Page 72 of Never Tempt a Scot
“Oh?” Jackson came over, and she had to force herself to stare at the page, in order to not stare at Jackson’s chest. The man looked fit enough to rival any of her sons in any sort of physical competition. It was enough to make a woman reach for the nearest bottle of smelling salts.
“He said that Mr. Lennox, Mr. Kincade, and their female guest spent last night at the townhouse but left before dawn. They have no plans to return to Edinburgh and are bound for the Isle of Skye to the enclosed address.”
“The Isle of Skye?” Jackson groaned. “What the devil takes them all the way up there?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea, but it is a rather pretty place. I went there once with my husband.”
“I’ve never been,” Jackson admitted. “I spent my younger years building a life and trade. It didn’t lend much to traveling. At least, not to places that were pretty.”
Jane folded the letter and finally looked his way again. There were faint lines around his eyes as he offered her a smile. Her heart gave a traitorous leap within her chest.
“So, we are bound for Skye?”
“It seems so.” Jackson’s deep chuckle melted through her.
“Well then, I should leave you to dress and ...”
Lord, she was staring at his chest again, wasn’t she? Since when had she become a blushing bride on her wedding night? A bare chest should not affect her so.
“You can touch me, Jane. I am not made of stone,” Jackson teased.
“You could have fooled me—you look as hard as marble.” She frowned. “How are you so sun-kissed?”
He laughed again. “By working in the gardens. I work alongside my gardener. He’s an older fellow who I won’t ever terminate, and he needs help with lifting and digging and so forth. I could hire one of the young lads to do it, but it feels good to stay active.”
Jackson caught her wrist and placed her palm on his chest. His skin was smooth, except for the light-gold matting of hair on his chest, and he was wonderfully warm.
“Heavens ...” Jane didn’t seem to have any other word for what she felt. It was like heaven to remember how good it felt to be young and full of life’s hungers. Tears suddenly welled in her eyes.
“Did I do something wrong?” He cupped her chin and lifted her face up when she tried to hide.
“No. It’s silly.” They stared at each other for a long, tense moment.
“Am I a fool to want something more with you?” Jackson asked. “Have we passed that point in our lives for second chances?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “But I admit, you make me feel young again. And I feel guilty in so many ways, especially for wanting ...” She dared not finish her thought.
“For wanting love again?”
“It seems foolish to think it’s possible,” Jane said. “Youth is full of impulse and desire, and as one matures one replaces those feelings with more practical needs ...”
“Until one sees those youthful feelings as misguided rather than important,” Jackson finished.
“Yes, exactly. My life has been focused on duty, honor, and propriety for so long now. Even though I care little for the opinions of others, I have structured my life around the needs of my children and the stability of my family. I haven’t thought about what I wanted in a long time.”
“Nor have I. Perhaps it’s time we started?” Jackson brushed his fingers down her neck in the most wonderful way, sending shivers of delight through her.
“Perhaps it is.” Jane stared at his full lips. It made her rather giddy to imagine them exploring hers. He continued to stroke her neck, which mesmerized her and had her nodding before she could stop and think better of it. Jackson took control and pulled her into his arms.
Jane, a force of nature who had made even dukes tremble, melted in this man’s arms as he kissed her. She had forgotten how she loved to be kissed, to be the sole focus of a man’s passion.
“Good Lord,” Jackson groaned as he buried his face in her neck.
“Yes?” she teased as her hands roamed over his chest and back.
He returned his mouth to hers, stealing little nibbling kisses. “I could kiss you for days.” He parted her dressing gown to explore her curves. She was shy about her body, which was no longer as young and firm as it once had been.
“Would you let me look at you, my darling?” Jackson asked.
