Page 89 of Scotch on the Rocks

“Cal?” His voice came from the kitchen.

“If given the right motivation.”This woman. No matter how messy the situation, those words sent a thrill straight to my cock. My hand hit the wall, lips crashing to hers, tasting her like it might be the last time. She met me with near startling urgency. Tongue delved between my lips, caressing, until my hands tangled beneath her shirt.

No more than a second could have passed when she urged me away. “You have to go.”

“Aye.” I kissed her again.

She laughed into my mouth. “Go.”

“Stay here.” Tucking my raging erection against my fly, I kissed her forehead one last time then slapped her arse, urging her toward my bed. “Go roll around in my sheets, I want them to smell like you.”

25

Juniper

Surprise. I didn’t wait there.

Back pressed to the wall beside a series of black and white prints of Skye’s moody landscape that I’d very much like to hang in my own home, I listened to the brothers move about the kitchen.

“Sorry.” Callum sounded out of breath. “I was … just about to climb in the shower when I heard you.” I cringed at his words. How it would pain him to lie to his brother.

“Why are you all wet?” Alistair’s familiar clip cut straight to the point.

“I went for a hike this morning. Got caught in the downpour.” Cups clacked and I knew Callum was tidying away the evidence of my visit.

“I thought you were going to Portree,” Alistair said and I could picture the little “problem-solving” indent he always got between his brows.

“I did. And then I went for a hike. What are you doing here?”

“I dropped by to see Juniper.” My heart stalled, one beatstretching into another. As did the silence from the next room.

“Oh?” Callum reached for casual and failed. “She wasn’t in?”Bloody hell.Hadn’t I accused him of being a very skilled liar only days ago? I might as well have opened the door and announced myself.

“Ada said she’d be back this afternoon.”Damn Ada. I need to have a word with her about handing out that kind of information.

“I thought you were giving her time.” Tension oozed in Callum’s words. He almost sounded jealous.

“I did.”

I couldn’t contain my snort.One bloody day.

“One day hardly signifies.” My thoughts and Callum’s biting words went hand in hand. “You wait for her to come to you. I mean it, Alistair. She’s earned that right.” Trying to picture the menacing look on Callum’s face, I let my eyes flutter shut, fingers flying to my racing heart.Calm down, heart, I warned the cold, shrivelled organ threatening to take flight beneath my ribs.Don’t be hasty.

The only bright spots in my day were you.The memory of those words only made my heart beat more furiously, like a warm fist had wrapped around it, melting it’s icy shell.

My back slid down the wall.

Juniper Ross does not beg for anyone’s love.But I might. One more hour in his sunshine presence and I might just beg for his.

Tucking my knees to my chest, the words, Danger! Danger!, flashed like sirens behind my lids.

Loving Alistair had been easy. And still it had broken me. I’dallowedit to break me.

I’d turned him into a monster in my head. An ogre to blame all my unhappiness upon. I still wasn’t ready toforgive him, but I was clear-sighted enough to see that the blame didn’t lieentirelyat his door.

This thing with Callum wasn’t love … not yet. It was worse – it was hope.

Shit.

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