Highland Heat by Jennifer Haymore Read Free Book Online Page B

could see the condition of the bridge was dire. The thing was in imminent danger of collapsing, crushing us all and sending whoever was on the bridge at the moment to their deaths.”
    Grace appeared riveted. “What happened?”
    “As soon as we heard the sound of the hooves above us, we froze. All of us, that is, but the major. He rushed out o’ there like his arse was afire.”
    Her eyes widened, and Duncan cursed himself—this time calling himself an ass in his head. He usually knew better than to swear in the presence of lasses, but he felt so damn comfortable in her presence. “Sorry, milady. I…” There was no way to explain it. Not out loud, at least.
    She waved her hand. “It is nothing. Tell me what happened after the major left.”
    “As he left, he called to us to get the hell out—” Good God, he’d done it again. “Er…to leave immediately, and we ran, knowing our verra lives depended on gettin’ out from under that bridge. Meanwhile, he sprinted up onto the bridge, grabbed the unsuspectin’ Wellington, and threw him off just as the bridge collapsed.”
    Grace whistled out a breath. “Was anyone killed?”
    “Nay. Wellington’s horse died. Two of his men were injured, one lost his leg. But Major Campbell saved us all.”
    “He is a true hero, then,” Grace said. “It is hard to see that when…” She hesitated, then said in a lower voice, “When he is not so heroic at home.”
    Duncan frowned, unable to imagine the major being anything but noble and honorable. “Mayhap you misunderstand him, milady.”
    She gave him a sad smile. “Perhaps.”
    He reached up, his hand working ahead of his logic, to caress her cheek. She seemed to lean into his touch. But then reality jolted him, and he drew back quickly.
    “Sorry.” His voice was gruff. He looked around, seeing if anyone had noticed. It appeared everyone was more interested in their own business, thank God.
    “No,
I’m
sorry,” she murmured.
    He raised his brows. “About what?”
    She sighed. “About…Oh, I don’t know. About the fact that we can’t be ourselves here, or anywhere else, for that matter. It’s frustrating.”
    “Aye, it is. But it is the way of things, no?”
    She laughed shakily. “I have never had a single problem maintaining propriety before today. You do odd things to me, Sergeant Mackenzie.”
    His lips curled. “I’m glad.”
    “Oh?”
    He loved being the first one to make her feel this shaky, excited sensation of a brand-new attraction. “It’s good to be venturing beyond your comfortable circle of propriety once in a while, isn’t it?”
    “Is it? I can’t be so sure. It has always been rather comfortable in my circle. And I have this dreadful feeling that once I step out of it, I’ll never be welcomed back in.”
    That sobered him. What she said was true—if they were caught doing anything untoward. He needed to be vigilant.
    There was a long silence, and both of them watched as a carriage rattled by, its lights cutting through the darkness on the street, followed closely by two men on horseback, both carrying lanterns.
    “It’s getting late,” she murmured.
    “Aye.”
    He expected her to take her leave then, but she didn’t. She just gazed up at the sky in silence. Eventually she said quietly, “I returned to the field this afternoon.”
    His brows rose. “Did you?”
    “I couldn’t stay away. It seemed so silly to be sitting in this house when there were clearly so many things to be done, so many ways to help. So I went back to the field, then I helped at the hospital tonight.”
    Warmth spread through him, but it didn’t surprise him that she’d gone back. He already knew that she was a thoughtful, caring woman. Nonetheless, a fierce protectiveness seized him. Her safety wasn’t guaranteed here by any means. He worried for her among all these men, most of whom, himself included, hadn’t experienced the pleasure a woman could offer in months—even years. Unfortunately, too many