Page 65 of The Highlander's Holiday Wife

“I was about to give up on ye, truth be told,” Emmy replied as she poured out two neat whiskies.

“I apologize. I was unavoidably detained.”

“Aye, Kendricks do tend to complicate things. Yer the doctor one?”

“I am.” Braden extended his hand and received a brisk shake in return. “How did you know I’m a Kendrick?”

“Yer not much like the twins, but ye have the look of the other one—that Royal.” She winked at Braden. “Now he’s a good-looking fella and he’s got such lovely manners. Best of the bunch, I reckon.”

When a grumble that sounded more like a growl came from behind Joe’s book, Braden bit back a smile.

“Dr. Kendrick is very kind,” Samantha said. “And I’m sure he’s just as nice as his brother.”

“If not as handsome,” Braden joked.

“You’re perfectly handsome.” Then Samantha winced. “Er, what I mean, is—”

“We ken what ye mean,” Emmy said with a grin.

“The doctor offered to escort me here tonight,” Samantha said in a firm tone. “To play bodyguard, as it were. That is all.”

Still, the lass had fired up with a rosy glow that had a remarkable effect on Braden’s mood. For the first time all night, he was beginning to enjoy himself.

“Just a bodyguard?” he said. “You wound me, Lady Samantha.”

“I ken the feeling,” muttered Joe.

Samantha gave Braden a frosty glare. “Are you quite finished?”

He adopted a frown. “Hmm. I’ll have to think about that.”

Emmy let out a snort. “Aye, Kendricks are trouble. But as long as ye don’t break any furniture, ye can stay.”

“Destruction of furniture is not my particular specialty.”

He picked up his glass and took a cautious sip. Watering holes in Old Town rarely served the good stuff.

Yet apparently this one did. “This tastes like the last batch of whisky from Lochnagar, my brother’s distillery.”

“Aye. Sir Graeme keeps me well supplied.” Emmy smirked. “To make up for breakin’ the furniture, ye ken.”

Braden toasted her with his glass. “As well he should.”

“Whydoyour brothers keep breaking furniture?” Samantha asked.

“It seems to be an inborn tendency. I’m a scientist, Kade is a musician, and the twins break furniture.”

When the small casement clock behind the bar chimed out the hour, they all glanced at each other.

“I suppose we should get on with it,” Braden said.

Samantha rounded her eyes at him. “Yes, I’m sure it’s well past your bedtime, Dr. Kendrick.”

Cheeky lass. She’d obviously been waiting for the proper moment to exact her revenge for his teasing.

He followed Emmy and Samantha to an alcove in the back of the room. Emmy sat across from them, while Braden and Samantha shared a narrow bench. When Samantha brushed against him, he caught a hint of orange blossom drifting up from her glossy dark curls. The candlelight played over her delicate features, her smooth skin looking as soft as velvet.

Braden curled his hand into a fist to resist the almost overwhelming urge to stroke her cheek.

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