Getting hold of it this time, Tess gathered thewoolen dress in her fist and slowly started to disentangle herselffrom him.
He released her, rolling slightly toward her. Shesent a silent prayer of thanks heavenward when he didn’t wake up.Pressing back against the stone wall, she sat up and—as the blanketfell away—wrestled the dress hurriedly over her head.
By the time Tess knelt up breathless on the beddingwith the dress nearly covering her, she realized it was a miraclethat the Highlander was continuing to sleep on like the dead.
After all the trouble she’d given him the daybefore, he certainly deservedsomeentertainment. Watchingher struggle to put on the dress was all that and more, Colinthought. Her body was perfect, her skin smooth as polishedivory.
He made another mumbling sound, as if he wereasleep, and turned onto his side.
Colin had been trying to imagine the differentpossibilities of how someone like her might have arrived on thisisland. From all accounts he could recall, the couple who livedhere before were far too old to produce someone as young as this.So she was either brought here and abandoned, or she too had washedashore. But when? And who was she? And who were her people?
He contemplated letting her know that he was awake,but the sight that moved before his half-closed eyes stopped him.She approached the hearth and quietly placed small pieces ofdriftwood on the fire.
Colin held his breath as she stood stretching themuscles in her back. Her long hair, an unbound mass of waves andringlets, hung nearly to her waist. Flecks of gold reflected in herauburn locks from the firelight crackling to life beside her. Shecast a hesitant glance in his direction, and he closed his eyes alittle more.
A moment later, he opened them again and found herwashing her face with water in a basin. From a leather pouch, sherepeatedly filled a cup—a large shell, actually—and drank the waterdown. As she did, Colin’s eyes were riveted to the smooth andbeautifully shaped column of her neck.
Something about him drew her attention, forshe lowered the cup and caught him watching her. Her entire bodybecame tense.
“Good morning. Or is it the night?”
“Morning…nay, ’tis night falling.” Shequickly corrected herself while cautiously laying the cupaside.
He propped himself casually on one elbow,hopeful that she wouldn’t feel threatened. “Did you sleepwell?”
She gave a curt nod and glanced nervouslytoward the door.
“You were so cold, and I was truly concernedthat you would have caught a chill or fever after spending so manyhours outside.” He sat up on the bedding. She took a nervous steptoward the door.
“Please don’t go.”
Her wary look shifted to him. From thenarrow windows, he could see that night had already spread itsthick blanket across the island. The howl of the wind through theopenings was indication enough that the brutal weather wascontinuing.
“I shall go, if you like,” he said quietly.He straightened the blankets around him and started pulling on theboots that he’d taken off earlier in the day. They were still wet.“This is your house. You need not spend another night out in thisstorm.”
She glanced at him, then at the door, andwithout another word she started for the door.
Colin was on his feet and had put himself inher path the next instant. “You do know that there is a storm stillbattering this island,” he asked shortly.
She gave a small nod and tried to go aroundhim. He blocked her path again.
“Don’t you think I deserve an explanation?”He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “By St. Andrew, I must tellyou I am tired of these silly games you women enjoy playing.”
“What games?” she asked in bewilderment.
“These games of pretense—of acting coy and hard toplease.” He held up an accusing finger before she could speak. “Anddon’t give me that innocent look like you don’t know what I amtalking about. By now, you know perfectly well that I can betrusted. How many men do you think sail these waters who would nothave taken advantage of this situation?”
“What does the behavior of sailors have to do withme going out?” She had a very expressive face, and it was showingher perplexity.
“What is your name?”
She successfully stepped around him. “I haveto go.”
“Wait. We need to talk about this.Considering everything, we can both stay the night here, warm anddry, like two civilized people.” He managed to put an arm in thedoorway to block her path again. “I shan’t bother you…”
Obvious frustration creased her brow. “Ihave to go outside.” She went under his arm.
“Wait!” As Colin turned to go after her,more shells crunched under the sole of his boots. He cursed theannoying clutter the woman lived with.
