Page 14 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

Sadie blinked up at him as though she hadn’t quite kept up with the conversation. “Horses?”

“Aye…horses.” What the hell else would the woman ride? They allowed none of those noisy motorized bicycles in the park.

“Uhm. Sure.” Sadie glanced first over at Miss Lydia, then across to Sarinda, then back up to Alec. “It’s been a while, but I know how to ride.”

Miss Lydia smiled and winked, then hurried over to the open double doors of the huge pantry adjoining the kitchen. Huffing and muttering under her breath, she bobbed up and down, then swayed from side to side, pawing through the crowded shelves like a squirrel checking its winter hoard.

“There it is!” she crowed, yanking free a neatly collapsed picnic basket and an assortment of other items off the shelf with it. She turned and winked again at Alec. Her knowing look sent a chill up his spine. “Just you leave everything to me. I’ll packeverythingyou’ll need for the perfect picnic.”

Miss Lydia’s tone filled Alec with suspicion and no small amount of dread. The old woman had gone into plotting mode. He’d bet a keg of whisky on it.What the hell is she up to this time?

Sadie tugged on his arm, pulling him from the Miss Lydia–induced sense of impending doom. “Let’s go. I’ve got a tank full of dumplings and brisket and shoes made for walking.” With a bouncing step that jiggled her full bosoms in the most delightful way, Sadie displayed her hot pink tennis shoes laced up tight with bright purple laces. She paused at the top of the staircase leading down to the foyer and looked back at him. Her wondrous cleavage stretched her sweatshirt tighter, daring Alec to try and look away.

God a’mighty.Alec shifted in place, wishing Sadie would go ahead and start down the stairs so he could shift his stubbornly rising member away from the wicked bite of the denim seams. No such luck. She stood there waiting, looking up at him with an expectant smile.

Alec waved her forward. “Ladies first. Lead the way.” He swallowed a strained groan as her curvy hips tortured his hardening cock even further with a delicious bounce and wiggle with every step she took.Gods be with me. Get me through this day. I canna have her today. Too soon.But hope for the future quickened his step as he hurried down the stairs behind her.Mayhap tomorrow, if all goes as planned.

Waiting on the outer landing, leaning over the black wrought-iron railing surrounding the stone porch, Sadie glanced back at him as he pulled the door shut behind him. “Which way?”

Alec blinked, struck mute by the sight of Sadie bent over the iron railing to examine the surrounding area below.Lore a’mighty. What a fine arse.He scrubbed his palms against the rough fabric of his jeans. Damn, but he wished he could fill his hands with that delightful fullness.

“Alec?” Sadie straightened and turned to face him. “Which way? Over that gated overpass to the main keep or down the steps to that brick path leading into the woods?”

At this time of day, the main keep adjoining the park would be full of afternoon tourists. People. Crowds of them, since this week was when most of the area schools scheduled fall break for their students. He didna wantpeople.He wanted alone time with Sadie—even if they just talked, he wanted her all to himself.Aye and for certain—I’m t’be a greedy bastard where this sweet lass is concerned.“Down the steps. Ye saw a bit of the keep the day of the meeting and ye’ll see more whene’er ye have yer meetings with the other writers that Dwyn said ye’d be workin’ with in the evenings.”

He hadna much cared for that particular condition she’d requested in her response to his terms. But Dwyn had assured him that she’d only done so to test his intentions, so he’d had no choice but to agree. He motioned to the path disappearing into the trees. “The path there will take us ’round to the main market area of the park. I’ll show ye the shops and the smithy.”

“I definitely want a look at the herbal shop. Like I said earlier, I’ve dabbled a bit in aromatherapy—studied some herbs and oils and their history.” Sadie shrugged as they followed the moss-covered bricks into the woods. “It’s kind of a hobby. A good way to relax and banish the meaners of the day from your thoughts.”

“Banish themeaners?” Alec repeated. “What exactly aremeaners? Yer no’ a witch, are ye?” He was only partially teasing. Being an ancient Scot, he had a deep, abiding respect for those able to accomplish the unexplainable with nothing more than a few herbs and oils and carefully whispered rhymes.

“Depends on who you ask,” Sadie replied with a wicked grin and a wink. “Andmeanersare rude people. Jerks. You know. What’s the Scottish word for assholes?”

Alec rumbled out a short, barking laugh. He’d not teach Sadie that word. She might use it on him. The more time he spent with her, the lighter his heart felt. He’d ne’er felt this kind of peace before. ’Twas like a sense of being whole again. He’d ne’er felt it in this country nor in this complicated century.

The slightest movement off in the woods caught Alec’s attention. He laid a hand on Sadie’s arm, pulling her to a stop with a soft shushing sound and a finger pressed to his lips. He leaned close and whispered against her cheek, “Allow me t’introduce ye to Doughal and Kenzie.” He gently turned her and pointed.

Several yards to the right of the brick path, in a small clearing hemmed by a circlet of towering pines, stood a majestic buck with a trophy rack of twelve points that would make any hunter drool. Tied to one antler was a strip of plaid ribbon perfectly matching the tartan seen all around the park. On the ground beside the deer stood an extremely overweight fox squirrel. Both animals were poised at attention, frozen in place, warily focused on Alec and Sadie.

“Doughal and Kenzie?” Sadie whispered.

“Aye,” Alec replied softly. He slowly lifted a hand to the animals and barely raised his voice. “Yer Lady Esme is confined to her room, but she’ll be out to visit with ye just before sunset as she always does. I’ll see to it.”

Both animals immediately melted into the woods, disappearing into the thicket of pines without a sound.

“So beautiful,” Sadie breathed, still staring at the point in the trees where the animals had gone.

The joy in her voice washed over Alec like a lover’s touch. He pulled in a deep breath and blew it out.Control. Must take care.

“Are they Esme’s pets?” she asked as they started back up the path.

“I wouldna exactly call them pets.” Alec clasped his hands to the small of his back to keep from grabbing one of Sadie’s hands and walking with it pressed to his heart. “A fierce storm came through here two years ago. Wicked damage was done to the land as well as the park. During cleanup, Esme found an abandoned fawn and a litter of half-drowned fox squirrels.”

“She saved them?”

“Aye.” Alec nodded. “Doughal, the fawn, responded to m’wee sister’s touch quite well and has stayed close in the private woods surrounding the family’s area of the keep.” Alec chuckled. “My brothers swear Esme’s bewitched the buck, butMáthairsays humans are not the only creatures on this earth able to ken a pure heart filled with love when they find it.”

“Your mother sounds like a wise woman.” Sadie looped a hand through Alec’s arm and squeezed, sending a thrill clear to his soul. They walked along in silence for a few paces, then Sadie asked, “So Kenzie was the squirrel. What did she name the other ones?”

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