Page 133 of The Highlander's English Bride

“Careful, lass, or you’ll fall on your arse.”

Sabrina composed herself. “I would never be so clumsy as to fall on my, er . . . as to fall down in so undignified a manner.”

He raised a sardonic eyebrow. Really, he had a talent for making her feel like a twit.

He also had a talent for looking splendid, even in his current state of dishevelment. While still dressed in breeches and boots, Graeme had discarded his topcoat and unbuttoned his vest. His shirt was partially open, exposing his throat and a portion of muscled chest. When he propped a forearm on the doorframe and stared down at her, Sabrina’s mouth went as dry as a day-old muffin, and her knees as wobbly as blancmange.

Apparently, the sight of such masculine pulchritude disordered her brain, because all she could do was stare like a besotted ninny. How she’d fallen in love with this Highland hellion in so short a time still astonished her.

Of course, why wouldn’t a woman fall in love with a hellion who was brave and smart, kind to women and children, and was alsoquiteexcellent with babies? Sabrina again had a sudden desire to have babies with Graeme—several, if she were lucky.

Amusement sparked in the back of his emerald gaze. Sabrina would have found that annoying but for the delicious smile that curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Is there something I can help you with, my lady?”

She blurted out her first thought. “How did you know I was standing out here? I was very quiet.”

“Never mind that. Why the devil are you even up? You should have been asleep ages ago.”

“Mr. Kendrick, it is not yet eleven o’ clock,” she tartly replied. “Hardly the middle of the night.”

“We’ll be up at the crack of dawn and back on this blasted journey. That is why you need to get your sleep instead of creeping about like a footpad.”

“I did not creep. I walked like a perfectly normal person.”

“Sabrina, there is nothing remotely normal about you.”

She jabbed a finger in the direction of his formidable chest. “Now, see here, sir—”

“No, you see here. You shouldn’t be wandering around the halls at night. It’s not safe.”

“If it’s so unsafe, perhaps you’d best let me come in.”

All humor gone, his eyes narrowed to slits. “Bad idea.”

Sabrina lifted her chin, and they engaged in a staring contest. But after several seconds, it began to feel absurd.

Fortunately, before she felt too ridiculous, floorboards creaked at the end of the hall. Muttering an oath, Graeme pulled her inside and closed the door.

“This is entirely daft,” he said. “Not to mention foolhardy and massively inappropriate.”

Sabrina folded her hands at her waist, trying to look dignified. “I need to talk to you.”

“We can talk in the morning.”

“Would you be more disposed to speak with me in the morning? I think not.”

“I’m less disposed to speak with you now.”

Sabrina put up her hand. “Let me guess. You need to do one more patrol, just to be sure that nonexistent villains are not lurking in the shadows. By the way, even if said villains do exist, they would have no idea we’re staying at this particular inn.”

“First, they likely do exist. Second, it wasn’t my idea to go belting off to the Highlands. That, lass, is on you.” He strode past her to the fireplace, grabbed the poker, and began jabbing at the smoldering fire.

Sabrina mentally girded her loins. “Mr. Kendrick, you must desist from such ill-tempered behavior. I find you to be quite the grump, and it’s quite annoying.”

He straightened up and stared at her in disbelief. “You’re annoyed? I’m trying to safeguard you from impending doom, andyou’reannoyed. How the hell do you think I feel?”

She crinkled her nose. “Annoyed?”

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