Page 32 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
Grinning and blasting fetid breath into her face, the man leaned against her, almost pushing her off her seat.
“Ooh, are ye nae a prissy one? I’m giving ye a compliment, lass. Ye should say,thank ye, Sir,and bob me a pretty, wee curtsey. Did yer parents not teach ye manners?”
She bit her lip until she tasted copper, swallowing down her anger.
This would not be the first time Ava had managed a drunken fool, but every time was just as dangerous. This man had the air of one who would get angry and violent if she slighted him or even if he ran out of patience.
“What do ye want from me, Sir?” she asked sharply.
He chuckled, leaning more heavily against her. “Oh, just a wee bit of conversation. Ye look familiar, and I cannae decide where from. Ah, it’ll come to me. I’d like a smile, perhaps. Ye would look much prettier if ye smiled, do ye nae think? Give us a smile, lassie.”
“She smiles when she wants and nae a moment before,” came a sharp, familiar voice.
Relief flooded through Ava as she glanced up at Callum, who was standing expressionless over them.
The drunk blinked, squinting up at him. No doubt he was too stupid and drunk to know who was talking to him and that it would be best for everyone involved if he would just shut up.
“She’s a rude, wee lassie,” he slurred. “I gave her a compliment, and she didnae even say thank ye.”
“She doesnae have to say anything to ye. She is me betrothed, and ye are in me seat.” Callum did not smile, and there was a flicker in his eyes that sent shivers down Ava’s spine.
He was angry.
The drunk sneered, getting unsteadily to his feet. “Ye are a young fool, are ye nae? I could take ye, easy.”
People had begun to notice. A few of the dancers had faltered, whispering and pointing. Tammy hastily disentangled himself from his sleeping wife and hurried over.
Ava avoided their questioning gazes, her cheeks burning.
“Ignore Jim, please, Me Laird,” Tammy said hastily, trying unsuccessfully to pull the drunk away. “He’s had too much, ye see.”
Callum smiled grimly. “Aye, well. The less said about that, the better.”
The drunk wobbled, righting himself at the last minute. He glanced over at Ava, and his eyes widened in recognition.
“Oh, I ken where I have seen ye before,” he gasped, and Ava’s heart plummeted into her stomach.
Nay.Please, nay.
Arthur appeared at Jim’s side, his expression hard. “That isenough, Jim. Tam, pull him away.”
Jim leveled a wobbly finger at her. “Ye are the wench that works atthe Sinner!”
Ava closed her eyes. Not everybody had heard, but enough had heard for news to spread. Tammy’s face was crimson, and Arthur’s expression was set and angry.
“Ye should have kept yer mouth shut,” Callum said softly.
Quick as a flash, he swept Jim’s legs out from underneath him and fisted his hand in the man’s shirt. He drew back his arm, his muscles tensed, poised to smash his fist in the drunk’s face.
Jim squawked, throwing up his hands in a useless bid to protect himself, and the world seemed to slow down.
“Nay!” somebody yelped, and Ava was a little surprised to find that it was her. She grabbed Callum’s wrists, her fingers not long enough to loop around his thick forearm, but she felt his arm relax at her touch.
He glanced at her, his eyebrows raised.
“Nay,” Ava repeated quietly. “Dinnae do this, Callum. He’s just a drunken fool.”
Callum let go of Jim, who collapsed to the ground in a sniffling, pathetic heap.
