Page 19 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

“Of course,” Skye leaned in a little closer. She pushed her arms together, folded across her chest, to make sure Bram had a full view of her luscious cleavage.

Ava noticed how he licked his lips while glancing at her chest before continuing.

That low-cut dress is serving its purposes all right. Ava chuckled to herself.

“Ye may have heard by now that the laird is tae hold a ball at the castle tae choose a new wife,” he reached back with his hand and patted the leather satchel he carried at his side. “I have here the responses from the lairds and their daughters.”

Skye subtly raised her eyebrows and leaned away. A tactful move that showed he wasn’t giving her enough.

He quickly endeavored to regain her attention. “There is one letter here, in particular, that is particularly interesting.”

She leaned in again while reaching over to gently touch his arm. “What does it say?” Skye took in gave a breathless gasp to inspire Bram to give her anything she desired.

“Well, while I was waiting for one of the lairds tae write his reply, I happened tae get chatting with one of the maids…” he winked at Skye. “Nae as pretty as ye of course.”

She skillfully lifted the corners of her mouth into a flirtatious smile.

“It seems like our dear laird isnae as sought after as he would like tae think. There will be one less daughter at the ball when he was sure nae laird would dare deny his invitation,” Bram announced, a little too proudly.

Both the women sat up a little straighter at their respective tables at this news. Skye quickly regained her composure and fell straight back into character. “Never! Naebody would refuse our laird! I would nae deliver that letter if I were ye. Perhaps ye should just do away with it and have done,” she waved the idea away with her hand. “Imagine! Delivering a slight like that tae our laird! I would take personal pleasure in destroying that letter mesel’ if ye handed it tae me right now!”

Bram sat back in his chair. He was fully satisfied that his importance to the laird had been conveyed and his female companion truly impressed. “Yer loyalty tae the laird is commendable, Skye, I applaud yer spirit,” he patted his satchel protectively at his side. “This letter must be delivered safe and sound. It’s best if the laird kens who is on his side and who isnae.”

Ava noticed how Skye lightly clenched her jaw in annoyance. Nobody else would have noticed if they weren’t paying apt attention to her every move. She immediately knew what Skye had in mind. They had to intercept the letter and write a new reply that said the laird would not be in attendance, but that his daughter would…

Adjusting her tactics, Skye played with a piece of string hanging from Bram’s sleeve. It left Ava wondering how the lass always flirted so effortlessly. Skye purposefully let her fingertips brush against his pulse as she spoke. “What reason would the other laird have for offering our laird such a slight?”

Bram puffed his chest once again with importance. “I dinnae blame ye for nae kenning the reasons. It is after all clan business and naething that would concern a woman.”

Ava could see the annoyance in Skye’s eyes. If their mission wasn’t so important, she was sure that Skye would have tipped her mug of ale over his lap to prove a point.

“There was an incident last year that caused bad blood between the Cameron and Steward families. I cannae tell ye more than that. Clan business, ye ken,” he winked at her again over his mug.

“So, it’s the Steward family that sent the rejection letter then?”

“I ken why ye would think that. But the Steward clan was nae invited tae begin with. We are at war with them, lassie,” he explained as though Skye was a child. “The other clans took sides on the matter. It be Sinclair that has sent the rejection… traitorous bastards,” he snarled, lifting his top lip over his teeth. “Yellow-bellied cowards if ever there were any. Their clan crest is an ewe bowing down with one leg,” Bram rolled his eyes. “Speaks volumes of their nature, if ye ask me.”

“Bastards…” Skye agreed while shooting Ava a knowing look over his shoulder.

Ava took a wee sip of her ale and lowered her eyelashes in response. She knew exactly what she must do to forward their mission.

“Bram, me love…” Skye batted her lashes and leaned over the table, pressing her milky bosoms over the top. “Ye seem tae have finished yer ale. Why dae ye nae go and fetch another,” she ran her hand up his arm. “I will wait right here for ye, I cannae bear it if we were tae part so soon. Nae when I’m enjoying yer company as much as I am. I will sit here and dream of the nights we spent together a'fore,” she smiled seductively.

Bram licked his lips but glanced out the door at the sun hanging in the middle of the sky. “I better be going Skye, as much as I enjoy yer company. I must get on…”

Ava could see the blush of attraction spreading across the back of his neck as Skye leaned in a little closer and whispered. “It’s probably better in any case… if ye buy another round, there’s nae telling what might happen between us…” She gently pushed the strap of his satchel off his shoulder and moved her hand slowly down his abdomen.

Bram coughed and stood faster than any man had ever lifted himself from a chair. He caught his satchel just in time and swung it over the back of his seat. “I dinnae think one more will hurt,” he walked away with haste to fetch another ale.

Ava wasted no time in making her way to the satchel. She pretended to see Skye for the first time and quickly struck up a conversation between two old friends. “I didnae ken ye come here!” she sat in the now vacant chair, quickly sliding her hand into the satchel and feeling the stack of letters.

“Skye, I think that…” Bram suddenly appeared at the table again.

Ava skillfully withdrew her hand and placed it in her lap before he could see.

“What’s this?” Bram asked politely with a frown.

“Where’re me manners,” Skye smiled. “This is my dear old friend. “Ro… Rhona,” she corrected while pretending to cough. “Sorry, that ale was a wee bit strong for me.”