Page 33 of 40 and Flashing (the Scotsman)
“What gave ya that idea?”
She could actually hear the grin in his words. “The fact that you can’t keep your hands off my boobs?”
He tucked his head down beside hers. “I told ya, all of us boys dream of booby traps.”
Laughter bubbled up like it always did when she was with him. She’d heard women say the most important trait in a partner was a sense of humor, but she’d never experienced it before. She didn’t consider herself funny either, but something about Gavin’s humor seemed to bring it out in her too. It felt good—the laughter, the smiles, the easy way they got along. Gavin wasn’t afraid to be serious, but neither was he constantly throwing out angst or drama just for the “fun” of it. It was restful, being with him. She was going to miss it.
“I think I’m goin’ to miss ya too,” Gavin said in her ear.
Had she spoken that out loud? For a moment she was mortified, that hot flush covering her cheeks for a reason other than arousal, but then his words registered. Besides, he’d said before that he missed her; why should she be embarrassed about it now?
“I’m kind of glad I’m not the only one,” she admitted.
“No, ye’re no’.” Gavin released her breasts and stepped back, but his hand clasped hers as he moved toward the tub. Kneeling, he dragged her panties down her legs. “Come on, get in.”
He went first, lying back against one end, his legs in a vee to make room for her. She settled between them, luxuriating in the deep heat of the water as she leaned back against his chest. It felt so good on her tired muscles.
Gavin’s arms came around her again, crossing over her stomach to pull her back tighter against him. “Holdin’ ya feels so right, lass.”
She agreed. “It does, doesn’t it?”
They lay in silence for a long while, Scarlett enjoying the heat, enjoying just being in Gavin’s arms. As the time passed, she could feel his cock firming beneath her, but he didn’t push for anything further, simply enjoyed the moment with her.
“So…” he said finally.
She stirred from her stupor, her ears perking up. “So…?”
“So I leave in the mornin’.”
Her heart felt like it sank to the bottom of the tub. “I know.”
His chin rubbed against her head as he talked. “I can’ remember the last Christmas I enjoyed this much.”
“Me too,” she whispered. Although she visited her friends on Christmas Day, she hadn’t spent Christmas Eve or Christmas morning with anyone in so long she’d almost forgotten what it was like. And to spend it with Gavin? That had been particularly special. She could be happy on her own, but she was even happier when she was with him.
“I don’ remember if I told ya, but my da’s been married six times.”
Shock rippled through her. “Whoa.”
“Aye.” His hand drifted up and down her belly, swishing the water around. “I grew up with him in and out of marriages, his new wives battlin’ with the old ones, my mam upset with everyone around her, including me, because her life hadn’t turned out how she wanted it to be. Then the stepsiblings started comin’, and that only made it worse. It was no’ a grand situation.”
She brought her hands up to his thighs, stroking along the rough hair there to comfort him. “I imagine not.”
“I’ve had a rule for myself, pretty much my entire adult life, that I would no’ date a woman for more than a week.”
That was a surprise, and not a welcome one. Here she’d been imagining that maybe,maybehe might want to see her again. Maybe something deeper might be growing. She didn’t expect him to marry her after a week, but she felt a connection with Gavin that she hadn’t with any other man, ever.
“See, my da was always runnin’ off with the next woman he fell into bed with, thinkin’ he was in love, and then marryin’ her, only to divorce her six months or a year or eighteen months later. He made my life so unstable that I never wanted to put anyone else through that, includin’ myself. But with you…”
He’d saidbut.Butwas a good thing, right? Her fingers clenched on his thighs.
Gavin sighed. “With you, Scarlett, I feel somethin’ I’ve never felt before. I could never rush out and get married like my da did, but there’s somethin’ about you… I really want—”
Was he saying…?
“I really want to spend more time with ya.”
Her heart began a rapid tattoo behind her breastbone.
