Page 2 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

“Explain it to him, Dwyn. ’Tis best that young Alec hear how it shall be from his new advisor.”

Alec stole a glance up from behind his arm.Who the hell is Dwyn?

A slight form, more like a flickering shadow and silhouetted against the blinding light of the goddesses’ star, approached him.

A deep, rumbling chuckle—a full, hearty sound that in no way looked as though it could come from the slight figure walking toward him—echoed through the clearing. The laughing silhouette bounced closer—still out of focus against the brilliance of the goddesses’ light.

“I am Dwyn MacKay. Yerneach-teagaisg.The teacher who shall guide ye through the wonders of this new place. I am guardian and tutor to all the druids here. I shall see to it that the MacDara clan does well and continues their legacy to the goddesses and humanity as the protectors of the Heartstone—the sacred stone of hope and love itself.”

“And this place is?” Alec asked, still squinting against the blinding light.

“Twenty-first-century North Carolina. Welcome to the future, m’lad.”

Chapter 1

Forget the roller coaster. Where do I get a ticket to ride him?Sadie Williams peered over the tops of her sunglasses, inching them lower to get an unobstructed view of the man currently flexing his assets.Damn. What an import. I bet he’s one of Scotland’s finest.

The tempting Scot stood in the center of the outdoor practice ring, glowering at the small group of nervous young men fidgeting in front of him. His tanned, muscular physique of totally lickable perfection rippled and pulsed as he swung a monstrous sword in a wide, graceful arc. He wore his dark hair slicked back in a severe man bun, perfectly accentuating his stern, unsmiling face.

The man was better than any photoshopped action hero Sadie had seen in a while. His modified kilt, a tighter, sexier version, more like a gladiator’s short toga, only added fuel to his already blazing-hot persona. The teasing bit of tartan hung low about his hips, its cropped length barely brushing the thickest part of his solidly corded thighs. With every fluid, predatory move he made, Sadie wished for a strong breeze to improve the already impeccable view.

“You’re telling methat’sAlec MacDara? Mr.I can’t be bothered with a meeting?”

Her sister Delia’s hissed whisper, shrill and dripping with insulted disbelief, interrupted Sadie’s delightful reverie. Thumbing her sunglasses back up in place, Sadie barely nodded, Delia’s tone triggering a one-sided grin.Yes, sister dearest. That’s the man himself.

Sadie hugged her electronic tablet to her chest and turned her attention back to the dirt arena where Mr. Alec MacDara, CEO and part owner of Highland Life and Legends, was currently sizing up his most recent batch of applicants. Delia needed to be quiet. She was ruining the view.

When they’d arrived at the park for their hard-won appointment, a historically accurate kilted park employee had led them to this private training area. He’d explained that this was where mock battle interviewees hoped their sword handling would impress Mr. MacDara enough to score them a job.

Not only renowned for its remarkable authenticity, Highland Life and Legends was also known as one of the best employers in the region. The successful Scottish historical theme park encompassed what seemed like an endless expanse of acreage along the Cape Fear River of North Carolina. The sprawling park and its owners ruled supreme in this part of the country.

The nearby town of Brady, North Carolina, would have disappeared off the map years ago if not for the MacDara clan’s imaginative creation. The theme park, based on Highland myths, beliefs, and everyday life in centuries past, had been a lifeline for the past fifteen years to the small burg nestled in the rich countryside surrounding the river. Everyone wanted to be a part of Highland Life and Legends.

Alec MacDara strode up and down in front of the line of young men, pausing now and then to squeeze a shoulder or lift one of their arms as though judging livestock at the county fair. He finally selected the smallest of the group, handed him a sword that was nearly twice the young man’s size, and pointed to the center of the ring. “You. Go. Let’s have a look at ye then.”

The scrawny, nervous boy who would blow away if a strong wind hit him stumbled to the designated spot, visibly struggling to drag the sword along beside him. He let out a wheezing grunt, face turning a reddish purple as he strained to lift the blade into the air. The sword wobbled and swayed for a tense moment then dove downward, the tip plunging deep into the dirt.

The rest of the anxious wannabes waiting for their turn at the sword tittered with relieved snickering. The beanpole of a boy shot them all a resentful glare, set his jaw, then staggered backwards, using his entire body to heave the massive blade back up into the air and swoop it from side to side.

Easily avoiding the swinging blade, Alec angled his way around to the boy’s side, clapped a hand on the lad’s bony shoulder, and pried the sword out of his shaking white-knuckled fists. “The sword is no’ the weapon for ye, but yer mother tells me ye’ve a fine way with the horses. Is that true?”

“I guess so.” The still red-faced lad deflated with a disgusted huff, staring down at the ground as though his entire world had just collapsed. “I just wanted to be one of the fighters—you know—for the girls?” He wheezed out another despondent sigh and kicked the toe of his boot in the dirt.

“Many a fair lass waits in line to ride the fine MacDara horses we have stabled here.” Alec gripped the boy’s shoulder and gave him a congenial shake. “I’m thinkin’ they’d be most impressed by a man able to control such mighty beasts and take them for rides through our fine countryside.”

The boy’s face visibly brightened. Renewed hope straightened his back as he stood a bit taller. “Really?”

“Aye.” Alec nodded and steered him toward a gated path on the other side of the ring. “Off wi’ ye now to the stables. Old Tom’s expectin’ ye. He’ll explain yer duties to ye.”

“Thanks, Mr. MacDara!” The boy bobbed his head, his lopsided grin stretching from ear to ear as he stumbled backwards toward the gate. “Thanks a lot!”

Well, well, well. An uber-alpha Highlander with a heart of pure gold.Sadie cocked the bill of her ball cap a tad lower. Alec MacDara’s kindness triggered a warm, glowing sense of happy straight to her core.I could so get into researching this guy for a hot Highland screenplay.

A sharp jab in the ribs rudely interrupted the promising dialogue already flowing through her mind. “What?” Sadie jerked around and fully focused on her sister, immediately regretting the sharp tone of herwhatand the resulting look on Delia’s face.Great. Here comes an ass-chewing.

“I asked you a question, and your head rattling when you nod doesn’t tell me a damn thing. Watch that tone or you can kiss this job goodbye.” Delia’s face—immaculately chiseled by LA’s best plastic surgeons—tightened into a threatening scowl that would challenge the best Botox. She smoothed her miniskirt with an irritated yank, then hooked a finger in her plunging neckline and resettled her newly purchased cleavage to a more revealing angle. “If that’s Alec MacDara, I know exactly how to handle this meeting.” She flexed her toned and professionally sculpted body like a peacock preening for a mate.

“Yes. That is Alec MacDara, CEO of Highland Life and Legends,” Sadie replied in the most placating tone she could manage without gagging.And I’m sure he’ll be panting at your feet in no time. His type usually can’t resist you—until they find out how you really are.She tapped the surface of her tablet. “Look. I showed you this article about him and his family the other day. Remember?”

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