Page 168 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

Right now, though, the room was all about Grant and his search for the elusive bandits. He stood in front of the desk, coat discarded, his hands flat on the littered tabletop as he frowned down at a survey map. In the flickering glow of the candles, his hair gleamed almost as brightly as flame.

Absorbed in his work, he continued to stare at the map. Kathleen indulged herself in covert appreciation of his brawny form and handsome profile. How she’d ever found him a bore was a mystery. She knew now that he was a superbly controlled man who never wasted a word or an action. That quiet intensity was immensely appealing.

“Knock, knock,” she said. “May I come in?”

Grant slowly straightened up and turned to face her, his distracted frown easing into a smile. The smile turned into a grin as he took in her messy hair and stocking toes peeking out from under her skirts.

“Just larking about at this hour, are we?” he said. “But I think you forgot your shoes.”

“I didn’t forget them. I was sneaking. Successfully, I might add, since you didn’t hear me come in.”

“I’ll wager you didn’t sneak past Graeme.”

“You would win that wager. I’d successfully navigated the house only to be tripped up by your annoying brother.”

“He was a spy, ye ken.”

“There wasn’t much spying involved, since I practically barreled straight into him.”

“Bad luck, that. But why the need for sneaking?” He looked at her feet again. “And your poor toes. They must be freezing by now, daft lass.”

“All in a good cause,” she said.

His eyebrows notched up. “Which is?”

She turned the key in the lock before calmly facing him. At least she hoped she appeared calm, because her heart was racing like a horse at full gallop.

“Because I’m going to seduce you, sir. One generally sneaks about when embarking on such a course of action.”

He choked out a laugh. “You are?”

Kathleen waved an airy hand. “Of course, I do not wish to disturb if you’re working. Shall I leave you to it?”

“Only if you want me to chase you down the hall and drag you back.”

“That might be fun, although we’d probably wake up half the house.”

He strolled over—though prowled would be a better description—and joined her at the door. Propping one hand against the wood panels, he leaned down to feather a kiss across her lips.

“It would be worth it,” he murmured.

She rested a hand against the silk of his waistcoat. “You were working, though. I’m sure it’s important.”

“I’d consign every bit of work to the flames if you would be so very kind as to seduce me.”

The heated glitter in his gaze practically setheron fire.

“Not necessary,” she managed to reply. “I shall be happy to seduce you, forthwith.”

He braced his other hand against the door, caging her in.

“And does that mean you’ve decided to marry me, Kathleen?”

She huffed out a breath. “Of course it does, you booby. I hardly seduce men I’mnotgoing to marry.”

“Excellent. Now I won’t be required to hunt down your previous suitors and throttle them.”

She patted his chest. “You can be well assured that none of my suitors inspired in me the least desire to engage in seduction.”

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