Page 37 of Scotch & Shortbread

“I did notcrawlinto your bed!” Quinn snapped, instantly irritated at his implication. “I had no intention of getting into your bed. If you recall,youwere the one who insisted I get in,” she said haughtily.

Alex looked at her with a tired expression. “I was only teasing ye, lass.”

“Oh,” she muttered, regretting that she’d been the one to get snappy this time. She turned away from him to start transferring her cookies from the cooling rack to a platter she’d found. “I’m just about all washed up here, I can come and help you,” she offered, trying to make peace.

“It’s okay. I willnae be long.” And with that, the door slammed behind him.

24

Married

Alexcameinalittle while later with a couple of bundles of wood. He put them in the iron log rack near the fireplace. “Quinn?” he called not seeing her in the kitchen or living room.

“I’m up here,” she called down from the loft.

Climbing up the wood ladder that was attached to the kitchen wall, he stepped off into the loft and saw Quinn sitting on the old tufted love seat with books surrounding her. When She looked up at him, her big brown eyes were filled with childlike wonder that almost knocked the wind from his lungs.

“You have the most amazing library up here!” she gushed.

“Aye,” he said, moving a couple of books to the trunk coffee table to sit down beside her. “Most of them came with the cottage,” he said. God, the lass was lovely when she was excited about something.

“Wow, that’s a pretty sweet deal. I’ve been sifting through the greatness. Did you know you haveA Christmas Carol?” She grinned from ear to ear.

Alex was struck at how her face lit up in pure pleasure. Without thinking, he reached out and moved a stray strand of hair that had fallen forward against her rosy cheeks. He didn’t think about it; he just did it. His hand lingered, and he allowed his knuckles to gently brush against the soft skin of her cheek.

The subtle sound of her breath hitching caused desire to tug at his senses. Reeling, he dropped his hand away. Her eyes had dropped to the book in her lap, and he noted she seemed to grow uncomfortable. It made him question whether she’d wanted his touch and was disappointed or whether he’d made her uncomfortable touching her at all. It was a subtle touch, but they both seemed to recognize its intimacy.

“Sorry,” he grunted leaning away from her.

Quinn felt confused. This was the gentle side he kept tight to himself. God, but when he unlocked his chains, she melted.But you shouldn’t be meltingQuinn, she reminded herself. He’s married. Or perhaps divorced. Not knowing meant Alex Mackenzie was off-limits.

“Are you married?” she blurted, peering into his stormy blue eyes.

“What?” The question took him off guard. “No, of course no’.” He ran his hands over his face, and he looked almost remorseful. “I am no’ married lass, rest assured, but I’m no’ looking for anything either. I dinnae mean to give ye the wrong impression.”

Quinn searched his eyes and realized there was truth there. So he wasn’t married, but then what about the woman in the picture? She couldn’t make sense of it. And for a guy not looking for anything… God, for a split second sparks were flying. The intensity of his gentle touch scorched her. Couldn’t he feel that too?

Alex leaned back and ran a hand over his clean shaven chin. After an awkward silence, Quinn took a breath and opened the book in her lap, believing him that he wasn’t married. She was even more curious about what his deal was, but she chose to leave it be. For now.

“We should read it,” she said, gesturing to the little red book. Without giving him a chance to respond, she flipped it open and began aloud, “’Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.’”

The sun was setting, and the light in the cabin was dimming. They’d been sitting in the loft for about an hour as Quinn read. At first, Alex thought he should put some space between them again, but the cottage wasn’t big and he couldn’t keep avoiding her. Once she began reading, he decided that sitting with her and listening wasn’t such a bad thing. The truth was he lovedA Christmas Carol, having watched many versions of it, but he had never read the book itself. He found himself relaxing and getting into the story. Quinn’s voice was animated but at the same time calming. The only problem was that he kept getting mesmerized by her full pouty lips as she read. Reminding himself that he was immune was quickly becoming an asinine strategy when it came to resisting the lass. Everything about her was taunting him, provoking him much like the ghosts taunting Scrooge into changing his ways.

“’Stave Two. The first of three spirits.’”

“Maybe we should take this downstairs, and I can get started on making us some dinner,” Alex suggested.

“Mm, good idea. I could definitely eat,” she responded. With the book still in hand, she stretched her arms up over her head.

His police-issue sweatpants and hoodie never looked so good. They were big on her, but when she stretched, everything seemed to pull a bit tighter on her in all the right places.

Inconveniently, that was when he remembered that her bra and panties were in the bathroom and not on her personage. His eyes drew to her well-endowed chest, pushed out proudly as she arched back with a satisfied groan. How easy it would be to yank up the hoodie and free those delectable breasts. Shite, he needed space. Now. He stood up and moved to the ladder to climb down and get himself out of the loft that now felt way too small. Christ, it frustrated him that even blowing his load in the shower had done little to curb his carnal desire.

To his chagrin, she came down right after him, and he got a prime view of her curvy sweat pant-clad ass as she made her way down the ladder from above him. God help him.

Alex quickly busied himself with preparing dinner. Opening the fridge, he pulled out some steaks.

“Can I help?” Her voice was sweet as she sidled up alongside him at the countertop. Was she trying to torture him? His cock stirred at her nearness. For a moment, he imagined bending her over the countertop exposing that tempting ass to him so he could… Bloody hell, what was wrong with him?

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