Page 88 of The Highlander's Kilted Bride
After they made their way to the front of the boat, Johnny helped Ainsley onto the beach, while Sir Leslie bowed and extended a hand to Charlie.
“Miss Charlotte, may I be of assistance?” he said with a smile that held a bit of a leer.
“No need to fuss,” Johnny said over his shoulder. “Charlie can manage.”
Sir Leslie darted him an irritated look. “A gentleman always offers to help whenever he can.” Then he reached for Charlie again. “My dear?”
Charlie saw Kade stalking over from the other boat, which had landed right next to theirs. He brushed past Sir Leslie and extended his hand to her.
“Allow me, Miss Charlotte,” he said in a voice that brooked no opposition.
When Sir Leslie glared at him, Kade narrowed his gaze into a lethal stare, as if daring the other man to challenge him. Charlie mentally rolled her eyes but took Kade’s hand nonetheless.
“Thank you, sir. God knows I would hate to get even a drop of water on my boots.”
Kade took in her sturdy riding boots and then winked at her.
Charlie bit back a smile. He knew perfectly well she didn’t need help, but it was also clear he was determined to cut Sir Leslie out. That was both amusing . . . and flattering.
It was also effective, since the baronet promptly stalked off to join Ainsley and Johnny.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you to rescue me,” Charlie wryly said.
“I imagine you would have continued in your efforts to avoid me,” Kade replied.
She widened her eyes. “Goodness, is that what I’ve been doing?”
He snorted. “Vixen.”
No one had ever called her a vixen before. She quite liked it.
But now she needed to screw her courage to the sticking point, because she needed his help. There was a mystery to be solved, and he was clearly the man for the job.
“Actually,” she said, “I have been meaning to talk to you.”
Kade raised a politely incredulous eyebrow.
Charlie flapped a hand. “Yes, yes, you’ve made your point. I’m sorry I’ve been such a ninny about . . . about everything.”
A slow smile curled up his mouth. It made her brain go fuzzy around the edges, because that smile was positivelykilling. At least it certainly killed her ability to think clearly.
“Sweetheart, you could never be a ninny,” he said. “Elusive, yes, and I admit to finding that a bit frustrating under the circumstances.”
She crinkled her nose. “Sorry. It’s just a lot to take in.”
“I know,” he gently replied. “And I will never push you.”
Really, he was thenicestman in the world. He was also the most fascinating one she’d ever met, so it was no wonder she’d fallen in love with him.
For a moment, her mind went totally blank. Then it seemed to sputter back to life, bringing with it what felt like an entirely new way of looking at the world. Of course, she’d always had feelings for Kade, and had harbored dreams she had known would never come to fruition. But love him? That had always seemed nothing but a silly hope to cherish in her heart.
Kade’s piercing blue gaze tracked over her. “Is something wrong?”
“Not at all,” she managed.
“You’d tell me if there was, I hope.”
“You mean something wrong besides my missing brooch?”
