Page 76 of Tempting the Highland Spy
“You weren’t at rest when I came in.”
Another shrug. “I’m a light sleeper. I heard you at the door.”
“Oh.” She frowned. Somehow, his answer was rather disappointing. In the back of her mind, she’d harbored the ridiculous notion that sleep had eluded him for a more intriguing reason—ravenous desire for her, perhaps. A profound yearning only she could ease.
Good gracious, she’d been reading too many gothic novels. It wasn’t as if he were the lord of some cursed manor. Given the tendency to also find a madwoman running amok in such stories, the notion was not in the least bit appealing.
She thumped the pillow. The resulting ripple jolted her.
And him.
“Good night, Gracie,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Gracie.He’d called her by her given name. Whatdidn’tthe man know about her?
“Why did you call me that?”
He sighed. “Itisyour name, isn’t it?”
“Yes…but usually—everyone calls me Grace. How did you know?”
“It’s not a state secret,Grace.” Rolling onto his side, his back to her, he pounded his own pillow. “Better?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now, I’m going to sleep.”
“Good,” she said. Her lids fluttered shut.
The heat of his body radiated beneath the covers. Relaxing, she stretched out, savoring the comfort. Beneath the shield of soft flannelette, her body touched the naked skin of his back.
He jerked as if she’d prodded him with a hot poker.
Perplexed, she wrinkled her nose. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” His voice was gruff as he shook his head.
She slid a hand beneath her pillow and closed her eyes. Sooner or later, she’d get some sleep. If she had to leave this room and curl up in some empty chamber, she’d do it.
Leisurely as a sleepy cat, she stretched. Once again, her body brushed his.
This time, he didn’t pull away. If anything, he grew unnaturally still, as if he hesitated to move a muscle for fear of setting some calamity into motion.
What in thunder was wrong with the man?
With another thump against his pillow, he sat up. She rolled over to look at him. Faint streaks of moonlight crept around the curtains, illuminating the contours of his shoulders and upper arms.
The mattress shifted when he came to his feet. Grace’s eyes went wide, half expecting to see his naked rear, but the faint traces of light revealed he was not unclothed. He walked almost soundlessly to the quilt rack, took the patchwork coverlet in his hands, and spread it over the rug.
“What are you doing?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.
“I’ve got to get some sleep. That’s never going to happen…in the same bed with you.”
“Have I been restless?” she asked, sleepily rubbing her eyes as she sat up against the headboard.
“No.” The word came quick and blunt. He returned to the bed, reaching for his much-pounded pillow. It seemed a wonder the down feathers had not escaped the ticking and floated around the room.
“You don’t have to do that…there’s no need to sleep on the floor.”
