Page 108 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

“Aye, that,” Grant said as he studied the captain through a narrowed gaze.

Brown had already taken his first shot, with the arrow thudding into the edge of the bull’s-eye. He acknowledged the few calls of encouragement and Jeannie’s enthusiastic clapping before turning back for his second shot.

“Do you want me to speak with him?” Grant asked, glancing at Kathleen.

She waggled a hand. “I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill. I’ll keep a careful eye on her.”

“As long as she’s with David, she’s safe,” Sabrina added.

Grant snorted. “Poor fellow’s completely oblivious, for one thing.”

“Thank goodness, or you and Jeannie would be rivals,” Sabrina teasingly said to Kathleen. “I do hope your sister won’t challenge you to a duel.”

“Please. Trying to keep the vicar at arm’s length while not arousing Jeannie’s suspicions has been exhausting.”

“Especially since David has been underfoot all week, helping with fete preparations.” Sabrina shook her head. “I almost wish a villager would take to his deathbed, so he’d be forced to attend to him and stop pestering us.”

Kathleen sputtered out a laugh. “That is positively wicked, Sabrina Kendrick. And the sort of thing I’m supposed to say.”

“It’s the Kendrick influence. It’s corrupting.”

The smile Grant directed at Kathleen was also positively wicked. “With the emphasis onvery,” he said.

“You are both ninnies,” she said to compensate for the heat making her flush. “And there will be no corrupting behavior around my sister.”

“Do you want me to give yon vicar and his brother a good thrashing?” Grant suggested. “I’m happy to oblige.”

Sabrina patted his arm. “How kind of you, dear. But I feel certain that David, at least, has no idea how to engage in corrupting behavior.”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” Kathleen muttered.

Just yesterday, he’d volunteered to help her cut flowers for table decorations. Not wishing to be rude, she’d agreed. The gardens were right behind the house, and staff regularly bustled between the kitchen and the outbuildings. Even if gripped by passion, she’d felt sure the vicar would be on his best behavior in such public conditions.

Sadly, she’d underestimated his misplaced sense of romance. He’d begun to recite a Shakespearean love sonnet as Kathleen was struggling with an overgrown bush of thyme. Although she’d been able to deflect him by commenting that she loathed poetry, he’d quickly rallied. When he’d tried to seize her hand, she’d been forced to accidentally catch her clippers in the hem of his coat, making quite a dreadful tear. She’d then knocked over a nearby watering can that soaked his shoes. Thankfully, that had effectively quenched his passion and he’d made an apologetic retreat.

Grant’s eyes narrowed even farther to glittering emerald slits. “Something you’d like to share about the vicar, lass?”

“Not at all. Oh, look, Captain Brown is about to make his final shot.”

Grant studied her suspiciously for a few moments before turning his attention to the field. “About bloody time he got to it. Pompous ass.”

“Let’s hope you best him,” Sabrina said.

“At this point, I hardly care. After listening to his land scheme twaddle for half the afternoon, I’m in dire need of a drink.” He cut Sabrina a wry glance. “Lemonade and cakes are fine for the kiddies, but I think I’ve had my fill at least for a month.”

Sabrina laughed. “Not to worry. I see that supper is almost ready, and Graeme asked Magnus to bring his best whisky from the distillery. We want everyone to be happy.”

“The villagers are having a splendid time. You’ve done a bang-up job, both of you.”

“I’ve always said that a good romp can solve many a problem,” Kathleen said.

Grant’s gaze went from warm to downright smoky. “I couldn’t agree more, lass,” he all but purred.

She tried to ignore the sensation of her body going up in flames.

Sabrina jabbed her brother-in-law. “Grant Kendrick! That sounded downright salacious.”

“Really? Sounded perfectly normal to me. What say you, Kathleen? Me, salacious?” He waggled his eyebrows.

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