"I'll bet."
They stood there for a long moment.Him staring up at her as she stared down at him."I really don't see how this is going to work."
"Just put your knee onto the ledge."
Fearing it'd be a disaster, she grabbed his hand, and managed to get her knee onto the ledge of the boat.Ian moved closer."Wrap your arms around my neck, and I'll pull you off."
She started laughing."Are you serious?You're either trying to put the moves on me or get me soaking wet."
Ian cocked his head and thought it over."Both sounds good to me."He chuckled."Come on, lassie, let's give it a go.Once I pull you away, wrapped your legs around my waist, and I'll walk you to shore."
"That sounds really naughty," she couldn't help laugh, leaning forward, both hands on his wide shoulders, as he wrapped his arms around her middle.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Walker."
"Me.You're the one who said 'wrap your legs around my waist'," she echoed in a very bad Scottish accent as he pulled her off the boat.She screamed and held on tight.The last thing she wanted was a cold dip in the loch.One of Ian's arms supported her rear end, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as tightly as she could.
Even with the rain gear separating them, it felt as naughty as it had sounded.
As he turned, he stumbled.Lucy screamed."Oh my God, we are so going to fall!"
Ian sputtered a few curses."Good God, Lucy.Don't climb up me.I can't ...see.Stop holding my head.Your shoulder is in my face."
Lucy's giggles turned to all out laughter.Her entire body shook as she moved to the left.
"Bloody hell," he bit out, infected by her giggles with laughter of his own."Stop laughing."
He stumbled again.She screamed.But he made it to shore and set her down, his arms still around her.Lucy gazed up at him, her hood falling off, and her laughter subsiding.Their gazes locked.Their breaths came heavy and loud in the sudden quiet.
She swallowed, clearing her throat."We made it."
Ian released her."We Scots are made tough.Braveheart and all that.Come on, the rain's let up.I'll show you the ruins."He removed the rubber boots, grabbed the basket, and then took her hand.
Ian spent the next hour showing her the ruins of the old Castle MacLaren.It was amazing.The fact that he had such a long and known family history was incredible.And it meant so much to him.He never said as much, but she could hear it in his voice as he told her about those who built and occupied the castle.
When they returned to the shore, he set out a picnic lunch on a wide flat rock and they ate in the shadow of the ruins."Thank you," she said, popping a piece of shortbread into her mouth."For the tour."
"You're welcome."
"Will the ruins be on the activities list too?"He nodded."You're not worried about vandalism?"
He smiled."People around here and visitors tend to respect the old sites.The only vandals here are the ones in my family.My parents scratched their initials into the rocks when they married.Grandparents, too, and beyond.A family tradition, I guess."
"And one day, you'll do the same."
"Suppose so."
Ian went quiet as he ate, staring out at the water, his profile thoughtful.The sun peaked through random patches of clouds, making bright shafts straight down to the water.Lucy fished in her bag for her camera and snapped some pictures.She couldn't resist turning it on Ian, able to get a few shots before he caught her.
"You'd have to build a dock, I guess.To get people off the boat," she said
He regarded her for a long moment."There's a dock around the other side of those rocks."
She stared blankly as his words sank in.Then, she bit out a curse and swatted him hard on the shoulder."All that trauma for nothing!"
Ian ducked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he laughed."Honey, that wasn't trauma you were feeling."
She laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
