Sean’s laugh came unbidden. “Lass, I would never consider ye helpless.” He ruffled the hair at her crown. “Stubborn, aye. And more than a wee bit impatient, but—”
“I am neither stubborn nor impatient!”
Chuckling, Sean leaned close to her ear to whisper, inhaling the clean scent of soap on her skin. “And mayhap a bit blind tae the truth?”
She tried swatting him over her shoulder and missed. “I’ll have ye know—”
A series of taps sounded at the door.
“McIntyre?” Sean called, tossing the towel back to Kenna before hurrying to the door.
“Lend a hand here, laddie. Sorry,” Owen said when Sean opened the door. “My hands are too full tae knock. Had tae use my foot.”
Sean relieved him of a small soup pot and carried it to the table, noting how out of breath Owen seemed. When he placed a towel-wrapped loaf of fresh bread beside it, Sean sighed and indulged in the heady aromas filling the room. “Smells like a wee bit o’ heaven.”
Owen pulled a packet of bandages from his pocket, tossed them on the table, and with a sly grin turned to Kenna and held up a container of something. “Yer favorite.”
“Ye spoil me,” Kenna grinned. “Thank ye, Owen, ye’re a saint. ’Tis verra kind, especially when ye’re so busy.”
“ ’Tis nae more than ye deserve,” he said tenderly. “And I do need tae get back, but I’m happy tae stay long enough tae help ye intae the bedroom if ye’d like tae put on something a wee bit…warmer?”
Sean waited for Kenna’s reaction; afraid she’d be unduly embarrassed for no’ realizing how the garment hugged her in all the right places. Regretfully, he had to agree with Owen. Try as Sean might to ignore how captivating Kenna looked in it, he’d failed. But the lass was so innocently unaware of her allure, he’d no’ had the heart to point out her folly. ’Twas best, indeed, to have the distraction removed—uh—replacedwith something more…substantial.
“Thank ye,” Kenna smiled, “but tae be honest, I only purchased this wrapper, a couple of shirts and some jeans tae wear. I was hoping tae avoid the jeans until I bandage my knees.”
Her smile was soft, cajoling. “Besides, I’m much more interested in yer delicious smelling soup. After I eat, I’ll snuggle up here with a blanket. Dinnae fash about me. Ye’ve wasted enough time, already. See tae the bakery. I’m sure Sean would be willing tae help me with the bandaging and whatever else I need before he leaves.”
Sean winced. Of course, he was willing. There was naught he wouldnae do for her, but she dinnae ken the effect those lovely legs had on him. He’d need something else to focus on while he worked. Mayhap, one of the more righteous psalms his mither used to recite, would do the trick.
Clearly frustrated, Owen gave her a stiff nod. “As ye wish. I’ll come back and check on ye after I close and tidy up.”
“What? No, Owen. I’ll be there for the nightly cleaning. I’m planning on it. I feel so much better already. Truly, I do. And the jeans will be fine once I get the bandages on.”
“Ye’ll do no such thing! Ye’ll eat, and rest and naught else. We’ll see how ye’re feelin’ by tomorrow evening.”
Kenna’s eyes widened in distress. “But the morning deliveries! Ye need me! Moira and I are the only workers ye have. And with her gone tae her daughter’s for the birthing, there’s no one else. Ye cannae do it all, alone.”
A deep line creased Owen’s forehead. “Dinnae fash about the deliveries. I’ll work somethin’ out.”
Sean looked from one to the other, noting the strain on Owen’s face and the distress on Kenna’s. “Is it no’ something I could do? I could take over Kenna’s duties, tonight and in the morning.” He shrugged. “Longer even. Until she’s able tae do them herself.”
“I’m able now,” Kenna protested.
“Ye are no’.” Sean gave her a disgruntled look. Was there ever a time when the lass wasnae so stubborn?
“Nae, Kenna. Ye need a day, or so, tae rest.” Owen repeated.
“Well, then?” Sean pressed, watching the dilemma going on behind Owen’s scowl.
“I dinnae ken if ye can, or no’,” the man finally said. “Kenna said ye’re traveling. Do ye no’ wish tae continue? ’Tis a lot o’ scrubbin’ o’ all the machinery and equipment in the bakery. I ken ’tis less ofcouldye do it, and more a question ofwouldye do it. It doesnae seem something a man like ye would be wantin’ tae do.”
A man like him?What did that mean?
Sean’s ire rose in pace with the heat suffusing his cheeks. Whether the man had meant to insult him or no’, Sean took offense. Did Owen ken because Sean had accepted a free meal, that he was a laggard? Or mayhap he thought Sean too brutish to deliver his delicate pastries.
“I’m no’ afraid of a bit o’ hard work, if that’s what yer suggestin’, and I dinnae ken a pile o’ dirty crockery and machinery can get the best o’ me.AndI ken I’m equally up tae the task of deliverin’ goods tae yer customers, come mornin’. If a wee bit o’ a lass can do it, I think I can manage well enough.”
Mayhap Owen purposely insulted him so Sean would be sure to take his leave after the meal, as previously planned. Mayhap he just dinna want him around Kenna. Sean gave the man a hard stare. “Or dinnae ye trust a stranger with yer property or yer wares?” He glanced at Kenna then back at Owen. “Or anything else.”
