Page 92 of What a Highlander’s Got to Do

“Well, I shall leave you to it then. Ladies.” He bowed and, still chuckling, Declan took Catriona’s arm and led her back down the path toward the party.

“We should go back, too,” Isobel said. Now that the moon had risen, there was nothing else to see. The moment had been lost.

“Indeed,” Nick said, and he hooked his arm in hers.

Sorcha, Ellie, and Elizabeth walked ahead of them on the path, chattering among themselves, and Nick slowed his pace until the distance between them grew. While they could still see their forms, they were far enough away that a private conversation could be had.

“I do appreciate what they are doing,” he said; she heard the but in his tone.

“They are worried about you.”

“And I appreciate it. But what I really want . . .”

He paused and her heart thrummed.

“What I really want is to be alone with you. And I canna manage that with them flittering about.”

“I do love when you speak in a brogue,” she felt obliged to mention.

“Do you?” He looked at her, his face kissed by the light of the moon. Somehow, he was more handsome than ever. She could barely restrain herself, but she had to. They were coming close to the party and it wouldn’t do to be seen leaping upon his person.

“Aye,” she said softly.

He stared at her face and then groaned. “We have to find a place to be alone.”

“Do you think that’s wise?”

“Wise?” He huffed a laugh. “Not in the least, but I’m reaching the end of my leash.”

“Oh, really?” She chuckled. “Are you a beast then? To be kept in chains?”

“It feels like it sometimes. When I canna touch you, or kiss you. When I have to watch you from afar.”

She tugged his arm closer. “I feel the same. Especially when you speak in a brogue.”

“We have to find a place to be alone.” She was delighted by the desperation in his tone. But then, to her surprise, he led her to the left, away from the party and into the backside of the garden, where he tugged her behind a providential bush.

“Finally,” he gusted, and then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. It was quick and hot and utterly delicious and it left Isobel shaking. “I’ve been dying to do that.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped closer. “Have you?”

“Ach, doona start teasing me now, lass. I can barely restrain myself as it is.”

His brogue made her shudder. “I do love it when you talk like a real man.”

He pulled back a bit and stared at her face. “A real man, is it?”

“Och, aye.” She went up on her toes and sucked his lush lower lip into her mouth. She knew she was teasing him, but she was teasing herself as well.

His response was to nest his face in the crux of her neck and nibble at the tender flesh there until she was a quivering flan.

“We have to do something about that army of Elizabeth’s,” he groaned into her ear.

“They only want to protect you.”

“Aye, but they are protecting me from you as well.”

She pulled back and smiled winningly. “Am I a threat?”