Page 29 of The Highlander's Holiday Wife

“You’re talking about a position on your foundation’s board?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Well, I am flattered by John’s confidence in me, but I’m afraid I’m not much for administrative positions. Or board meetings.”

She frowned. “Why not?”

“They’re boring, for one thing.”

“That is a rather unreasonable assumption to make, since you’ve never been to one of ours.”

When his expressive eyebrows ticked up, she mentally grimaced. She was acting like a dimwit. Then again, he was blunt to the point of rudeness.

John came to her rescue. “There’s nothing boring about those meetings, old man, though I wish there was.”

Kendrick sat on the edge of the table and crossed his arms. For such a lanky man, he had quite a broad chest. Of course, that was entirely beside the point.

“John, I already told you how I felt about this. There was no need to drag her ladyship down here for nothing.”

“He didn’t drag me,” Samantha countered. “I was quite eager to come and speak with you.Quiteeager.”

It was a miracle that John didn’t burst into laughter on the spot. Fortunately, he had excellent self-control, although his eyes gleamed with unholy amusement.

“I’m honored, ma’am,” Kendrick said. “But I think that John has given you the wrong impression about me. My talents hardly lie in administrative work.”

She pointedly looked around the neatly ordered clinic. “Such would not seem to be the case.”

“I have Mrs. Culp to thank for organizing this place.”

“Bollocks,” John said. “This place runs like a top because ofyou.”

Kendrick held up a hand. “John, I—”

“Braden, I wouldn’t be asking if we didn’t truly need you,” John cut in. “Nor would Lady Samantha. In fact, she initially tried to talk me out of it.”

“Not really,” Samantha hastily said.

“Yes, really,” John replied. “It took a great deal of work on my part to convince her, Braden. So I would prefer not to expend energy having to convince you, too.”

Kendrick studied her for a moment. “May I ask why you initially didn’t want me on your board, Lady Samantha?”

She blushed again, which wasveryannoying. “Er . . .”

“Because she knows how busy you are,” John said. “She worried you wouldn’t be able to devote the necessary time to us.”

“She’s right,” Kendrick replied.

“Actually, no. It’s only a few hours a month, along with the occasional social function.”

“Still—”

“Braden,” John impatiently interrupted. “We’re rather hanging on by a thread at the foundation, and we need your support.”

Kendrick’s attention flicked back to Samantha.

She took a deep mental breath and faced facts. John was right. They desperately needed someone like Kendrick on the board, despite the risk that he might recognize her as the woman who’d rescued him.

At the moment, the foundation and its work had to take priority over that concern.

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