Page 22 of My Highland Fling
“Talk to her,” Scott said.“We’ve got your back.No one with a camera will get past us.”
“But why is she here?She left without telling me a thing.”Irritation flowed through him at this reminder.She’d ditched him.
“If you talk with her, she might explain,” Suzie said.“Go.”
Ramsay swallowed hard and forced himself to calm down, to breathe.He strolled to the bar, his gaze on Gabrielle the entire time.She didn’t notice him since she was peering at the drinks behind the bar.
“Gabrielle.”
Gabrielle jolted and almost fell off her bar stool.She swung around, her eyes wide.“Ramsay, you’re here.Thank goodness.I couldn’t find you.”
“I gave you a business card,” Ramsay said, his tone flat.She’d kept secrets, and now she was here, all he craved was a kiss instead of demanding answers.Explanations.“Gabrielle.”Ramsay placed his hands on her shoulders and stole the kiss he craved.He’d intended something quick, but the kiss turned sweet and tender.
“Beer?”Scott asked in a loud voice.
“Hi, I’m Suzie.We didn’t meet the other night,” Suzie said as soon as he and Gabrielle broke their lip-lock.
“Gabrielle,” Gabrielle said.
“Princess Gabrielle Herbert,” Ramsay said.“Something you forgot to mention.”
“You would’ve treated me differently if I’d told you,” Gabrielle said with a note of defiance.“You probably wouldn’t have believed me if I’d informed you I was a princess.”
Ramsay considered this and nodded.“True, but the next morning it would’ve been nice if you’d left me a note.Something.Instead of leaving me confused and walking into that mess of reporters.”
Her shoulders slumped, her expression apologetic.“I’m sorry.My life is a jumble.Ever since my parents announced my engagement to Prince Gregor, the press has mobbed me and asked nosy questions.”
“That’s the other thing.”Ramsay didn’t bother trying to hide his testiness.“You’re engaged.Don’t you think that’s something you should’ve mentioned?”
“I read it in the papers,” Suzie chirped.
“Helpful, not,” Ramsay muttered.
“I’m trying to point out if you read the paper or kept up with current events, you might’ve known this,” Suzie said.
“No one asked you.”He glared at Gabrielle.“I don’t sleep with married or attached women.You made me into a cheater.To learn about it from the press pissed me off.”He didn’t mention the broken chair or the hole in his bedroom wall.She’d made him look stupid, feel small.Used.And worse, she was his mate.What the hell did he do with this knowledge?His feline cared nothing for the niceties of modern society.He wanted his mate.
Gabrielle bowed her head, and when she risked a glance at him, tears shimmered in her eyes.“My parents arranged the marriage.I had no say in my prospective groom or any wedding details.My mother is coordinating the wedding details.Was coordinating them.It’s okay for Prince Gregor to embarrass me with his boozy retreats and myriad women.When I do something similar, he calls off the wedding.”
“The wedding is off?”Ramsay’s voice was rough and hoarse and held hope.His feline released an audible purr, and Scott laughed aloud.
“Yes.My parents confined me to my room at the palace, but I spoke with Tilly.”She frowned, her brow furrowing.“Tilly, my chaperone, is a rebel and has been patiently waiting for me to reject my mother’s strictures.Last night, we left the palace.Tilly is visiting a friend in Edinburgh.I hired a car and drove to Glenkirk, hoping to find you.I don’t know what happened to the card you gave me.I couldn’t find you.My next move was to visit Castle Glenkirk and ask to see you.I’d hoped you hadn’t left yet.”
“What will happen when someone misses you?”Ramsay asked.“Will I end up in trouble?”
“No!Of course not,” Gabrielle said.“I’m not sure how they’ll react.”
“That’s reassuring,” Scott said.“Let’s get drinks and grab the table in the corner.”
Despite preferring to spend time alone with Gabrielle, this was a better alternative.If people came searching for her, she’d have other people around her.Later… Ramsay had no plan for later because they couldn’t take her to the castle.The guards would recognize her human status and refuse her entry.
“Want a beer?”Ramsay asked Gabrielle.
She nodded.
“Suzie, do you want a lager or something else?”
“Some of that alcoholic ginger beer, please,” Suzie said.
