Love Then Begins by Gail McEwen, Tina Moncton Read Free Book Online Page A

are cold,” she shrieked as the chill air of the room hit her and he let his cold hands travel over her body.
    “I know I’m cold,” he laughed, “and it’s only fair that you should be too.” The laughter stopped and he buried his lips deep into her neck and bare, chilly shoulder. “But I am not as cold as I once was. Before you. I was so very cold for so long, but from now on I shall be only warm, hot and boiling thanks to you, love.”
    She let her own hand languidly brush through his hair, her laugh was low and sensuous. “You need have no fear on that score. I shall certainly make sure you will suffer under all such afflictions, as long as you remember to share all that warmth and heat with me.”
    That laugh, that tone of voice egged him on and he kissed her ear, her temple, her throat, her breast. Her breathing slowed down, deepened and sounds of pleasure and surrender escaped those inviting lips once more. She shivered from his touch—not from the cold anymore, but from the heat—and he gasped as she boldly let her own fingers explore his body, touching, stroking him outside his clothing.
    “Oh, love,” she whispered, sending a shiver of desire down his back, “stay with me, just a while longer. Surely the ditches can wait a little, can’t they?”
    “Yes,” he whispered back as she began to tug at his clothing. He drew back to give her more room to work when a very quiet scratch came from the middle door. “Damn!” he said, dropping his head onto her chest in disappointment. “Riemann!”
    “He’ll wait,” Holly asked pleadingly, “won’t he?”
    “Yes, but . . . ” Baugham sighed, “Mr McLaughlin will be downstairs even now. He has been wanting to consult with me for days about those ditches . . . ” He gave one last regretful look at the warm, inviting woman lying beside him, lips parted and eyes dark with desire. “Damn!” he repeated before dragging himself away. “One hour? And then I promise, no more business for the rest of the day. For the rest of our stay.”
    Holly nodded, though her mouth twisted in disappointment. He smiled ruefully and walked back through the door. “Damn!” she heard him mutter once more.
    Knowing she would be unable to fall back to sleep, Holly slid out of bed with a sigh and got dressed. If this was a day for attending to business at the expense of selfish pleasure, she would not only take the time to pen an answer to Elizabeth but also to address Dr McKenna’s note
    “Something to keep me busy while I wait,” she told herself determinedly and took them with her on the way out.
    Once again retreating to the library, she sat at the desk and drew the letters out in what she thought was a very impressive and businesslike manner. She arranged herself, read through Elizabeth’s letter once again, then put it aside, turning to the letter to her husband from Dr McKenna. She glanced around quickly, then opened the single, folded sheet.
    Caledonian Thistle Inn
23 December, 1812
    Lord Baugham,
    Forgive my imposing upon you at such a time, but as it has been some while since we spoke and I have heard no word from either you or Lady Baugham, I feel I have no other recourse but to demand a moment of your time. In absence of any word from you to the contrary, I can only assume that Lady Baugham does indeed have no interest in continuing with our project.
    My terms with Mr Robertson at the inn extend only to the end of this month; at that time I will return to Edinburgh. If you will be so kind as to give me some direction, I should like to render payment for the work that has been done to date—although I believe it would be best to return her ladyship’s drawings and sketches and start anew when I engage another illustrator.
    I await your response.
P. McKenna
    Holly sighed, staring at the page thoughtfully while the frown on her face deepened and she pulled ever more viciously at her ear lobe. The end of this month? She quickly counted on her fingers,