Page 39 of Scotch & Shortbread

The tension was thick between them even as Alex stood with his back to her, but he waited.

“I-I, well, you said you aren’t married…” she finally got the words out.

“I wouldnae huv kissed ye if I was married.” He whipped around to face her. His voice was tight.

“But, I-I saw the picture with you and…” her voice trailed off, realizing she’d spoken without thinking.

His eyebrows snapped together as his lips set in a grim line, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

“And who? What picture?” He eyed her suspiciously his voice clipped.

“Um…” She bit her lip, knowing that anything she said would sound bad, but she couldn’t un-bake the cake now. And the truth was she wanted to know. Even if he got angry with her. Pulling her knees to her chest, she said, “The one with you, the blond woman holding the baby, and the little boy.” She swallowed. “You all looked so happy.”

He stared at her, but she couldn’t read his expression. “And where exactly did you see this picture?”

She swallowed scrunching her eyes closed. “I found it in your sporran. In the closet.” She confessed, cringing at her own words. “But it’s not what you think,” she added feeling overwhelmingly guilty.

Alex looked at her stunned, like she’d slapped him in the face. Then his brows dropped, his jaw tightened, and she could see the look of betrayal right before his stormy eyes turned dark and a menacing expression overtook his handsome features. She realized then and there, he was no stranger to betrayal.

She could practically feel him seething, but it didn’t stop her. Clambering off the bed, she grabbed his strong arm. “Please, it’s not what you think, I was looking for clothes and I saw your sporran, I never meant. I-I was curious. I didn’t know what was kept inside. I’ve never seen a sporran before. I didn’t mean to go through it.” It sounded bad to her even as she pleaded her innocence.

Alex snatched her waist and spun her around slamming her firmly against the closed door. His hands hammered down on either side of her, locking her in place. His angry handsome face inches from hers.

Quinn shook nervously, half hating herself for the hint of arousal that rippled through her even as his stormy blue eyes pierced her with their intensity. She should fear for her safety with the anger emanating from him. She gripped her hands against the door behind her trying to find her courage. “Alex, I honestly wasn’t trying to snoop, I promise. I came across the picture by accident.” Her voice quivered.

“By accident?” His lip curled menacingly, his face so close to hers.

Her heart was racing, and with him seething down at her like she’d committed some grave atrocity, her own anger spiked. “You know what? You big brute! I don’t care what you think,” she snapped. “I would never snoop through someone’s things in the way you’re implying.” She poked her finger into his hard muscled chest. “Yes, I opened your sporran, but not because I was trying to spy on you, you big oaf! I’d never seen a sporran before, and I simply wondered what in the heck people keep in them. Maybe it was wrong to look, but excuse me for living!”

Alex was completely taken aback by her fiery little rant and had the strangest urge to kiss the tip of the slim finger that had poked angrily at his chest. Did nothing scare this woman? He’d made grown men beg for mercy with less. At five foot five tops and trapped in front of a pissed off six foot four man, she raged at him like a lioness. Bloody hell, he shouldn’t be admiring her right now.

“I saw the photograph. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, okay? But it’s done now. I’ve seen it.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Alex didn’t even know what to say as he continued to stare down at her. Her big brown eyes were breathtakingly disarming.

“You can tell me if you have a wife and kids or what happened to them. I’m a good listener,” she said, softly biting her lip.

He heard her, but he was wholly distracted by her lips. God, he wanted to kiss them again, properly this time. Letting out a groan, he ran his hands through his hair and turned away from her, going to the window and looking out into the darkness. The snow was still coming down, but now, it fell in big quiet flakes. At least the wind had died down. The lass didn’t move, she stood waiting and he could feel her hopeful gaze upon him.

Alex believed the lass—not that he wanted to. It would be easier if she were a liar. He’d never fuck a liar again, but he’d encountered enough lying sons of bitches in his career and lifetime that he could spot them a mile away. And Quinn was not one. Far from it.

But she was a complication for him right now. He struggled to fight off his desire for her, but if he gave into it, it would not end well for either of them. He recalled how she’d shied away from his touch in the loft, and it made sense now. She thought he was married. Before the idea was even fully formed, he knew it was terrible, but it might just save them both some grief. He’d told her he didn’t have a wife, but if he left the photo a mystery. Perhaps it would help them both to resist anything physical. Then there would be two of them fighting against their off-the-charts chemistry. He didn’t have to lie per se, but maybe not tell her the entire truth.

She tentatively came up behind him, and with her soft touch on his arm, he made his decision. He couldn’t look at her. “I dinnae want to talk about my family, Quinn.” It was not a total lie.

“Are they here in Canada?” she asked.

“No.” Also, not a lie.

He turned to her. “Leave it be, lass,” he said heavily. She searched his face before nodding her agreement.

“Okay,” she said, reluctantly looking like she wanted to say more. Alex knew the lass had questions, but for now, he’d let her make her own conclusions. He just hoped it would be enough to prevent them both from giving into the desires that seemed to be growing unbidden between them.

“Dinner’s ready,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Good, I’m starved,” she said, before turning away from him and marching towards the door. “I hope you’re a decent cook, Sergeant Mackenzie,” she called to him over her shoulder as she made her way to the kitchen.

A smile pulled at Alex’s lips as he shook his head and followed her out of the room.

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