Page 6 of Dear Kilted Scotsman
I explain the story to her. How the first Laird McTavish who found her after she appeared by the loch one day. They fell deeply in love, but the Laird was called away to fight when the rebellion happened. Years passed, and every day the Lady would stand by the water edge waiting for her lost love to find her again. Until one day, she walked into the loch and was never seen again. Villagers claimed to see her ghost from time to time, keeping alive the myth of the Lady of the Loch.
“Have you seen her?” Brianna asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Once,” I say as I lean in closer to her.
“When?”
“Last night.”
BRIANNA
With one quick breath, I could have been blown over with a feather. I don't know if it was a story he was telling me or the way his eyes kept dipping down to look at my lips like he wanted to kiss me.
I had to grip my skirts tightly to keep from reaching out and grabbing his shirt, and pulling him to me. Heat pooled in my lower belly, and I had to press my thighs together to try and ease some of the ache. I've never felt so much for one person in my life, let alone someone I've only just met.
“I hate to interrupt this wee moment you two seem to be having,” Ainslie says with a smug smile. “But I need to make my announcements to start the festival.”
"No one is stopping you," Colin grumbles at her, but his eyes never leave mine.
“I’m afraid I will need to take my assistant with me.” She takes my hand in hers.
“Your what?” Both Colin and I ask in unison.
She doesn’t answer but turns and pulls me with her up the steps of the makeshift stage and over to the microphone. I look out and see many of the villagers sitting on benches or standing around an open field, marked off by rope and netting.
Ainslie taps the mic, and a bit of feedback squeals out loudly, making us all wince a bit. She starts her speech, talking about the history of the festival and the Scottish traditions these events stem from, but I’m hardly able to focus on her words. I watch Colin as he makes his way over to a group of men standing in the open field. Each one is looking bigger and stronger than the next.
“As I’m sure many of you have noticed, we have a new addition to the festival this year.” She gestures to me.
I'm not sure what to do, so I give a quick awkward wave to the crowd. Many of the villagers clap politely, but some of the men standing in the field whistle loudly. I feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I wish she’d given me some kind of warning that she planned to include me on this whole Lady of the Loch gimmick. I’m not even sure why I’m standing here.
“In honor of our special addition to the festival, the winner of the games today will be rewarded with a kiss from our very own Lady of Loch Greer.”
My gaze locks with Colin’s. His mouth presses into a hard line, and he turns to glare at the kilted men making noises around him. I feel my heart plummet in my chest at his reaction. He's obviously unhappy with what Ainslie just announced. It figures the one man here I’d be willing to give a kiss to wants nothing to do with me.
Katherine never had that problem. I fume inwardly.
5
COLIN
“Did you see the ass on her?” I hear Magnus say to the lads as he nods his head towards Brianna. “I love to get my hands on that thing."
I take a menacing step towards him, but Dougal steps in between us and pushes me back a few steps.
"Don't listen to him," he says, his stance telling me he's read to stop me if I try to charge him. "He’s not worth it.”
“It looks like I’ve touched a nerve,Laird,” Magnus sneers.
My dislike of Magnus goes back to the days when we were wee lads in school. He'd always try and get me to react when he teased me about one day getting my title. I thought I couldn't dislike before, but right now, I'd like nothing more than to bash his face until he's unrecognizable.
Dougal’s an old friend and always looks out for me. He knows how Magnus likes to push me, and he's often there to keep me from doing something I might regret later.
“Beat him where it hurts,” he says.
“Oh, I plan on it," I growl.
“She’s watching you.” He jerks his head towards the stage.
