Page 6 of A Beauty for a Duke

The racket in the tavern was blaring and she couldn’t see Fia anywhere. A panic set in her chest and her heart was scurrying from its home.

What could she do? She looked for a leftover fork from dinner. There were none.

A voice, low but firm, slowly said, “Awa’ an’ bile yer heid, ye prick.”

The drunk man’s eyes glazed over more, but his hand was still gripping her wrist. “What did you say?”

“I said, fuck off.”

“Now why would I do that?”

“She told you her husband wouldn’t like your offer, didn’t she?”

“And I suppose you just happen to be her husband?”

The man in the kilt glared at the drunkard hard enough to ease his hold on her.

“Fine. There’s more where she came from.”

Sofie stood up and rubbed her wrist. Despite the cacophony surrounding her, she felt all alone with the Scot. He was huge. A veritable giant, like the ones she and Fia used to imagine. She had never seen a man his size in real life. She didn’t even know how he had snuck into a place like this without everyone watching. Especially in that kilt. And then a wanton thought flew into her mind: she wanted to know what lay underneath it. She had never been with a man, but standing here next to him, for a second time in one night, caused shivers to crawl up her calves.

The first time he had stood, she could tell that she would tuck nicely under his chin, but that too was a strange thought to have about a man she didn’t know.

Now that he had rescued her, she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes, so she stared at his calves instead. Bare. Well, if one could call furry calves bare.

Finally, she found some words. “I don’t know how that happened. I’m usually very careful.”

“Well, be more careful,” came the gruff reply.

She squinted her eyes. Hadn’t he just saved her? Why did he have to be so rude? Like he was before. Had she done something to frustrate him? Probably the same thing as always. She should have learned her lesson by now. Never show a man her intelligence. They always went running for the hills. Admittedly, they just went knocking on the next girl’s door.

She shook her head. She should have just kept her mouth shut about the thirty pounds. Too late now, the truth was out there. Andout thereshould be a good place for the truth to be.

He had just saved her. And in spite of his grumpiness, or maybe because of it, she wanted to shower him with kindness.

“Let me bring you and your friend a drink.”

“No.”

Her eyes narrowed again at him. “Why not? You did a kindness. I just want to repay you.”

“I didn’t do it to be paid.”

Well… that was nice.

Chapter 4

EGANRETURNEDTOHISseat with George. Where was a drink when he needed it? His heart was hammering in his chest, and the hammers were now walloping up and down his legs. He couldn’t suppress their restlessness. How could she find herself in such a predicament? Sure, she said that she was usually careful. But what the devil did that mean?Careful. That could mean anything. He hadn’t seen her reaching for a weapon. He should tell her to carry one. Hell, he’d give her his dirk if he thought she could wield it. Maybe his pocket knife would be more realistic for her use.

He needed to distract himself by talking to George. But what that really meant was that he wanted to do some investigating to see if George was still interested in Sofie, or if he had miraculously lost interest in the last several minutes.

“Any progress?” He knew he didn’t have to explain his question to George. George would know that he was asking about his headway with the woman withthe hair.

“Some.” George didn’t have time to finish the thought as two tankards clanked down on the table.

“On the house,” Sofie said.

“Nae,” Egan pulled out ample coin to cover the drinks and slapped it down on the table.

---