Stepping out into the courtyard, Etta and Zia were almost run down by a lad rushing by with an armload of firewood. A few sticks of kindling slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. Etta stooped to pick them up."A thousand pardons, Miss Etta!" the boy exclaimed."No worries, Todd," the redhead assured him, crouching down next to him as she added the kindling back onto his stack of wood. "Don't look now," she whispered, but that cute daughter of the gardener has her eye on you again.""Where?" Todd replied, starting to turn his head.Etta placed a finger under the boy's chin and turned him back to face her. "Behind you, across the courtyard. Don't look, you'll spook her away," she warned."She's not interested," the boy said sadly, his eyes downcast. "She never wants to talk to me.""Perhaps we can motivate her," Etta offered in an undertone. "Oh, MY!" she exclaimed, loud enough for her voice to carry across the courtyard. "Such muscles you have, Todd!" She ran her fingers ov
Last Updated : 2025-10-09 Read more