Page 94 of The Highlander's Temporary Bride
Grant felt himself flush. “What?”
“Nothin’. I’ll just have to thank Emma again for bringin’ out this side of ye. I remember when ye would barely look at me, never mind speak.”
“See, this is why ye get thrown into lochs so often, Dames,” Grant drawled, his breath clouding the cold air.
A fresh coat of snow had fallen overnight, giving the world a soft and lovely look, and the sky overhead was a soft pink, mingling with the brighter blues.
All in all, it would be a lovely cold day.
“Is it?” Damien said, scratching his scruffy chin. No matter what, no matter how much he shaved, he always had a shadow of a beard. “I thought it was me good looks, intimidatin’ all the weak-willed fools who cannae charm a lady.”
“Christ, nae this,” Grant muttered. “Ye better keep it in yer pants and behave around me uptight English in-laws.”
Damien barked out a laugh. “Nay promises, love.”
“Bastard,” Grant said, even though he laughed. “Are ye comin’?”
But Damien didn’t answer.
Grant slowed down, glancing back at his friend, and he started at the cold, furious look in his eye and the tight smile on his face. He grabbed the pommel of his sword as he spun around. “Who?—?”
A tall woman stood there, wearing a fine silver dress, though it was dusty along the hem. A worn bag was slung over her shoulder, but it did not look like anything a highborn lady would wear. Because of this, Grant stared at her instead of bowing andwatched her push silver-framed glasses up her pert nose, behind which big, brilliant hazel eyes inspected him.
“Greetings, do you work here?”
Behind him, Damien choked on a laugh, and Grant felt a surge of amusement, too.
“I—”
“Oh, good,” the woman said in a business-like tone. “I am a guest. But before I’m announced, is it true that Laird Ronson has a big library? I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the Banrose book collection. Would it be possible for me to see it? Emma won’t mind a whit.” She smiled, and there was something sweet there, something that told Grant that she did not care for titles or rules, but perhaps saw the world as it should be. “And once upon a time, I was meant to wed Laird Ronson.”
Grant couldn’t resist. He said in a low, stern voice, “Ach, we meet at last, Lady Helena.” He folded his arms. “Ye are late.”
Helena Lovell paled, her hands going to the straps of her bag, and she took a step back. “You—you… Oh. Oh no, I’m–”
Grant was about to say that it was all right, that he was only teasing her and she was welcome to see the books, when Damien elbowed him in the ribs.
“Enough, Grant,” Damien snapped. “Ye had yer fun. And I shall show ye the damn books… What was it? Lady Helena?” He gave a bow, and the movement seemed bitter. He stepped closer and gazed down at the woman. “Well met, lass. Laird MacCabe. Damien.”
Helena Lovell’s eyes went wide, and she seemed to turn as white as a ghost, staring at him as though she could not believe her eyes. Was she afraid of his eye patch? Or that he was a Highlander?
Or, had they met before somehow? For Grant could’ve sworn Helena seemed to recognize his friend.
And again, Grant grabbed the pommel of his sword as he gave Damien an uneasy look.
What in the hell was going on here? Was he going to have to duel his best friend on his wedding day? For Damien looked ready to murder the English lass.
No, was it…?
“Damien is right—I was uncouth,” Grant said and grabbed his friend’s shoulder. The man’s entire body was as tense and hard as steel. “Forgive me, Lady Helena, I am in a joyous mood and actin’ foolish.” He steered Damien away and bowed. “Welcome to Banrose. Ye are welcome to all our books, always. And I ken Emma has been anxiously waitin’ for ye.”
This seemed to break the spell, and Helena rallied, once again a cool and aloof lady of contrasts. For all that she was tall, elegant, and stylish, she also had her glasses and horrible, ugly bag.
“Oh, Emma said that you like to jest,” she said. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “Yes, I can see how you two are well suited. I am glad that you found each other, truly.” She smiled that sweet smile again, and Grant heard Damien suck in a sharp breath.
“I can show ye inside,” Grant said and offered her his arm, but she shook her head.
“No, I can find my way.” She glanced at Damien again. This time, her cheeks seemed to flush, and she swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
