Page 159 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

Kathleen crinkled her nose. “Except toward you. And I’m such a bounder for dumping that unpleasant scene on you and Sabrina.”

His mouth tilted up in a dangerously seductive smile. “I suppose you’ll have to make it up to me, then.”

She adopted a puzzled frown. “Hmm. There is one way I can think of.”

“Yes, lass?” he purred in his lovely brogue.

“You can let me give you a proper apology about yesterday. You were simply trying to help me, and I was a complete hag to you. You didn’t deserve it, and I most sincerely apologize.”

He eyed her with polite skepticism.

Kathleen had to resist the urge to shuffle her feet. “What?”

“Is that it?”

“Is what it?”

“Is that how you’re going to make it up to me?”

“It was just tea with David and his brother,” she said. “It wasn’t as if you flung yourself in front of a bullet for me.”

“I might have preferred a bullet than tea with Vicar Brown and his idiot brother.”

“Now you’re just being ridiculous.”

Instead of replying, he took her by the elbow and started to march her along the path.

“And where are we going now?”

“To the gazebo. We need to talk.”

He was right, of course. But just thinking about yesterday’s illicit encounter put her in a stew. She’d been doing her best not to think about it, because she hadn’t a bloody clue what todoabout it.

“All right, but no canoodling,” she blurted out.

When Grant laughed, Kathleen couldn’t help sighing.

“God, I’m a complete ninny,” she said.

“There’s no reason to be nervous, sweetheart. We’ll just talk, I promise.”

He handed her up the stairs into the gazebo. Kathleen settled on the bench, smoothing down her skirts and trying to calm her jangled nerves. Grant leaned against a railing, arms crossed, as he watched her with a slight smile.

Kathleen had the impression he was trying not to crowd her, both physically and emotionally. She was grateful for that, since she felt out of her depth. Grant was obviously about to make a proposal of marriage, and while that was exciting, it was also terrifying. She needed to keep her wits about her—thus, the prohibition on canoodling—in order to make the most important decision of her life.

The fact that she needed to make a decision at all was mind-boggling. Until very recently, she’d been firmly set on a course back to Ireland, come hell, high water, or Grant Kendrick.

That will teach you to kiss a Highlander.

“Properly sorted now, are we?” Grant asked after a few moments.

“Yes, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Lass, you may look like a fairy princess, but you’ve the heart of a lion. You’re ready for anything.”

His words sparked a lovely, warm glow in her chest. “I do believe that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“I’m just getting started.”

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