Embrace the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney Read Free Book Online Page A

already raised it to his mouth. How easily they were slipping into old routines. Her gaze raked over him, mussed hair to booted feet, and every inch in between. These weren’t old times, the tree house proved that. Things were moving too fast. Going from hating him to… to what? Whatever it was, it scared the heck out of her. She felt her control slipping, felt the urge to sit back and let him take over. Shay had been taking care of herself far too long to let anyone take over.
    “Let me check your ankle.” Cody lifted the covers and took her foot in his hand. He unwrapped the elastic bandage, his touch sending tingles through her leg. She’d had more tingles in her body the last twelve hours than she had in the last twelve months.
    “Swelling is mostly down. You still need to take it easy for a day or so,” he said.
    “I have to get groceries and some clothes. I’ll rest after that.”
    “Maybe you can find some clothes in the attic. Nina never throws anything away. You look about the same size you were before.” He looked her over, his gaze slowing at her breasts.
    “I think I took everything with me, but I’ll check. It’s hard to tell where my luggage will end up.” Shay moved the tray and slid out of bed.
    “You shouldn’t be climbing those stairs. Your ankle will never heal.”
    “It’s fine. Thank you for the French toast and for washing my clothes and loaning me your T-shirt and… stuff. I’ll wash them and give them back.”
    “Maybe I’d rather you didn’t,” Cody said, brushing against her. “I like how you smell.” His voice was low, laced with something so hot it sent a jolt through her nether regions.
    She took a step back. “What are you doing?”
    “Damn it, I don’t know. I’ll be downstairs.” He picked up the tray and left without looking at her.
    She had to get out of here. Maybe she could go to Leesburg and wait for Renee. A couple of days with her might take the edge off whatever this thing was with Cody. It was ridiculous. He was gorgeous, but she had been around plenty of gorgeous men. They never affected her this way.
    After Shay made the bed, she called Mr. Ellis and left a message, giving him the bad news about his table, and then she called Lucy to see if everything was okay with the house. Lucy Bell was ninety, the closest thing Shay had to family in Scotland. The old woman had lost her husband a few years before. She and Shay looked out for each other. Shay had just gotten to the attic, when Cody appeared.
    “Thought I’d find you up here,” he muttered. “You don’t listen very well.”
    “Then stop giving orders.” She dug through a stack of boxes. “I don’t think I’ll find anything. Oh, remember this?” She pulled out her Tinker Bell costume. Nina had made it for her in first grade.
    “I remember. You drove me crazy trying to get me to help you practice for the play.”
    “I don’t know what you had against Peter Pan,” Shay said, putting the outfit back.
    “He wore tights.”
    “So did Robin Hood. I don’t hear you complaining about him.”
    “His bow made up for the girly clothes. You used to be good with a bow.”
    “I haven’t shot one in years,” Shay said. “I probably couldn’t hit the barn.” Underneath the Tinker Bell outfit was Shay’s graduation gown. She brushed her finger over the red material. That was the worst year of her life.
    “I have a friend who could help, but I’m afraid he’d give you more than just tips.” Cody helped her check the rest of the attic, but there weren’t any clothes.
    Her cell phone rang. It was the airline informing her that her luggage had been delivered.
    She hung up. “I guess I’m going to Leesburg. The airline delivered my luggage there.”
    “Leesburg?”
    “I thought that’s where I would be staying.”
    “Can’t you buy new stuff? I thought women looked for any excuse to shop.”
    “I have plenty of clothes in my suitcase. No need to waste money.”
    “I’d rather you