Page 54 of Return of the Scot
“That did no’ require a reply. It was merely informative.”
“I disagree, and I think we ought to make a plan.” How could he convince her to come down from where she perched… Preferably without changing?
“And this could no’ wait until morning?” Jaime leaned farther out the window and gaze roving the building as if in search of anyone watching.
“Ye’ll fall out. Get back in there,” he warned.
“I’m seeing who’s listening.”
“Nobody.”
“Go away. We’ll meet in the morning. It’s Sunday, and my dock crew has off. We can walk in the park.”
“I’m coming up.” He didn’t want to wait until morning, not when he had something to tell her that neither of them had thought of before. Not when she looked delicious enough to eat. Och, what he wouldn’t give at that moment for just one kiss.
“Nay! I’ll no’ open the door.” She waved her hands, shooing him away.
“I’ll scale the building.”
“Ye’ll break your neck.”
“Then come down.”
Jaime let out a disgruntled noise but then said, “Fine. I’ll meet ye in the back garden.”
Lorne grinned, watching as she shut the window and drew her drapes. A short time later, he heard soft footsteps in the grass, and then there she was, wrapped in a dressing gown, hiding that filmy nightgown from view. But he could still see the outline of her body. Her womanly curves were making him want to reach forward and explore every inch of her.
“Ye could have come without this,” he teased, plucking at the sleeve and giving her a brazen wink.
“Do no’ be ridiculous.”
“I’m quite serious.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. But rather than cover the lushness of her breasts, it only emphasized their tempting shape. She rolled her eyes, a gesture he was coming to find quite endearing. “What could no’ wait?”
“I think I know what’s happened.”
“And that is?”
He beckoned her to follow him out of the center of the garden, where they were easily seen, and under an arbor of vegetation. “I think what they’ve done goes deeper than either of us has considered. They sold ye the castle, which ye then gifted to your sister. So, ye handed my brother a large sum of money and your sister a veritable fortune in my seat.”
“Aye,” Jaime drawled, a little frown wrinkling her adorable nose.
“If they are married, the castle returns to Gille’s hands.”
Jaime’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my god. It was a ploy to gain funds?”
“Aye. And as soon as they learned I’d returned from the dead, they were quick to run. They knew they’d lose the castle, but they did no’ want the fortune ye gave them to be taken too.” It all made perfectly horrible sense.
“Do ye think my sister could have known about this? Why would she do it, and why would Gille?” She rubbed at her arms, either from the evening chill or the news he’d just relayed.
And if he looked well enough, he could make out the shape of her hardened nipples. Dear God, help me…
Lorne cleared his throat and hoped to do the same to his mind, which had gone straight to the gutter. “I can no’ answer for why your sister would do anything, other than they must have been attached for a very long time. And love makes men do odd things.” He frowned. Like show up at a lass’s house and throw rocks at her window.
Jaime stared at him for a several beats, the air crackling between them. She licked her lips and shivered, which almost had him groaning. “My investigator has sent a man to Ireland to find them.”
“As has my cousin. Let me give ye my jacket.” He started to unbutton, but she stilled his hand with hers, surprisingly warm for the shivering she was doing.
