Page 29 of Deception and Desire
And finally. “We’ve conquered the stairs, Lachlan. Just walk now. One foot at a time.”
He squeezed her shoulder as the wall on his other side fell away.
“Malcolm, give him some support on that side.”
The boy gripped Lachlan’s forearm, and he felt the boy’s head beneath his palm. It was just the right height to maintain his balance.Malcolm?The lad had a name.
After another grueling repetition of one foot after another, something hard was shoved behind his knees.
“Sit down slowly. We have you.”
He obeyed and was rewarded with a hard support against his back. His knees collapsed, and his bum hit the wooden seat. A bonnie vision of spun gold and sparkling gray eyes appeared before him. “I think I love ye, lassie,” he mumbled and darkness overtook him.
*
Water dripped downhis neck. He dunked his face in the stream again and lifted his head, shaking his wet mane and flinging droplets across her bare chest. Pale yellow tresses hung loose over her shoulders and down her back. Creamy mounds rose and fell with her breath, begging for his touch. She smiled and murmured something.
“Come to me, lass,” he said, holding his arms out to her. “My golden angel.”
She put a finger to her plump lips. “Shhh… hush now while we tend you.”
Her hand was cool against his skin, and he leaned his cheek into her palm. “Ah, ye’re sent from heaven. Spread yer wings for me.” He reached up to fit his palm around one perfect breast, his fingers stretching to knead—
A sharp slap stung the back of his hand. His eyes jerked open, his hand still in midair.
“Ye’re a long time dead, laddie. And ye’ll be reaching Heaven sooner than later if ye get any closer.” Sorcha looked down at him, holding the bloody bandage she’d removed from his head.
Panic filled him as he realized how close he’d come to touching the older woman’s chest. Heat rose up his neck; an invisible club beat against his temples. He turned at the sound of a giggle. Miss Franklin stood beside him, wringing a cloth into a bucket of water.
Sweet Mary!“I was dreaming. There was a running brook and—”
“A gooolden angel,” crooned Colin from behind.
He groaned. “Of course, ye’d be here to witness my…” Lachlan shook his head to clear the haze, only to be rewarded with more thumping behind his eyes.
“Come to me, lass,” Colin said in a high-pitched voice.
“If I were ten years younger,” added Sorcha with another cackle, “mayhap I’d have let ye. It’s been a verra long time.”
Another groan. This tale would swell with each telling. He shut his eyes. Let them think he’d passed out again.
“Ye’ve a new bandage, and I’ve given instructions to Colin. He’ll take ye home in an hour or so, depending on how well ye can stand. I dinna want to see ye back here for at least three days, ye ken?” Sorcha’s voice was firm.
He opened one eye, then the other, his face still burning. “Aye.”
“What a remarkable first day,” taunted the object of his dream.
“Ye find me amusing?” he croaked.
“We golden angels are known for our sense of humor.” Silver flashed in her eyes before releasing the pent-up laughter. “Iamsorry. You’re injured and we’re teasing you. Your head must hurt terribly.”
Colin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Och, lass. We’re just irritating him a wee bit. The harassment will begin when his brothers and cousins find out.”
“And ye’ll be quick to share the yarn, ye bleeding donkey’s arse,” he mumbled, then looked at the pink cheeks of their accountant. “Pardon me, Miss Franklin.”
“You’re not yourself, I understand.” She smiled and perched on the corner of the desk. “Are you thirsty? Shall I get you some water?”
Lachlan saw his own disgust mirrored in Colin’s expression.
