Page 55 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
Like kiss the girl.
“Lady Ainsley is rather bossy, isn’t she?” Charlie said, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
“I heard that,” Ainsley said.
“Ears like a bat, too,” Kade replied.
“Angus, your grandson just said I look like a bat,” Ainsley said, not missing a beat.
Kade twirled Charlie through a turn. “Yes, Ainsley, but a very stylish bat.”
Charlie’s kilt briefly wrapped around his legs as her body brushed against his. And what a delightful sensation that provoked, although the location of that provocation could prove to be massively inconvenient. Thank God he wasn’t the one wearing a kilt.
Angus, who’d been filling his pipe, snorted. “She’s aSassenachsaucebox, is what she is, and she does have ears like a bat.”
When Charlie laughed again, Kade felt the warmth curl through him. She was now pliant in his arms, her awkwardness seemingly forgotten. They moved as one, as if they’d been dancing partners for years.
“Sassenachsaucebox,” she said. “That’s quite a nickname.”
“Angus only dares to call me that because he knows he’s too old for me to box his ears,” Ainsley replied.
“Ye’d never be able to catch me, lassie.”
“No, but Royal would. I’d send him after you.”
“Och, he kens I’d give him a right paddle on the bum if he tried.”
“You two are going to give Charlie all the wrong ideas about our family,” Kade said.
Charlie smiled up at him. “No, I like your family. They’re fun.”
“They’re certainly different,” he wryly replied.
“It must be lovely to have a family that doesn’t make you try to be something you’re not,” she said in a wistful tone.
And wasn’t that a kick to the gut? Charlie had a rare and beautiful spirit, but both her family and society would see that as hindrance rather than help, especially as she grew older. The world would send storms her way and she would face them with courage, but he hated to think she might have to face them alone.
“Mr. Kendrick, is something wrong?” she asked.
That brought him back to the lithe, lovely girl in his arms. “Not at all. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re frowning, and I haven’t even stepped on your toes.”
“Oh, ah, something just occurred to me about my concerto. I was trying to figure it out in my head.”
Then he mentally winced, knowing he’d sounded like a dunce.
Fortunately, the waltz was coming to an end. As Ainsley finished with a flourish, Kade twirled Charlie through the final turn and brought her to a halt by the piano.
“Very well done,” Ainsley said. “Wasn’t that lovely, Grandda?”
“Aye, by the perfect pair. Like they’re made for each other, I ken.”
Charlie made a funny little grimace. “Thank you, but I think that should be enough of dancing for the day. I’m keeping Mr. Kendrick from his work.”
“Nonsense,” Ainsley said. “Kade is happy to help.”
He nodded. “Of course I am, and I’d be pleased to give it another go.”
