Some Like it Scottish by Patience Griffin Read Free Book Online Page B

turned away and busied himself with the luggage.
    They walked to the dock in silence. When they got to the dinghy, he pulled the dry life vest off his seat and handed it to her. He wouldn’t ask why she feared the water. Or poke fun at it, either. Fear of the water was wise. A healthy respect for the sea was a good thing.
    Kit looked surprised at his gesture. “Thanks.” She didn’t say any more but put the vest on. She motioned to the packed boat. “What’s all this?”
    â€œSupplies,” he said. “In the Highlands, you have to be prepared for anything.” He’d added a sleeping bag, extra blankets, and food. “Maggie fixed some sandwiches for the road, in case we get hungry.”
    â€œThat was nice of her. I’ll have to thank her when I get back.”
    â€œYou do that.” Ramsay couldn’t tell Kit the crap Maggie had spewed at him while she’d piled food in the ice chest.
The matchmaker is ruining everything for Sinnie and Rowena. They’ll never get a husband with her around.
The truth was that Sinnie and Rowena probably needed to quit listening to Maggie and start leading their own lives. He loved Maggie because he had to, but damn, she was a pitbull, thinking every unattached person in town had to be married. But he was happy as a clam with his freedom. And he suspected if left alone, Sinnie and Rowena would be, too. Sinnie was quiet, but Rowena had a mouth on her. Maybe Kit should take them back to the States with her when she left and find them husbands there so Maggie would shut the hell up and quit talkinghim to death about it. He was pretty sure Maggie was still holding out hope that he’d take one of her sisters off her hands. Hell would freeze over first.
    Kit went to step into the boat herself. He reached out and grabbed her hand, steadying her. Her eyes widened, looking like two full moons on her pretty face.
    â€œDon’t look so surprised, Ms. Woodhouse,” he said. “Fishing you out of the water is more work than I’m willing to do today.”
    Her cheeks turned pink. “Well, thank goodness for your lazy tendency.”
    â€œHere.” He took one of her hands and placed it on the gunwale. “Grab the seat with yere other hand for a smoother ride.” He glanced out to the ocean; it was choppy. He wasn’t going to worry like an old woman, but he knew this short trip would be rough on the matchmaker. “Hang on, okay?”
    She nodded.
    He stowed the rest of her luggage and climbed into the boat, too. She stared out at the sea and then back to him with a leery expression, her eyes almost pleading with him to not make her go. Her white knuckles gripping the boat backed up his suspicions. For her sake, maybe they should’ve waited until the ocean was less angry.
    He shot her a wink, following it up with a calming smile. “Try to enjoy yereself.”
    She guffawed as he started the motor and pulled away from the dock.
    She kept her eyes glued on him. He couldn’t help himself—he gave her a soft smile to let her know all would be okay. Infinitesimally, she relaxed—not completely, but at least he didn’t worry that she would have a nervousbreakdown before they reached the SUV. Her gaze didn’t leave him the whole time, which, surprisingly, was fine with him.
    It didn’t take long to get to the tie-off post and the SUV. He jumped out and secured the boat. Even though she had her wellies on, he snatched her out and held her in his arms.
    She latched her arms around his neck as if he were her anchor. But her words said otherwise. “What are you doing?” She wiggled her boots. “I bought wellies.”
    â€œIt’s rocky here. I would hate for you to lose your footing and get yere pretty dress wet.” Aye, he was acting the sappy fool, but he blamed it on how good she smelled. “I’ll let you down on the mud so you can get your boots all dirty. Would