Page 34 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

On the other hand, he looked seriously kissable.

Kissable?Aileen brought herself up short. Why on earth was she having these thoughts? With a sigh, she dismounted and, much against her better judgment, went over to where Scott was standing.

Maybe she shouldn't.

As soon as she drew closer, the pull of his body sucked her in. It was madness, but he really did have an energy around him. Pure heat steamed from Scott's taut muscles; the long ride had left him hot and perspiring. And watching him, Aileen began to feel the same.

The cool wind that whistled around barely began to chill her feelings. And where she had been cold before, now, suddenly, she felt herself heat up.

Maybe it was the long ride. Although her fingers were stiffened, she had warmed up inside. Standing so closely to Scott, it seemed impossible not to touch him. She longed to stroke him, run her cold fingers beneath his yellow leine and defrost on his sizzling flesh.

Again, Aileen blinked. Crivvens! Where was this coming from? Trying to stop the thoughts in her mind, she turned away. Perhaps if she didn't look, it wouldn't be there...

In vain, Aileen struggled with her urges. In truth, they had taken her by surprise. She had never felt like this before about a lad. But it seemed Scott was not going to let her off the hook that easily.

He was looking at her as if expecting her to answer. Aileen blinked; she had totally forgotten what he had said to her.

Scott looked at her keenly. "Nae good enough for ye?" he asked, his light eyes catching her own.

The look he sent her said it all, and heat sizzled in Aileen's cheeks. With no warning, her face colored red. Then she turned away. This would never do. They were standing much too close and suddenly, there seemed no way out.

Perhaps she didn't want there to be. Scott's eyes ran all over her. And in that time, Aileen felt as naked as the day she was born. There she stood, stuttering and starting, unable to formulate even the most basic sentence.

Scott's eyes lifted, pertinently, mocking her. Unable to stay like this any longer, Aileen erupted.

"Och, alright, it'll do," she said, turning around. She needed to pull away. Her eyes had to be anywhere other than his face. It was too much. She was exploding with tension.

Anything rather than look at him, she stomped about the muddy glenside in unimpressed fashion.

"I mean, do ye mean sinking into the bogside at midnight an' being spied by everyone in the whole Highlands?" She flashed her eyes sarcastically at him, irritated to find him laughing.

"Everyone in the whole Highlands?" said Scott, putting his hand to his head and looking around. He was laughing at her. She could kill him. Struggling to keep it together, Aileen bit her lip.

"Och, aye, there they all are," said Scott, pretending to see someone. He waved into the distance before turning to her with a perfect smile. He enticed her in with his humor. And Aileen felt herself slipping.

"Och, ye ken what I mean," she said, finding it hard to stay mad at him. The night was settling in quickly, and in truth, there was no more time for arguing.

Scott laughed and, patting her on the shoulder, went to unpack the things from the knapsack.

The scent of his touch sizzled in the air around her. It had been such a small thing, just the slightest touch, a little reassurance, and yet it burned her like fire.

"C'mon, lass, ye gonnae help wi' this tent? Or are ye too grand?" Scott winked, and Aileen bristled. Grabbing the tenting, she pursed together her lips.

"Dinnae fash," she said, helping him to put it together. However, they did not get very far into it before they argued.

"There isnae enough poles, I'm telling ye, lad," said Aileen, finally sitting down. They had been hammering poles for what felt like hours. It was now pitch black, and the only light was coming from the tiny fire that Scott had got going.

"Fannybaws," said Scott, rooting through the bag at his side once again.

Watching him, Aileen rolled her eyes. He had been through it a thousand times.

"It's in here somewhere," he assured her. But the more he looked, the less convincing he was. Finally, he was forced to concede defeat. "Och, well, it was. Look, maybe we can do something else."

Aileen harrumphed. Standing up, she knocked the half-hearted structure to the ground. It collapsed comically.

"Like what?" she said, looking him in the eye. "Face it, Scott, we are nae going to ever get it to stand up!"

Scott pouted before sighing. "Maybe," he said.