Page 25 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

Lore a’mighty. She’s even more beautiful when she’s angry.Alec clenched his jaws tight to keep from smilin’. No sense adding fuel to her righteous fire, but—’twas time she learned that no Highlander stood aside and allowed his woman to be slandered.

“I willna have anyone speakin’ to ye in such a way.” Alec squared off in front of her, doing his best to appear stern but finding it an impossible task. The way the breeze toyed with her hair, fluttering the dark ringlets of her ponytail back around her throat like a lover’s caress, reminded him of yesterday. And how she had been. Breathtakingly naked and glorious. Astraddle his body with her head thrown back in ecstasy. He pulled in a deep breath and smiled. “And by the by, ye do smell of strawberries still.”

Sadie’s frown melted away and her tensed posture visibly relaxed. “It’s my shampoo. Strawberry. One of my favorite scents.” She tilted her head to a teasing angle and smiled up at him—the same inviting look she’d given him while lying beneath him yesterday. “Especially after our picnic.”

His cock nearly roared to be set free. ’Twas a wonder the crotch of his jeans didna split asunder. Alec reached out, stepping closer and cradling her face in his palm. “So, I’m forgiven then?”

Her gaze locked with his, Sadie wet her lips, then pulled in a shaking breath and slowly blew it out. “Yes,” she said quietly. “As long as you promise to let me fight my own battles from now on. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

“I can make no such promise,” Alec replied, tenderly nibbling across the soft sweetness of her bottom lip. “I always defend my own,” he whispered, adding a light kiss to seal the oath.

“Sadie!”

Sadie jerked away and stumbled back a few steps. Shifting to Alec’s side, she kept her voice low while calling his attention to the man and woman walking toward them. “It’s Seth and Holly. Good. Maybe I can get this settled now.”

Doing his damnedest to hold his composure, Alec glared at the approaching couple. He already didn’t like them. They’d just rudely interrupted what was about to be a verra fine kiss.

“So, this is yourassignment.” The woman, short and spritely, looking like a demonic elf with coal-black hair tipped in neon blue, sauntered closer. Her smirk, paired with the insulting tone of her voice, colored her words an ugly shade. She gave Alec a brazen up-and-down glance as though sizing him up for breeding, then sidled up next to Sadie. “Delia said you’d finally hit pay dirt.”

“Don’t be such a shit, Holly.” The man at her side, a tall, lanky fellow with long, sandy hair pulled back in a thin ponytail, gave Sadie an apologetic smile. “Ignore her. You know she hates setting foot anywhere outside of LA.” He extended his right hand to Alec. “I’m Seth Hanover and this is Holly Mason.”

Sadie squeezed Alec’s right arm, nudging him to take Seth’s hand. “Seth’s been with Realm Spinners Productions since the beginning.” She nodded at Holly with a look that clearly conveyed she didn’t like the woman. “Holly joined our ranks last year.”

At least the man had the good sense to show a bit of civility. Alec took his hand, squeezing hard to leave no doubt as to who was the alpha here.

“Alec MacDara,” he said without releasing Seth’s hand. “ ’Tis good to meet those that Sadie will be writing with.” He ignored Sadie’s sharp intake of breath. If these two were going to behave as the disrespectful Abe had, ’twas best to flush the bastards out in the open straight away. Battles were best waged head on.

“Writing with?” Seth flinched as he drew his hand away from Alec’s iron grip. Massaging his fingers, he cradled his hand tight against his chest.

Holly snorted out a very unladylike chortle, increasing Alec’s dislike of her tenfold. “What the hell are you talking about? Sadie’s not a writer. She’s Delia’s flunky.”

“Delia didn’t say anything to either of you about me joining the team or helping with scenes and dialogue?” Sadie directed the question to Seth, pointedly turning her back on Holly as the woman stood impatiently tapping the toe of one ragged boot and chewing on the tips of her glossy black fingernails.

Seth cast a nervous glance at Alec and edged back a step with a quick shake of his head. “I’m sorry, Sadie. She didn’t say anything to us. As far as we know, it’s just business as usual, where Delia whines and bitches and you make sure everyone has whatever they need.”

“By the way, I’m out of nail polish.” Holly spit out the false fingernail she’d just peeled off with her teeth and held up her ragged-looking fingers for inspection. “Blacks and blues. Just like always.”

Alec gritted his teeth. He could feel Sadie trembling beside him, struggling to deal with the humiliating situation her damnable sister had thrown at her feet. He sucked in a deep breath and clenched his fists, noting with not a little satisfaction that Seth’s face had grown visibly paler.

With a wide-eyed glance at Alec’s fists, Seth backed up another pace and jerked his thumb back over one shoulder toward the long black bus parked at the head of the field. “Why don’t you go talk to Delia?” He bowed to Alec with a respectful dip of his chin. “I’m sure you’ll get it straightened out.”

“He’s right. Come on, Alec.” Sadie charged forward, pushing her way between Seth and Holly.

“Hey! Don’t forget my nail polish,” Holly called after them.

Without slowing down or looking back, Sadie shouted, “Fuck you, Holly!”

Chapter 11

She should’ve known better than to trust Delia. How many times, in all the years that she’d known her sister, had Delia ever kept her word? Never. Not one damn time. Sadie blinked hard against the tears of rage burning her eyes.Dammit. I will not cry.She’d learned early on to hide her feelings to survive. But when she was angered beyond reason, she cried. And crying pissed her off even more.

Alec strode along beside her in silence.

Sadie wouldn’t risk looking at him. She didn’t want to see what surely had to be a solid look ofhow in the hell did I ever want herplastered across his face. Stinging humiliation flashed through her. What must he be thinking? Delia’s usual shitty treatment was bad enough, but Sadie had endured it for so long it had become the norm—the dysfunctional continuation of the only family life she’d ever known. And now Alec had seen firsthand where Sadie fell in the pecking order.Great. I bet he’s thrilled. He’s probably thinking Delia saddled him with a real loser.

Flinching against the old, familiar churn of uncertainty, Sadie swallowed hard and walked faster, internally giving herself a neck-snapping shake.Bullshit! Don’t go there. You are not a loser.Therapy and her psychology degree had done wonders to set her on an even keel. She would not lose the sanity or self-respect she’d worked so hard to obtain. One obstacle at time. Delia first. Explain things to Alec later. She finally stole a glance at him.Oh, that’s just great. What a fucking expression!Alec was stone-faced and looked pissed to the nth degree, and Sadie didn’t blame him.

The busy CEO of Highland Life and Legends…and a damn good lover, I might add…shouldn’t have to lower himself to the pettiness of the Williamses’ family squabbles. Sadie pointed toward the Jeep. “If you want to wait in the Jeep while I talk to Delia—”

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