Page 26 of Highlander’s Forbidden Fruit

Evanna noticed his hands were full of treasures. Evanna couldn’t recall what had happened to the snails she had collected. She must have dropped them when Aleck showed up in the woods.

Ashton and the others had collected almost all of the items on the list. And none of Clara’s suitors had abandoned her. But that was to be expected. Clara was delightful, lovely to look at, and charming to boot.

“He’d left before it happened.”

“Good thing Aleck was there to rescue you.” Clara touched Aleck’s arm. “Where would we be without your help? Thank you so much for bringing her. I’ll go ahead and have the physician sent for.”

“Please.” Mr. Grim stepped in. “Allow me. You must stay with your friend.” He ran off to the house.

“Did you walk on it? Is it swollen?” Ashton kept up his litany of questions.

“I’m fine.”

“Nae. She’s nae fine. Insisted on walking through the woods on her gammy foot.”

“You did what?” Ashton exclaimed.

“That really was a foolish thing to do, Evanna.” Clara reproached. “What would possess you to do something like that?”

Evanna was ashamed. She had let her pride rule her once again, and this was the mess she was in because of it.

“She’s a Scot. We’re known to be foolish like that. Dinnae be so hard on her, Miss Ashby. She’s already hurting.”

Evanna looked up into his face to see if it really was Aleck who was holding her. He had never spoken to her, nor of her, in such tender tones. This concern for her was unnerving, especially since it came on the heels of her physical revelation at the effects of his touch.

Aleck covered the last few steps to the house and dutifully took her upstairs where he gently laid her down on her bed. Evanna held him tighter as he bent forward to put her down, her nails digging into his flesh, but he didn’t flinch. His cheek brushed hers, and when she turned to maintain her balance, his lips grazed her jaw, leaving tendrils of heat.

“Rest, lass,” he said, gruffly and backed out of the room.

Evanna sat on the bed, Clara and Ashton fussing over her, tucking pillows underneath her injured foot till it was as high as her face.

“I tell you, I’m fine. Stop your fussing.”

“What did John do?” Ashton asked, his expression dark and stormy.

“Nothing! He was a complete gentleman.”

“I wouldn’t put too much faith in John, if I were you.” Ashton turned to stoke the fire. “I know him better than anyone.”

“I’m not expecting a proposal, Ashton.” Evanna smiled weakly, taking note of her accent changing and flushing with mortification again. “He was just being friendly; trying to entertain me. It was harmless fun. You’re too hard on him.”

Ashton didn’t respond to that. He just looked at her with a hint of pity in his sardonic gaze.

“So how did you injure yourself?” Clara asked.

Evanna bit her lip. “I had an argument with Aleck. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Oh, Evanna.” Clara clasped her hand against her forehead. She began to laugh. “You and Aleck behave like children sometimes.”

“He goes out of his way to upset me.” Evanna crossed her arms across her chest and pouted.

“And you go out of your way to antagonize him.” Clara got up and went to the washbasin. “He was out of place, unfamiliar with everyone, and you deliberately overlooked him when choosing members for your team. He must have been terribly hurt.”

“I introduced him to everyone.”

“That’s not the same as including him.”

“He wasnae supposed to be here in the first place.”