She stood firm, continuing to glare at him with unguarded anger. “Why did ye have to make this so hard?”
Why didhehave to make things so hard? With her sweetly bated breath, silky skin and perplexing words, Aila was the one who made things hard. Madehimhard.
“I’ve been thinking. It would be wrong of me to send ye away when ye’ve come in need of employment.” The words were past his lips before they even trickled into his brain.
Her eyes grew dark and luminous in the faint light of the wall sconce. “Is that so?”
Finn groaned inwardly. What was he doing? Why keep her? Why fabricate a reason for her to stay when the last thing he needed to stifle his productivity…and his sanity…was this woman working at his side the day through?
He was a fool delving uncertainly into his own pool of fuckery.
Yet when he spoke again, it wasn’t to retract the offer. “Mr. Elliott mentioned that the brothers Adam sent you to assist me in whatever way I have need. Well, I find I have need for you.”
Chapter 8
One simple kiss on her hand and she’d lost all coherent thought. And aye, the morality that insisted she beat a hasty retreat back to her own time see-sawed between desire and sanity. Either way, Aila had a fierce need for him as well.
Given his hasty clarification, Finn must have realized how his words could be misinterpreted. “No’ on the castle. I’ve enough men to oversee, but…I could use a nursemaid to tend to my bairns while I work.”
“A nursemaid? Ye mean a nanny?”
“Aye, ’tis a perfect solution. They are a burden to Ian’s nurse. I’m sure she’d welcome the respite.”
He looked rather pleased with himself. Aila was not. She’d rather have had him suggest she pole dance for him than watch over his children. The former was decidedly more flattering than the latter in her opinion. “Because it’s the perfect task for a woman, I suppose?”
“Precisely.”
“Thank ye for the offer, but nay.” She reached for the trunk again and Finn caught her by the wrist. As it had moments before, his touch sent her pulse racing. Oh, she wanted to hate him for it. Instead, she simplywanted. Wanted more of his touch. Wanted him.
Morals be damned.
He released her abruptly. “Nay? Why no’? ’Tis a respectable position.”
“Because I’ll no’ be pigeon-holed into some archaic convention of what a woman should and should no’ be,” she snapped, scratching her wrist where he’d touched her. “No’ in this century or any other.”
Och, but he’d struck a chord. She and Kyle had arguedad nauseumabout what a woman’s role in life and relationships should entail. As if he had been born before the conception of women’s rights along with Finn. And she’d tried, each moment chafing.
She was done trying to be what a man expected.
Finn ran both hands over his head until his hair stood on end. “Ye are wi’out a doubt the most infuriating lass I’ve ever encountered. Ye’re…”
“Aggravating,” Aila suggested. “Maddening?”
“Aye. And aye.”
“Welcome to the party.”
The grind of his teeth filled the silence as he glowered at her. “Why am I even trying to make amends?”
“Amends?” she gasped in disbelief. “Is that what ye’re doing?”
“Lass, ye’re…” A growl of frustration swept away his ability to speak for a moment. He jabbed a finger in her direction. “Ye’re the most difficult, ill-tempered woman I’ve ever met.”
“Ill-tempered? I’m a fecking ray of sunshine compared to ye!” Her voice rose a notch as she stepped toe-to-toe with him. “Ye’re nothing but a chauvinistic…bawheeded…” Panting for breath, Aila cast about for the penultimate insult. “Twat waffle.”
His brows rose. Seconds later, lips twitched.
“Dinnae ye dare. This isnae amusing. Ye’re a bleedin’ bastard.”
