Page 29 of Scotch & Dreams

He snorted a laugh and then sighed lightly. “Haven't I told ye all my secrets tonight?”

"Notallof them."

He chuckled. Although inside, he felt too aware of the secret he was keeping. How was it that nothing seemed off-limits with this woman? He rolled over and faced her. She'd washed off the day’s makeup, and her natural beauty took his breath away. Clearing his throat, he answered her, although he still found himself omitting anything about Anna. “I enjoy a wee dram, but considering I run a distillery, I dinnae drink overmuch. And as to the concern of workaholic, I do work a lot. It doesnae seem like work, though—most of the time."

"That's good."

"Aye, but I wouldn't say work is everything. I spend a fair bit of time down at the stables with my horses, and I suppose I see my family often too.”

“Wait! Hold up!" Violet sat bolt upright.

Lachlan wondered what he'd said wrong.

"You havehorses?”

He couldn't mistake the childlike wonder in her voice.

“Aye, down in the stables.” He raised up on one elbow, taking in the look of rapture on her face.

“As in here, or at some faraway stables?” she asked suspiciously.

He laughed. “Here, not fifty yards from the house.”

“Oh my God, and you’re only telling me this now?”

“I wasn’t trying to withhold pertinent information,” he teased.

“Can we go see them?” she pleaded.

And again, he wondered how one could resist her.

“I didn’t realize you had stables right here!”

“Och, aye, it is one of the things I've always loved about this property. It has a stable. I could have my horses near. I can take ye down and give ye the tour in the morning. I think I still huv some left over carrots ye can give them if ye like.”

She sat silently, and he had a feeling they weren't going to sleep just yet.

“Could we go now?” she hedged, throwing him a pleading look that he couldn't fathom resisting.

“Now?”

She was grinning and nodding excitedly. "Please!"

It didn't matter that he didn't want to get back out of bed. She was more convincing than a box full of puppies.

“I thought ye were tired. Dinnae ye think ye should sleep now? It's almost midnight." He didn't know why he was bothering trying to convince her. He was well aware the battle was already lost.

“I can sleep later.”

He wasn't sure the last time he'd seen someone jittery with excitement. “It'll be chilly,” he warned, in a last-ditch effort.

“You know I'm from Canada, right?” She looked at him from under an arched brow.

He was lost. “Ach, all right then.” He chuckled.

She practically flew out of the bed, her excitement boiling over. In her mad haste, Lachlan got a damn fine view of white cotton panties patterned with little cherries, revealing full curved arse cheeks squeezing out the bottoms, and for the first time in his life, he well and truly understood the expression,buns. Those ass cheeks—hot out of the oven, rounded smooth plump looking buns—had him longing to fill his palms with them.

Chapter 18

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