Page 33 of Scotch & Shortbread

On one hanger, she discovered a deep blue and green kilt with a sporran. She pressed her hand to the soft wool. It was so authentic and made her curious to know more about Alex Mackenzie. What was his life like back in Scotland?

Her mind suddenly conjured up an image of him in his kilt and nothing else, and it sent a delicious little shiver dancing down her spine.Oh, stop that, she scolded herself. But then she considered whether or not it was true what they said about the Scots and their kilts. What did Alex wear under his? That question led her to the memory of the view she had first thing that morning.

The first sight she’d caught of him when she’d opened her eyes was of his massive member. It looked lethal. Thick and long as it bobbed. She’d wanted to stare, but at the same time, it had shocked her. She shouldn’t be looking at that. And then the view with sweatpants on was just as good. With his dark sweatpants hanging low on his hips, she hadn’t been able to stop her eyes from feasting on his perfectly chiselled torso. His muscles were smooth taut ribbons from the strong curve of his biceps and triceps to his thick capped shoulders, his pumped chest, and his ripped abs… Dear God. He was utterly glorious. She swallowed away the memory and continued on her mission.

Looking at the sporran, she wondered if there was anything in it. What did Scotsman keep in their Sporran anyway? She stared at it for a moment before curiosity got the better of her. Carefully unsnapping the metal button on the sporran, she opened the fine leather pouch and peered in. She couldn’t really see into its dark leather, so she slid in her hand and pulled out its only contents: a small photograph.

There were no other photographs that she’d seen in Alex’s home, which made this one all the more intriguing. Peering at it, a small pit formed in her stomach.

22

Secrets and Secret Places

Thephotoconfusedher.Alex was in it, handsome as ever. Although he looked maybe a couple of years younger and not as muscular as compared to now. There was a proud look in his slightly crooked smile with his arms playfully wrapped around a grinning beautiful blond woman. Quinn bit her lip. The love between them almost jumped off the picture, but that wasn’t the part that struck her most. The woman held a bundle in her arms. A baby. And a second child, maybe three years old was standing beside them grinning up at them. Adoration in his cherub features. It was obvious. Plain as day. The child's look of love was for his parents.

Quinn swallowed hard. There was no doubt it was a family photo even as her mind rallied against it and tried to find alternative answers. Alex was married? With kids? She frowned, staring at the photo. They looked like the perfect happy family.

But it didn’t make any sense. Where were they now? They obviously didn’t live in this cabin. What happened? It wasn’t any of her business, but she couldn’t help wondering. Was he divorced? Had he left his kids back in Scotland? Or maybe they were here in Canada? Could something have happened to them? That possibility disturbed her.

The distinct disappointment and sadness that crept over her made her realize that she was hoping for something to happen between her and Alex. Shit. Her friends were at least partially right. She liked him.

It sucked to come to the realization now because this photo changed things. She’d assumed he was single. Although, he’d never given her an indication one way or the other. But there had been moments that definitely felt flirty. She’d slept in his arms last night for crying out loud, but nothing had happened between them. The only reason she was in his bed was for warmth. He’d made that very clear.

Still, she couldn’t imagine he’d hold her in his arms all night if he was married. Would he? Maybe what felt intimate to her, was simply doing a duty to him. He had torn out of the bedroom the first chance he’d gotten.

Quinn would never want to get involved with a married man. She looked back down at the photo, willing it to tell her the secrets it held. It was not like she was looking to get involved with anyone at the moment anyway, but certainly not with a man who was married with children. The thought made her queasy.

Quinn took a breath. She was being silly. They had not exactly hit it off anyway. Well, there were moments though. She thought back to him carrying her to the fireplace.Oh, Quinn, she chided herself.You’re reading into things. He was helping her. It wasn’t like he was making a move or hitting on her.

At best, they were tentative friends. Stranded together and making the best of a difficult situation. She sighed, wondering how her heart had already wanted something so much that her mind was only just catching up. The disappointment was real.

Quinn stared at the photo. They looked so happy, and the little boy was so damn cute. Of course, he made cute kids. She sighed. She supposed somewhere deep down she wished that for herself. To find love and have a family.

Quinn blew out a frustrated breath.Enough. It was Christmas time, and she was being ridiculous. She might be stranded there, but she intended to make the most of it and that did not include any kind of romance or anything with Alex. No, nothing like that, but she could make things festive for them both. She was good at festive.

Carefully, she slid the photo back into its place in the sporran and snapped the button closed, leaving it as she’d found it. Quinn was still mightily curious. Perhaps he might let his guard down enough to tell her more about himself. Maybe she’d learn his story yet.

Walking past the rows of hanging clothes, she stopped at a column of open shelving that contained neatly stacked t-shirts, jeans, and the like. She tried to put the photo out of her mind as she found a pair of black sweatpants and a matching hoody on one of the bottom shelves. The hoody hadPOLICEwritten in caps on the back in black lettering over the black jersey material. Black on black. Her rogue brain conjured an image of Alex in it, and she immediately pushed the thought aside and threw on the clothes before heading to the dresser for socks. She needed to stop lusting after the man. Pulling out a thick pair of socks from his bottom drawer, she yanked them on. His clothes were huge on her, but they were cozy and clean so they’d do.

She padded out of his bedroom and into the great room. “Alex?” she called, but there was no answer. How much wood was the man chopping?

“Wow,” she breathed, taking in the sight of the little cabin by daylight. She hadn’t paid that much attention last night, but in the light of day, it was downright charming. The ceiling vaulted high over the living room and kitchen. How could she not have noticed that there was a loft? It didn’t look big, but it did look cozy and inviting.

It sat above the kitchen, facing the large picture window in the living room. She would definitely need to explore up there. It looked like the kind of loft that held treasures and secrets. She smiled. The perfect place to write, she thought again frustrated that she didn’t have her laptop. The river rock fireplace went all the way up the side wall. It was ruggedly beautiful, especially against the backdrop of the log walls.

Quinn stood and looked out the large front window at the snow still whipping about in a frenzy. Now that she was safe indoors she found the snow majestic and she felt a coziness being tucked warm inside. Although she began to wonder about Alex, she hoped everything was okay. Peering out the window, she looked for him, but it was just a flurry of white. She bit her lip feeling a prickle of concern, and she glanced over her shoulder to the kitchen. There was a window at the back over the kitchen sink, she made her way to it, but before looking out, she noticed a sticky note on the counter. She picked it up.Out shovelling snow with Bear, make yourself at home.

It was short and to the point. She expected nothing less from Sergeant Mackenzie, but it was sweet that he thought to leave her a note at all—and that he wanted her to make herself at home. Quinn sobered, reminding herself not to get caught up in fantasy about Alex. She stood with her back leaned against the counter and smiled as an idea came to mind.

Alex was relieved to put some space between himself and the woman in his cottage. He felt all tense and needed to blow off some steam. The wind was biting and shovelling snow was a waste of time except for the release of energy. Alex decided he might be better off chopping some more logs.

Thoughts of the night before taunted him. He’d felt so badly about tackling her, but she handled herself better than many of the “tough guys” he’d encountered in his career. The lass had been rattled, but her small frame and pretty face belied the lioness underneath. He was glad for it. Any other lass might still be cowering. She definitely wasn’t timid.

He wondered what in the hell he’d been thinking when he invited her into his bed though. He’d have been better off getting up in the middle of the night and chopping some damn wood. He had not been thinking. At the time, it just seemed like the easiest solution to her freezing was for him to warm her. He shook his head, still wondering how he thought it was a good idea.

The feel of her curvy body pressed against his… And she just seemed to melt into him like she belonged in his arms. Fuck. He didn’t want to feel anything towards her. He wanted to feel immune, damn it! Slamming his axe through a log, he relished the satisfying splitting sound it made as it snapped in half. It felt good to work his muscles and try and ease out the irritation that gnawed at him. It frustrated the hell out of him how affected he was by the lass in his cottage.

He supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that his body responded so blatantly to hers. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman. God, the way she’d felt in his arms with her lush arse pressing against him… His cock tugged just thinking about it. He slammed the axe clean through another thick log.

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