Page 55 of My Highland Fling
“I’m positive.You and Ramsay need alone time.I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Not long after, Tomasine pulled up in front of an old house.The wooden walls needed paint, and the lawn and garden required attention.The roof, however, appeared new.
“It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s comfortable indoors.I’m doing repairs, as I can afford them.”
Ramsay had already told her this, and she saw he was worried about her opinion.
She grasped his hand.“Ramsay, I’m happy to be here.All I care about is being safe and amongst friends.Besides, it will be fun to work at your side and make improvements together.That way, I’ll feel as if your house is a minor part of me, too.”
“Away with you both,” Tilly said, shooing with her hands.
Tomasine grinned.“See you tomorrow.Call if you need anything, but I stocked your fridge.No danger of either of you starving.”
“We’ll walk to the café later this afternoon, and I’ll show Gabrielle around town.We might see you for afternoon tea.”
Tomasine raised her hand in farewell and drove off.
Gabrielle shivered at the blast of cold nipping her fingers and nose.“I don’t have winter clothes.”
“No problem.We’ll raid my wardrobe and find you something to wear.Are you hungry?”
Gabrielle squeezed Ramsay’s hand in understanding.“Nervous?”
“I want you to like Middlemarch and me.”Ramsay unlocked his door and pushed it open.He gestured for her to enter, and she took in her surroundings with interest—the wooden floor and green fern in the shiny red planter.
Ramsay led her down a short passage and tugged her into a kitchen with a breakfast bar.The kitchen flowed into a comfortable lounge.
“I love open plan.In my mind, I pictured rooms less lived in and sterile—needing a woman’s touch.”A row of well-used recipe books filled a shelf.Pots hung from hooks, and a container of colorful pansies sat on the tidy counter.Three barstools lined the breakfast bar.Deep red and navy cushions sat on a three-seater couch, and a large flatscreen telly hung on a wall.“This is comfortable and pleasing to the eye.I love your home.I haven’t told you…” she trailed off, wondering if she should state this confession aloud.
“Thanks.Told me what?”
“That you grabbed my attention from the moment I spotted you in the pub.We clicked, and it was so easy to fall for you.Then you helped to save me—you’re my hero.”
Ramsay stalked toward her, subtly herding her backward until the counter halted further retreat.“You love me?”
“Yes.”Gabrielle never hesitated.“You’ve gifted me with love and caring and more loyalty than anyone apart from Tilly.She has always been my silent support.”
“I know that.Saber does, too, so he asked if she wanted to visit with a view to living here.”
Gabrielle’s heart beat a rapid tattoo.That he’d care enough to notice how important Tilly was in her life blew her mind.
“What about the shifter element?Does it scare you that I can turn into a leopard?That if we have any children, they will shift, but you won’t.”
“It’s a bit to get my head around, but I’ll cope.”Her serious expression morphed into a wide grin, and Ramsay shook her lightly.
“You’re teasing.”
“Yeah, I’m teasing you.It’s Ramsay I love and admire.Your leopard is part of you, so how could it worry me?Honestly, you and your friends rescued me from hell, and it was my parents who put me there.If it would save their skins, they’d cheerfully do it again.They’re supposedly human and civilized, yet I’d never trust them.Never.You’ve given me a dozen reasons to believe you’d always have my back, and for me, that is priceless.I’ll cope just fine in Middlemarch.”Gabrielle lifted her hands to cup his face.She stared into his green eyes, noting emotion turned them a darker green.“Besides, Middlemarch is your home, and I’ll proudly stand at your side for as long as you’ll have me.”
Ramsay brushed his nose against hers.Seconds later, he settled in to kiss the stuffing out of her.She clung, enjoying his scent, his strength, and his mouth.He pulled away way too soon.
“How does a shower sound?Clean clothes.Once we’re done, we can go for a walk.I’ll show you where I work for part of the week, and we’ll eat at the café.My feline is restless after being cooped up in a plane.It’s way too early to go to bed and sleep.”
Gabrielle yawned but nodded.“I’ve heard it’s better to acclimatize to local time if you can.Not that I have much experience.All the flights I took were short hops around Europe.”
“The shower will refresh you.”He tugged on her hand.“We’ll share.”
The bathroom required updating, but the shower was plenty big enough for two.Gabrielle stripped and trailed Ramsay into the stall.
