Page 12 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

Alec squeezed her arm again while lacing the fingers of his other hand into her hair and tilting her head back.

Good. He’s finally going to kiss me. What could one little kiss hurt?

Something suddenly flickered in Alec’s eyes and he stiffened beneath her touch. His hands dropped away and he took a step back, politely ducking his head and pointedly doing all he could to avoid making eye contact. “I’ll leave ye now to unpack yer things.”

He coughed, covering his mouth with his fist as his voice rasped with a deep huskiness—the huskiness of a man fighting for control. “I’m certain ye wish t’get settled afore ye start yer duties.”

Duties. Yeah. Right.Sadie didn’t say a word, just folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the deck railing.

Alec cleared his throat again, then stole a quick glance up at the sun. Flexing his hands into fists, then slowly relaxing them, he jerked his chin down with a decisive nod. “Aye, ye’ll get yerself settled and we’ll have the noonday meal with the rest of the family. I’ll send Ross or Ramsay t’fetch ye, then I’ll give ye a tour of the park and we can get better acquainted so ye can feel comfortable teachin’ me all ye ken about this filming business yer sister has planned for Highland Life and Legends.”

Still refusing to look her in the eye, Alec politely nodded in Sadie’s direction, then was gone before she could reply. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the man was doing his best not to break into a run. Tapping a finger against her disappointed lips, Sadie couldn’t help but smile. Maybe she wasn’t the only one on treacherous ground here.

Chapter 6

“I am a damn fool.” Alec cradled his head between his hands, elbows propped on either side of the empty plate in front of him. He hadn’t meant to attempt a kiss—or get so close to actually stealing a taste of Sadie’s sweet mouth. He’d sworn he was going to take care. Put her at ease. Be cautious. Convince the woman that he meant her no harm or disrespect.

But then she’d been so damn tempting. So fragile and sweet—looking up at him with those dark eyes that reminded him of the finest amber whisky swirling in the torchlight. He’d almost sampled those ruby lips. Almost given in to temptation. His fingernails dug into his scalp and he closed his eyes tight against the memory. He’d resisted. Barely. Surely, he’d avoided what would most certainly have been a disaster. Thank the gods and all the demons of hell that he’d stopped himself in time.

“Ye tried t’kiss her,” Dwyn repeated as he peered over the sagging pages of the daily gossip paper he held in midair in front of him. The demigod was all-knowing, but it never ceased to amuse him to keep up with the tall tales and bold lies the paparazzi told about unsuspecting celebrities. “After all yer talk about takin’ care and no’ scarin’ her away, ye nearly kissed the woman before she’d even been here a full hour. She hadna even had time t’unpack her wee bags.” Dwyn snapped the paper taut, then raised it back up, his voice booming loud and clear from behind it. “Aye. I believe ye’ve called it right on the money this time, Alec Danann MacDara. Ye are a damn fool.”

Miss Lydia thumped him in the center of his back as she toddled past him. “Elbows off the table and man up because I hear her comin’ up the steps. You fouled out in your own game—now fix it and stop your whining.”

Meddlin’ old woman.Alec obediently straightened in his chair, sucked in a deep breath, and made a silent oath.I will win her trust. One poorly handled battle willna lose this war. I will win this.

Light footsteps pattered up the stairs behind him. Alec rose from his chair and moved to stand behind the empty place setting to his right. “All settled into yer rooms, are ye?” Damned if he didna sound like one of those overstuffed hotel maître d’s that he and Dwyn had encountered in New York City when Dwyn had dragged his arse to that confusing place of light, noise, and entirely too damn many people.

Sadie beamed up at him with what appeared to be a genuinely relaxed smile. “All settled in, and thank you again. My suite of rooms is awesome.” She wrinkled her nose, lifting it with an appreciative sniff. “I really hope that’s lunch, because it smells delicious and I’m starving.”

Good. Perhaps I didna fare so badly in the first skirmish. She seems no worse for my actions.Alec gallantly pulled out her chair. “Mistress Lydia is the finest cook in all of North Carolina. If ye leave her table feelin’ deprived, the fault will be yer own.”

Sadie took her seat and Alec helped her scoot closer to the table.

“Thank you,” she said softly as she took the cloth napkin from beside her plate and spread it across her lap.

The smile she gave him warmed his heart, making him wish they were the only two people in the room; then he could make up for his earlier mistakes without any help from Dwyn or Mistress Lydia.

“I’m not used to such gallantry. I’m afraid chivalry is dead in Los Angeles,” Sadie said as she added a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint to the tall glass of iced tea Miss Lydia placed beside her plate.

“Aye, well—’tis alive and well here in Brady, North Carolina.” Alec propped his elbows back on the table, folding his hands above his plate.

Miss Lydia turned from the stove and gave him a pointed glare. She cleared her throat with a loud, growlingahembefore turning back to her bubbling pots and pans.

Removing his elbows from the table, Alec shifted in his seat.Dammit, old woman. Stop treatin’ me like an ill-mannered lad rather than the acting chieftain that I am.He didn’t say the words aloud, just straightened, sitting taller in his chair, and returned Miss Lydia’s glare.

“Will Esme be joining us for lunch today or is the wee beastie still on a rampage?” Alec truly hoped the answer was “yes”. Sullen or not, if his sister was present, at least the interfering old woman would have a target to nettle other than himself.

“Esme is dining in her room, where she’s also likely to spend the rest of her life if her mother and I can’t talk some sense into that hard head of hers.” Miss Lydia plopped a heavy ceramic soup tureen down on the table and handed Alec the ladle. “Serve your lady and yourself while I finish dishing up the barbecued brisket and the bread.”

My lady. Quite the ring to those words.Alec stole a discreet look at Sadie, relieved that she didna seem bothered a bit by Miss Lydia’s verbiage. “D’ye fancy chicken and dumplings then? Mistress Lydia lets nothing go t’waste. Last night’s leavings of the roasted chickens are today’s tempting stew.”

Sadie leaned forward, holding out her bowl. “Waste not, want not, and what better way than with chicken and dumplings? I adore them.” Her eyes grew ever wider as Alec kept ladling, filling her bowl to the rim with a Highlander-sized portion. “Uhm…wow—that’s a lot.”

“Are ye no’ hungry then?” Alec frowned down at her full bowl. She’d just said she loved chicken and dumplings. He wanted to be certain to give her plenty.By the gods, surely she’s no’ like Esme and tryin’ to thin herself down to a bare twig that the wind would snap with the slightest breeze.“Yer no’ dietin’ to fit into some dress, are ye?”

“Alec Danann MacDara!” Entering the kitchen just in time to hear Alec’s question, Sarinda cuffed her son across the back of the head. “That’s no’ a question a gentleman asks a lady.” Sarinda seated herself opposite Sadie, shot a dirty look in her son’s direction, and then leaned across the table with an apologetic smile and an extended hand. “Please dinna hold my son’s words against him. He oft forgets to think his words through afore he opens his mouth and spews them out. I’m Sarinda, the silly boy’s mother, and ’tis my pleasure t’meet ye.”

Sadie stole a glance at Alec, pressing her lips tightly together, but not before a soft, snorting chuckle escaped. She lightly cleared her throat as she took Sarinda’s hand with a smile. “I’m Sadie, and it’s good to meet you too.”

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