Page 24 of Kiss Me, Macrae

“It’s a beautiful way to honor her memory.”

“Thank ye, lass.” He offered a smile.

Her mouth curved gently in response. “You’re welcome.”

Baird’s arms tightened around her. When her eyes went all warm and dark, he had to clench his back teeth to keep from lowering his head toward hers.

He held his breath, silently begging her to ask…

“We should head back.”

Despite a sharp stab of disappointment, when she stepped back, he let her go.

As they carefully made their way back the way they’d come, Baird decided to satisfy his curiosity. “How did ye develop a skill for architectural design?”

There was a pause before she answered. Baird would have looked back at her, but the slope of the path required his attention. He did wonder, however, at the flat tone in her voice when she finally replied.

“My father heads an architecture firm in New York City.”

When she said nothing more, Baird was forced to prompt her. “That doesnae exactly explain how ye came tae possess such a talent.”

Her sigh was quiet, but he heard it. “I loved to page through his books when I was a child. Architecture fascinated me. Nothing else is so perfectly capable of combining creativity and imagination with purposeful form and function. Architecture is a magical blend of art, science, history, and mathematics.”

“I never thought of it in such a way.”

“My fascination continued to grow as I became an adult. My father didn’t discourage my interest so much as he simply couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with it. As long as I stayed out of his way, he didn’t object to my presence at his downtown offices, so I spent as much time there as possible.”

“D’ya hope tae join your da’s firm someday?” The thought of her returning to America caused a tight clench of denial in his gut, but there was no doubt she’d make a fine architect. In addition to the talent made obvious in the quick sketch she’d made for him, there was a force in this woman—a drive and hunger—that she kept so carefully controlled. He suspected it would be an unstoppable force if she gave it free rein.

He was so distracted by imaginings of her behind a huge drafting table in a fine big-city office that it took him a moment to realize she hadn’t answered his question right away. Then only with a curt, “No.”

Baird looked over at her then and saw the tension bracketing her mouth. Her gaze was cast toward her feet but he caught a glimpse of the shadows in her usually lively eyes. The stiffness in her shoulders was evident even beneath the heavy cloak she wore.

“Is there any chance I’d be able tae interest ye in takin’ a closer look at the plans for the restoration? I understand if ye’d rather not, but there’re a few elements that havenae been sorted yet and I’d love tae ken what ye think. I’d offer proper compensation for yer time, of course.”

When she didn’t reply right away, he worried he might have overstepped—or worse, insulted the woman somehow. She wore an odd expression and he couldn’t quite read what he saw in her eyes.

“You’d like me to work on your plans?” she finally asked, a bit stiffly.

Baird tilted his head. “Aye. The architects in Edinburgh decided they couldnae do much more. I’m hopin’ ye’ll have some ideas.”

There was a long pause, then a flash of something bright in her eyes. “All right.”

Chapter 12

It was two days before the winter holiday and the Earl and Countess of Darrow’s second annual Christmas party was a grand display.

The castle entry was illuminated with fairy lights that welcomed the guests as they arrived. Fresh boughs of pine and holly tied with large red velvet bows filled the space with wintry scents. A garland of greenery and lights drew the flow of people up the grand staircase to the second-floor ballroom and adjoining sitting rooms.

With dinner planned for much later, the first part of the evening was reserved for dancing and socializing.

Baird greeted old friends and stopped on occasion to speak with those he hadn’t seen in a while, but his attention continually swept outward over the swiftly filling ballroom. Anticipation filled his body with tension and tingling hope as he searched for one woman amongst so many.

And then there she was, partnered with a local peer for a country dance.

The light of the chandeliers overhead made her dark hair gleam like satin and her skin glow with warmth as she swirled on her partner’s arm. Her gown was a shade of silver so pale, it looked like frost in the moonlight. A necklace of sapphires and diamonds encircled her throat while matching jewels dangled from her ears.

She was so beautiful it made his teeth ache.

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