Return to Clan Sinclair by Karen Ranney Read Free Book Online

that,” he said.
    Her eyes widened at his profanity.
    â€œI apologize, but I can’t imagine a worse fate. What are you, in your twenties? You’ve got a long life ahead of you. Are you supposed to be dead because your husband died?”
    â€œI’m a little older,” she said, “but I thank you for the compliment, Mr. Preston.”
    â€œBruce,” he said. “My name is Bruce. You must call me that, otherwise I can’t call you Ceana. It would be an inconvenience for me to have to translate your name to Mrs. Mead before I speak.”
    â€œYou are the most surprising man,” she said.
    â€œWhy? Because I say what I think?”
    â€œIs that entirely wise, saying what you think?”
    â€œDecidedly not,” he said, staring at her mouth. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t tell you I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I saw you, widow or not.”
    Her fingers pressed against her mouth as if to banish any improvident comment or hide her lips from him. The first she might be able to do, but never the second. He would kiss her ear, then maybe behind it, down her neck and up again. He’d make her gasp and lose control of herself and then he’d have that lush mouth of hers.
    A week, that’s how long it had been since he lost his reason. From the very first moment he saw Ceana Sinclair Mead.
    S he had to leave.
    He was making her think things she had no business thinking. Very well, perhaps he wasn’t actually making her think those things, but he shouldn’t say things like that to her. He shouldn’t make her pulse race in such a manner.
    His eyes were so attractive, reminding her of a tumbler of the best Scottish whiskey with light shooting through it.
    His chin was square, his throat strong, his shoulders almost too large for the white shirt he wore. She had absolutely no intention of allowing her eyes to stray below his waist in memory of what he looked like naked.
    She was not a woman to engage in fantasies, and he was very much a fantasy.
    â€œWhat must Virginia not know?” she asked, gratified to see his face change. The teasing grin was instantly gone and in its place were thinned lips and a flat stare.
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
    â€œNonsense, of course you do. You and Macrath were discussing something in his library. He didn’t want to tell Virginia something and you were all set for letting her know. What was it?”
    â€œYou misheard, I’m afraid.”
    She sat back against the gazebo bench and folded her arms, giving him a parental stare, one capable of freezing her daughters in place.
    â€œYou’re lying. I’m very good at ferreting out liars, and you’re lying.”
    â€œYou’re mistaken.”
    â€œVery well, then I’ll just go to Virginia and tell her what I overheard. She’ll get it out of Macrath sooner or later.”
    He actually had the effrontery to grin at her.
    He had been so much more receptive to her tears. What a pity she wasn’t the type to weep on command.
    â€œYou really must tell me,” she said.
    â€œI must?”
    She nodded. “It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”
    â€œI regret I will have to be ungentlemanly, then.”
    â€œShe’s my dear friend and my sister-­in-­law. If she’s in danger, I should know.”
    â€œYou don’t trust Macrath to protect her?”
    She sighed. “Of course I do.”
    â€œThen leave it, Ceana.”
    â€œHow can I?”
    He looked away, staring through the trees.
    â€œWhat do you know about Paul Henderson?” he finally asked.
    She shook her head. “I’ve never heard the name.”
    â€œHe was employed by her first husband in London. As a caregiver.”
    She nodded. “I remember. Lawrence was an invalid.”
    â€œFrom what I understand, Henderson developed an attraction to Virginia. He kidnapped her.”
    She