Page 30 of The Highlander’s Kilted Affair

This is hardly helping ye, Evelyn.

And yet, she could not pull her eyes away. In fact, the more she watched him, the more she realized how attracted to him she really was. A soft wind caught the bottom of her frock, carrying it high in the air.

“Och, good lord,” she cried, grabbing it with her hands and pressing the skirt back onto her legs again.

At that same second, a loud cry came from the men, and glancing over, Evelyn watched Killian rushing to Benedict’s side.

“He’s hurt,” Evelyn gasped, pushing herself to her feet.

Yvaine swiftly stood, and watching the men hurry away, the sisters followed quickly behind.

“Are ye all right, me laird?” Yvaine called out as they caught up to them.

“I am fine,” Benedict growled, clearly annoyed by all the fuss. “Please. It is only a slight cut. The healer will mend it.”

But as Evelyn caught his eye, her face a picture of worry, Benedict’s gaze softened. “I’m fine, Evelyn. Truly.”

Upon reaching the healer’s cottage, and stepping inside, it quickly became evident that the old woman was not home.

“Ye see. She’s nae even here,” Benedict said, sounding somehow vindicated. “I will bandage it mesel’.”

“I ken how tae dress it,” Evelyn said quickly. “Please, me laird. “Will ye nae let me help ye?”

Benedict and Killian shared a glance, though Evelyn did not understand the look that passed between the men.

“I’m sure the laird kens well how tae take care o’ his own wound,” Killian said.

“Och, that is such nonsense,” Yvaine retorted. “Look where it is on his arm? It makes far more sense tae let Evelyn take care o’ it.”

“I appreciate yer concern, Miss Sinclair,” Killian bit back, “but it may be a bit much fer me lady tae have tae deal with.”

“Me sister has seen far worse,” Yvaine came back.

While this was going on, Evelyn was already searching the shelves and gathering alcohol, rags, and cloth bandages.

“I am sure we can cope with it,” Killian retorted.

“Are ye too proud tae accept a little help?”

Evelyn could take the racket no longer, and glaring at both of them she said, “That is enough bickering, both o’ ye. I can hardly hear mesel’ think. Out!”

While Yvaine and Killian did as they were bid, the argument continued once they were out in the courtyard. They could still be heard inside the healer’s cottage,.

With the cottage peaceful again, Evelyn turned to Benedict.

“Now. Let me take a look at it.”

Towering over her, Benedict slipped out of the plaid that diagonally crossed his body. He then pulled his shirt loose from the waist, and grabbing it with two hands, peeled it off himself.

Evelyn’s eyes grew wider and wider as more of his body was revealed. His solid stomach, his huge chest, and eventually, once he had pulled the tunic over his head and discarded it onto a nearby chair, the full breadth of his shoulders. Hardly able to control her reaction, she could only stand there with her mouth hanging open. Her eyes traced across the mass of the man, moving upwards until she reached his eyes.

They were gazing down at her with amusement, along with the smile at the corner of his mouth. Evelyn quickly turned away, feeling the heat rush to her cheeks.

“Let me guess,” he said confidently. “Ye’ve never seen a naked man ‘afore?”

“Nae one like ye, at any rate,” Evelyn murmured, hurriedly pretending to organize the already organized items she had gathered.

“Please. Sit,” she said, still struggling to look at him.