantly she stood to follow him. She didn’t want to leave without learning anything about her attacker, but she could see that Rhys was deadly serious.
    When they were mere feet away from their waiting hack, a man stepped in front of them, seeming to appear from nowhere. Amanda barely had time to scream before his fist flew out and caught Rhys in the stomach. Her protector stumbled and fell to the ground.

Chapter Seven
    Rhys absorbed the punch and collapsed, hoping his attacker thought he had gained the upper hand. The men Rhys had brought with him would soon join the fight, and he didn’t want his assailant to notice their approach.
    He listened intently, ready to spring if the man went after Amanda. But the dolt continued to concentrate on him instead of the easier target.
    A swift kick in the ribs left Rhys breathless but not seriously hurt. Amanda screamed. He fought the urge to give away the secret that he was conscious and ready to defend her. Then one of his men grabbed the attacker from behind.
    Rhys jumped to his feet and landed a punch in the man’s face just as another man came out of the bar and joined the fight on the wrong side. For a second, Rhys managed to angle himself so he could see Amanda. He motioned for her to run in the direction of the waiting hack, but she didn’t budge.
    He prayed she’d come to her senses, but he had to focus on the fight which had grown to five on three, not in his favor.

    Relief washed over Amanda when Rhys rose from the ground. For a few sickening moments, she’d thought she would be left alone to defend herself.
    As she crouched by the fence that ran along the street in front of the tavern, waiting for a chance to be of assistance, she tried to figure out why none of the men had attacked her. The first assailant had a perfect chance after he’d knocked Rhys down, but