Page 33 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

Esme shook out the folds of the full skirt and stepped back, examining Sadie with a critical eye. “No panties. A Scot always goes commando.”

Sadie pressed her chilly goosebump-covered thighs together, then turned back and forth in front of the full-length mirror, attempting to get used to the weave of the fabric swishing across her bare ass. What an odd sensation. She’d gone commando in leggings, but never in a dress—well, maybe a nightie, but that was for a different reason altogether. Or was it?

A deliciously warm shiver zipped through her. Alec had to have known about this Highland standard of no undies. Was that why he’d suggested they wear authentic garb this evening? She lightly coughed, forcing her erotic anticipation to stand down and behave. “This just feels weird. And you’d think they would’ve knitted wool underwear or something to keep them warm in the winter.”

Esme gave her a mischievous wink. “Their braw Highlanders kept them plenty warm and panties would’ve just gotten in the way.”

“Your brother would die if he heard you talk like that.” Sadie giggled as she smoothed her hands down the tightly laced kirtle hugging her torso. Esme was like the sister she’d always dreamed of having. The sweet young girl was the polar opposite of cruelly snarky Delia.

Ignoring Sadie’s comment about Alec, Esme held out a pair of stockings. “Here. Put these on. These lighter weaves are really for spring and summer wear but the wool itches like a fiend. I can’t stand the things and don’t think you’d like them either. Be sure and tie the ribbons tight around your thighs or they’ll be down around your ankles before you know it.” She brushed aside Sadie’s skirt and frowned down at her feet. “What size shoe do you wear? You’ll need some slippers or boots to complete the look.”

“Size nine and a half or ten, depending on how they’re made.” Sadie inwardly cringed, waiting for Esme to either stare at her in dropped-jaw amazement or make a snide remark—that’s what usually happened whenever she discussed shoe or clothing sizes with a much smaller female. The only things smaller than a size sixteen in Sadie’s belongings were her shoes, and they were still the size of cruise ships.

Esme didn’t display either reaction, just slowly walked in front of the wall of neatly stacked shoe boxes, her lips moving silently as she read the labels. “There’s a pair.” She stretched on tiptoe and wiggled a box free, then scooted the ones that had been stacked atop it back in place. She flipped open the lid, rummaged through the tissue, and proffered a pair of ankle-high boots. “These are tens but they’re cut narrow, so I’m guessing you’ll need the larger size for the toe room.”

“Thank you.” Sadie accepted the buttery-soft suede boots that had been dyed a rich, earthy brown. They were the perfect accompaniment for the sage-green dress Esme had chosen. She wiggled her toes into the footwear, then laced the boots up tightly. “These remind me of a pair of moccasins I once had. They’re so comfortable.” And they were. Lightly cushioned and the leather so supple it fit like a second skin, Sadie happily put on the other boot.

She shook her skirts back in place and slowly turned in front of the mirror.Not too bad.She’d expected to look as big as a house in the sixteenth-century garb, but the tightly laced kirtle and the cut of the skirt’s waist didn’t make her look bigger at all. In fact, her full bosoms mounding at the squared neckline and the tapered kirtle hugging her torso actually complemented her generous curves. She held up her hands and met Esme’s gaze in the mirror. “What do you think—honestly.” If she looked like an overdressed Highland cow, she’d rather hear it from Esme than see it in Alec’s eyes.

Esme grinned. “I think you look great.” Her friendly grin blossomed into an impish smile. “And I think Alec’s gonna have ahardtime keeping his kilt from sticking out like a flag in astiffbreeze when he gets a gander at that cleavage.”

“Esme!” Sadie couldn’t help but snicker as she scolded. “You shouldn’t be saying stuff like that. You’re just fifteen years old.”

“Máthairwas just fourteen when she married Da and by the time she was fifteen, Alec was already born.” Esme winked. “I may not be as experienced asMáthair,but I’m not some naïve bampot who thinks babies come from cabbage patches or storks.”

“She married at fourteen?” Sadie stared at Esme in amazement. She’d known Sarinda looked extremely young to have a son Alec’s age, but she had no idea the woman was only fifty years old.

Esme nodded. “Yep. Of course, Da was twenty-four when they wed, so I guess you could say he had enough experience for them both.”

“That’s statutory rape.” Sadie clamped her mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. She wouldn’t do anything in the world to hurt Esme’s feelings. “I’m sorry. I meant no offense. Your parents seem very happy.” And they did—even though poor Emrys was somewhat addled now and Sarinda seemed to be more his caregiver than his wife.

A strange look settled across Esme’s face, one that Sadie couldn’t quite read, but it looked as though the girl was troubled or had something to hide. Esme’s gaze dropped to the floor as she pulled in a deep breath, then softly blew out the words, “It was a different time and place when my parents married. It was in Scotland—a long time ago.”

“Oh well, that explains it.” Sadie nodded, making an effort to ignore the suddenly tense air between them and return them both to the easy comradery of just a few moments ago. “Is Alec going to pick us up when we’re finished here or are we supposed to walk back to the keep?”

Esme nodded toward the rain-spattered window. “It’s still pretty nasty out. Since we’re done here, I’ll call Ross and Ramsay. I’ve got a violin lesson this afternoon and Ross promised he’d take me. Ramsay can take you back to the keep and you can surprise Alec when he gets home.”

“Violin? Really?” Sadie gathered up her street clothes and stuffed them into the tote Esme provided from behind the costume shop’s counter. For some odd reason, she just couldn’t picture fiery-tempered, impatient Esme playing the violin.

“Sure.” Esme nodded as she shook out her raincoat and put it on. “We all play several different musical instruments, but Alec’s the best. He can play any instrument he gets his hands on. I’d never tell him to his face, but he’s truly gifted. He gets that fromMáthair.Neither of them can read music, but we’ve yet to find a song they can’t play if they hear it just once.”

Sadie remembered the first time she’d laid eyes on Alec, swinging a monstrous sword—a weapon few men could wield—in a graceful arc over his head. Who would’ve thought that her brawny, uber-alpha Highlander was also a musical virtuoso? “Do you think he’d play for me if I asked?”

Esme laughed and nodded toward Sadie’s generous bosoms mounding above the dark green ribbon trimming her squared neckline. “I’m sure you could find a way to convince him to play the fiddle or the pipes for you. You said he’s going to give you a tour of Castle Danu. He keeps his favorite instruments there. Plays them when he’s up there pondering about what could’ve been—or so he says.”

“What could’ve been?” That sounded ominous. Did Alec fill Castle Danu with the mournful cry of the fiddle over some long-lost love? Sadie swallowed hard. How could she compete against such a memory? And did she really even want to try? After all, she was only here for six weeks or so. Just until the main scenes were filmed and finished up. Then it was back to California, where she belonged. Maybe. Lately, the thought of returning to LA gave her heartburn—or was itheartache? Sadie shook away the troubling thought and concentrated on Esme. “What do you meanwhat could’ve been?”

That same strange look Esme had gotten earlier crossed the young girl’s face again—the look that said she feared she’d said too much and wished she could rewind her words. She waved a hand at Sadie and avoided looking her in the eye. “As Da would say, ‘dinna fash yerself.’ Alec’s always been a tad on the broody side.” She pulled her cellphone out of her pocket and tapped the screen several times with her thumb. As she put the phone to her ear, she winked. “Da says Alec getsthatfromMáthairtoo.”

Sadie gathered a healthy handful of skirt in each hand and followed Esme to the front of the shop. This much clothing would definitely take some getting used to. She hoped Ramsay didn’t drive a compact model. She’d never get this much yardageandher butt into anything smaller than a side-door-opening utility van.

Chapter 16

“Ye dinna feel it’s a bit soon to show her the Heartstone and reveal the MacDara history?” Dwyn didn’t look up from the phone he held in his left hand while he scribbled notes on a paper in front of him with his right. He frowned down at the phone, squinting closer at the screen. “What the hell does that mean?” he muttered as he shook his head and continued writing in a feverish scrawl.

“I didna say I was going to tell her everything…exactly.” Alec shifted in place, wishing like hell that Dwyn would look him in the eye so he could get a better read on the demigod’s thoughts. “I mean to ease her into it. I feel a visit to Castle Danu is a fine place to start.”

“Ease her into it, ye say?” Dwyn tossed his phone to the desk and leaned back in the sumptuous depths of the leather wingback chair. “How the hell do ye ease someone into the truth that the MacDaras are the chosen line of druids entrusted with the sacred Heartstone and the goddesses’ weapons?” He laced his fingers together, primly folding his hands across his middle. “And how in blazes do ye mean to explain that ye were born in approximately 880 A.D.?”

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