Page 52 of My Highland Fling
Her breath eased out.“Adrik is dead?”
“You stabbed him with your fork.You were so brave.Smart, despite the danger.You helped to incapacitate the soldiers.It gave us a chance to beat Popov.”
“He intended to kill me.You…your friends stopped him.”She stared at him, puzzlement chased by sheer wonder.“You changed from leopard to man.I didn’t imagine that.”
“Can you keep a secret, Gabrielle?”
She stared deep into his beautiful green eyes, her stomach swooping and bucking, confusion, apprehension slicing deep.She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he intended to say.“Maybe,” she said and bit into her bottom lip.
“Gabrielle, I care for you.A lot.I want you in my future, but this secret—you need the truth before going further.”
“Okay.”She drew out the word, still unsure.
“Tilly already knows.She was a hard sell and insisted on proof.”
Gabrielle frowned hard enough to crease her brow.“Um, how did Tilly react?”
Ramsay’s grin turned broad.“She lined up my friends and me and made us do a reveal.The guys had to call their wives for approval.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ll have to do with me,” Ramsay said drily.“Jealousy will strike if you do a Tilly on me.”
“Um, is Tilly okay?”Her mind officially boggled even as it raced for answers.Her thoughts had officially strolled off the highway and onto the back roads.
“Yes.Let me get you a glass of water and a painkiller.The doctor said the welts on your back have become infected.Tilly is sorting out the antibiotic prescription.She should be back soon.”
“Where are we?”
“Edinburgh.”Ramsay retreated and returned with the water.He handed it and two white tablets to her.“Take these.”
Once she’d downed them and the water, Ramsay unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged out of it.He unfastened the button on his jeans.
She blinked.“What are you doing?”
“Showing you my secret,” Ramsay said.“You were out of it before.This is the best way.”He shrugged out of his clothes until he was fully naked.She stared—starting from his shoulders and working down.His broad chest tapered to slim hips and strong thighs.The wretched man chuckled, dragging her attention back to his face.A faint shimmer formed around his body, and memories stormed back.She’d spotted the leopard, recalled struggling to breathe past her panic, backing up against a wall.The leopard had turned into Ramsay.He’d been naked, and he’d picked her up and carried her to safety.She’d thought… Hadn’t that been a dream?
“Ramsay.”Her hand flew to her mouth.“Is…is that really you?”
The leopard stalked closer.Every one of her muscles tensed, ready to propel her to safety.The black cat kept coming until his hot breath seared her leg.She gasped, ready to shout, to scream, to do something, but he rubbed his head against her knee and released a rumbly purr.
Her breath whooshed out, and she tentatively placed her hand on his back.She ran her fingers over his silky black fur, and he leaned into her.Footfalls at the door had fear slapping her, but it was Tilly and another man.
“Are you all right, child?”Tilly asked, her eyes twinkling.She gestured at the man beside her.“This is Saber.”
Gabrielle managed a nod at him before placing her focus on Tilly.“This is Ramsay’s secret?”
Tilly’s smile widened.“All of them.They’re decent people, Gabrielle.I like them a lot.Saber asked if we’d like to go to New Zealand with them.I think we’d be safe there.”
“What about my tracker?”
“It’s gone.The doctor who checked on you took it out,” Tilly said.“We’ve disposed of it.”
“Thank goodness.I’d hate to put anyone in danger.If my parents have shown me anything, it’s that they’re unscrupulous and will do anything to save their skins.They care nothing for their children’s welfare.”Her laugh held dark despair.Bitterness.“I used to think if I was good enough, worked hard enough, gained my parents’ respect, it’d be sufficient.Instead, they sold me to that monster.”
She shuddered, digging her fingers into Ramsay’s fur.His sharp growl dragged her from her memories, but she couldn’t rid herself of the fury in Adrik’s eyes when she’d stabbed him.He hadn’t expected that, and if he’d lived, she would’ve suffered for the impudence.On the counter side, she’d enjoyed his pain—her revenge and defiance.
“I laughed when I stabbed Adrik and took pleasure in the second time I did it.Am I horrible?”
