Page 38 of Saved By the Highland Beast
“He just seemed like a John to me,” she replied as she looked back down and continued to wash the little creature.
“Did ye check first?”
“With the dog?” she asked in confusion. “I’m not in the habit of asking animals what they would like to be named,” she said and frowned at him. “Is that a Scottish custom?”
Dean rolled his eyes before glaring at her. “Look at the dog’s stomach, for pity’s sake!”
“Why, what is the matter with his… Oh!” she exclaimed after a brief examination. “It seems that I should have checked first. Our little John is, in fact, not a John at all. Do you think we should change her name now?”
“Aye, I think that would be the right thing to do.”
“What do you think we should name her? Jane, perhaps? It’s not too far from John.”
Dean looked at the dog before glancing at the mess that lay around the tub. “I think we should choose a name that suits her feisty character. Something more Scottish.” He thought for a second before coming up with an idea. “What about Nessie?” he finally suggested.
“Like the Loch Ness monster?” Sophia asked cheerfully. “That’s absolutely perfect! I love that name. It suits her spirited nature.”
“Nessie it is, then.” Dean laughed and held the dog above the water as Sophia fetched the towel.
“There you go, little Nessie,” she cooed as she took the dog from his hands and swaddled her in a towel. “You’re nice and clean now. I’ve prepared a comfy bed for you here in front of the fire where you can dry off.” She knelt beside the pillow and blanket as she laid the dog down like a baby.
Dean watched as Sophia rubbed the dog with the towel until she was no longer fussing.
Nessie settled down and began to lick her legs and paws as Sophia straightened and walked back over to him with a smile. “I think that will about do it,” she said and placed her hands on her hips. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
“Aye, she looks mighty comfortable in front of the fire. I didnae ken she was white. I thought she was grey,” he said honestly.
“Me too.” Sophia laughed. “Well, I guess we better get cleaned up and go to bed. I suspect you will want to have a bath now.”
He looked down to see that his clothes had been soaked from head to toe. “Ah, I think it’s a bit late for me to be askin’ the servants to heat more water,” he said, glancing at her bath. “I’ll just have to share yers.”
“Mine?” Sophia took a step back and clutched at her chest. “I can’t share a bath with you.”
“I cannae walk back to me room drenched in water like this lass,” he argued.
“Well, sharing a bath is completely out of the question.” Sophia’s face was beet red.
“I didnae mean it like that, lass. But if ye wanted to…” he teased.
“Stuff and nonsense,” she quickly fired back.
Dean let out a laugh. “The tub is big enough for both of us, lass, an’ the water is deep an’ soapy. I promise I will nae lay a hand on ye.” He paused to consider. “Unless ye ask me to.”
“Ugh!” She stomped her foot in the manner that he’d come to cherish. “One of these days, your teasing is going to get you into trouble!”
He laughed again. “We are both adults, lass, I cannae walk in the halls with me clothes all wet.”
Sophia seemed to consider his words as she wrapped her arms around her chest in a defensive manner as if she were already naked. “I don’t want you to catch a cold,” she said uncertainly.
“Well then…” He lifted his hands to gesture that there was no other option available to them at present.
“Fine,” she said with a heavy sigh. “You promise you won’t look?”
“I swear.” He held his right hand up as if he were taking an oath.
“Turn around and undress. I’ll do the same. Get in the water, and then I will,” she said and then quickly raised her finger to his face. “But don’t look!” she said sternly.
“Aye, aye.” He turned his back and began to undress as she did the same. “Ye ken that ye dinnae have anythin’ that I haven’t seen ‘afore,” he said with a smirk as he lowered his breeches to the floor.
