A Highlander's Obsession (Highlander's Beloved) by Vonnie Davis Read Free Book Online Page A

widened—“I’ve never heard it put quite like that.”
    He chuckled, enjoying the ease of talking with her. “Aye, we Scots know the value of a coin.”
    Wrinkles creased Paisley’s forehead and she worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Why would he include Gram in his will? He hadn’t seen her since she was a young girl. Granted, she wrote him once a month, called him her pen pal, but she never expected he’d leave her anything. The lawyer’s phone call came as a complete surprise.”
    Was she being candid? Her demeanor seemed open and honest. Or did he want to believe her so badly he imagined her innocence? “Ol’ Angus only had one remaining niece, yer grandmother, and a great-nephew, Malcolm, whom ye will meet at the funeral.”
    “I remember when Angus’s wife passed away. Gram wrote him once a week for a long time. She said he needed to know life went on after losing someone you loved.” She lifted a shoulder. “I suppose that’s why this trip has me so concerned about Gram. The rush to get ready at the last minute and the long flights were hard on her.” She chewed at the corner of her bottom lip, something he recognized as a nervous habit. “I guess you could say she’s the free spirit, and I’m the worrier.”
    Her hands clasped and unclasped and, to his surprise, his hand covered hers. The silkiness of her skin sparked the urge to touch more of her smoothness.
Protect
, his bear counterpart insisted.
Aye, protect
, his heart responded.
    Heather Mist stood, tearing his attention from the thoughts and feelings raging through his soul.
    Paisley screwed her cup back onto the thermos and stood. “She’s getting ready to finish delivering this one. Then we’ll begin the process again, but it should be shorter and less terrifying for her.” She stepped to the head of the mare and with her hands on both sides of the horse’s head, she stared into its eyes.
    Creighton couldn’t take his gaze off the two of them. It was as if the American poured strength into the animal. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear waves of celestial energy shimmered between them. What was going on here? Was he as tired as all hell and hallucinating? Or so enthralled with the golden-haired lass he was visualizing his own attraction to her?
    An hour later, Creighton carried Paisley into the warmth of the kitchen, using the layer of ice on the ground as an excuse to hold her in his grasp. With her expert help, two healthy foals were born. She’d worked hard on delivering the second, smaller one. Both the scope of the complications and the strength of Paisley’s skills impressed him. Dark circles on her pale face proclaimed exhaustion.
    “I’ll carry ye up to yer suite. Ye look dead on yer tiny American feet.”
    She yawned. “I’ll need a shower.”
    His footsteps faltered and he stared at the verra tempting female in his arms.
    A blush spread across her cheeks and she looked at the ceiling, the floor, her hands … everywhere but at him.
    Her hand fluttered to her hair in a nervous gesture. “I … I didn’t mean …”
    “Oh?” Lord, she was an appealing woman when she was flustered. He fought a smile. “That’s a service we dinna provide here at Matheson Lodge.” He climbed the stairway. His thoughts snagged on the image of her in the shower. Truth be told, he would love to step under a hot spray of water with her, run his hands and soap over her smooth skin until he’d lathered every inch of her body and then, God help him, he’d gladly lick off every tiny bubble.
Christ, can a man climb the stairs with a feckin’ hard-on?
    At Paisley’s door, he set her down and asked for her keycard. Once he’d opened the suite door, he ran his fingertips down her silky cheek. “Good night, lassie,” he whispered, not wanting to waken his family or their guests. “Sleep well. ’Tis a good thing ye’ve done tonight. We willnaforget yer kindness nor yer impressive skills with animals.”
    Her palms rested