Her eyes narrowed above the rim of her cup as she took a sip.
Graham chuckled. Good. She recognized his challenge.
Mother Sinclair and Trulie’s advice floated through his mind. If he was to firmly take hold of Lilia’s heart and conquer her world, he needed to embrace the ways of this time. Alberti had descended from his chambers smelling of soaps and oils. Before they’d left his house, the man had ensured his black hair was well slicked back and neatly combed.
As Lilia avoided his gaze and busied herself plucking the chunks of wet black bread from the sink and dropping them into a round metal bin, Graham inconspicuously turned his head to one side, lowered his nose and sniffed.Humpf.He had smelled worse but he definitely didn’t smell as though he’d bathed in quite the while. Best see to cleaning up before he followed Lilia around her day.
Mother Sinclair and the Lady Trulie had gone into great detail regarding quite a few things of this time and cleanliness was one of them. In fact, just before he and Angus had jumped into the portal, Mother Sinclair had firmly lashed a pack to both their backs with the instructions that the items contained in the bags were to be used once they found Lilia and settled in. As she’d tightened the straps across his shoulders, Mother Sinclair had winked and said Lilia was going to love the clothes she and Trulie had obtained.
Graham glanced down at his tunic and plaid, wondering what sort of attire the Sinclair women had selected for the enticement of Lilia’s affections. Mother Sinclair had said something about a shopping spree across the centuries. He worried about what the old woman had meant by such.
“I’m going to hop upstairs and get cleaned up.” Lilia dried her hands on a bit of brightly striped linen then hooked the cloth through a metal ring hanging beside the sink. “Once Vivienne and Angus get back, we’ll figure out the details of the day.”
Lore a’mighty,she sounded like Cook parsing out the day’s chores to the kitchen lads and maids. Graham stepped forward with a decisive nod. If this was to be a battle of the wills, the lass would soon discover she was sorely outplayed and her heart was to be his prize. “Angus and I will be a needing our things—our packs. Would yer friend Alberti be so kind as to bring them here so we can clean up as well?” He lifted his chin and took another step forward. “After all, I wouldna wish to shame ye as I accompany ye around yer daily tasks.”
Lilia leaned back against the counter with a dubious look on her face. “I can call Alberti and ask him to bring your packs by once he’s finished opening both stores. But I’m a little confused. Why didn’t you just clean up at Alberti’s since you’re staying there?”
“Two reasons, lass.” Graham closed the distance between them. “I needed to be here with ye and didna wish to tarry.” He reached out and smoothed a wandering curl away from her cheek. Such silk.He had known from the first moment he’d seen her that her hair would feel like the finest silk. “And I’ll not be a staying another night at Alberti’s.”
She shifted and caught her breath. Did he imagine she leaned forward the slightest bit? Dare he move even closer? Aye . . . he dared. Else how would he ever win a taste of her tempting mouth? He laced his fingers into her hair, barely brushing the soft curve of her cheek with his thumb. Lore help him, she shook him to his very core. He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers.
The soft weight of her hand settled on the center of his chest. But she didn’t push him away and for that he was sorely glad. He nibbled gently at her lower lip then kissed her again, firm and possessive yet still chaste and careful. He daren’t push her further. Not yet. He would win her bit by bit, gentling her skittish heart like calming a fearful colt.
Graham stepped back. His heart and hopes lifted at the lovely color riding high upon her cheeks and the swift rise and fall of her chest. Aye, he had done well enough for now. Best allow the seeds he’d planted time to set down roots and take firm hold.
“I’m . . . I’m going to call Alberti.” She pushed around him, scooped up the small square oddity . . . the phone . . . she’d kept tucked in her corset the night before, and hurried to the kitchen door. “I’ll have him bring your things.”
Graham nodded. “I thank ye, lass—for everything.”
CHAPTER8
“Isuppose they did need a bath.” Vivienne tore a bite-sized chunk off the bagel on her plate, smeared a dollop of clotted cream across it, then pointed it at Lilia. “But ye must admit, even though they were a bit gamey—their wild and wooly look was sexy hot.” She leaned back in the chair, grinning as she popped the morsel in her mouth and chewed. “There’s nothing hotter than knowing a man’s best bits are a mere thin plaidie away.”
Lilia had been quite aware of Graham’sbitswhen he’d kissed her. Even though he’d not pressed against her, nor touched her except for his mouth and his hand in her hair, she’d been keenly aware of every square inch of him. She huffed out a silent laugh. Every square inch of him—uhm . . . right.
She pushed her untouched plate to the center of the table and folded her hands in front of her, patiently waiting until Vivienne had scarfed down the last bit of her breakfast. When Vivienne finally refolded her napkin and tossed it to the center of her empty plate, Lilia asked, “So are you coming with us to visit Eliza or are you just going to meet us at the center?”
“I’d never noticed it before but Alberti is right.” Vivienne scooped up the plates, slid Lilia’s untouched bagel back into the box, then set the dishes in the sink.
“What?”
“Whenever ye dinna wish to talk about something ye completely ignore it and change the subject.”
The pound of heavy footsteps thumping down the back staircase echoed into the kitchen. Angus bounded around the landing, grinning broadly as he slicked a hand back across his still-damp hair. Chest puffed out and flexing his muscular arms, he sauntered over to Vivienne. “Tell me, lass. What do ye think?”
Lilia bit her bottom lip and rubbed the end of her nose to hide her smile behind her hand. Angus reminded her of a hormonal schoolboy determined to shed his virginity with the lovely Vivienne. He marched back and forth in front of her, strutting first one way then the other so she would benefit from a full panoramic view of his well-fitted jeans and tight gray T-shirt.
Vivienne grinned as she winked and squeezed one of Angus’s bulging biceps. “Verra nice, indeed.”
Angus’s chest swelled even more, his face glowing as though someone had flipped his light switch to high beam.
“Where is...” Lilia lost the ability to speak as she turned back to the raised landing at the end of the stair.
“Aye?”
Totally climbable, ripped abs seemed even—Lilia closed her mouth and swallowed hard, struggling to recover from the exquisite example of male hotness right in her own kitchen.
Hard ridges of muscle shimmered and teased beneath the silky black tee stretched tight across Graham’s chest. Black jeans showcased the rest of his body. The material hugged his hips and thighs and the lovely bulging package in between. The man looked like he’d been poured into his clothes and polished to sculpted-god perfection. Where the devil had Granny learned to dress a man like that?
