He studied her. “Ye are nae liking Castle Dounie?”
“No. I mean, yes. I mean…” She did sigh then. “Castle Dounie is fine. I cannot complain.”
“Then ye wish to stay?”
She was getting confused by the line of questioning. However, given that she literally had no other place to go, she needed to be careful that she didn’t get herself kicked out. “Of course, I would like to stay. I just… If I go to work, I can be helpful to you.”
He turned. “What do ye consider being helpful?”
She furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
“Helpful,” he said again, his gaze not leaving hers. “How do ye think having employment will be helpful?”
“Besides earning coin for myself, if I’m in Inverness several days a week, I may hear something about what the government is planning to do. I can then relate that to you.”
Niall stared at her for a moment longer, then rose and walked to the window. The sunlight streaming through gave an almost bluish sheen to his hair and cast half of his strong, angular features in shadow. From the part she could see, he appeared to be troubled. Charlotte wasn’t sure why, but something compelled her to rise and go to him. Standing this close, she caught the faint scent of soap and leather. She tried not to inhale too deeply as he gave her a glance.
“What is it? You look upset.”
He didn’t answer immediately, just turned and looked back out the window. It took restraint on her part not to tug on his arm and demand an answer, but somehow she managed to remain silent.
Finally, he looked at her. Another moment went by. Still he hesitated, then sighed before he spoke.
‘Verra well. Da talked to Fergus Gordon, our solicitor. He is in need of a clerk right now and agreed he’d take ye on—”
“Yes!” Restraint gave way to impulse. Charlotte raised on tiptoe and threw her arms around Niall’s neck. “Thank you!” She turned slightly to kiss his cheek, only her aim was off, because she caught the corner of his mouth instead.
For an instant, he stood stock still. Then she felt his arms go around her waist as he gathered her close, his mouth finding hers. Time stood still. There was only the wonderful sensation of his lips sweeping across hers, gentle yet commanding. Skillful, just like she remembered…
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
The sound of Greer’s voice from the doorway made Charlotte jump back while Niall slowly dropped his arms, his eyes lingering on her mouth long enough for her to grow increasingly warm. Then he looked to his sister.
“Can ye nae knock?”
“Why should I? I came for a book. I didna ken ye were…” She shrugged. “Well, ye can thank me later.”
His eyebrows rose. “Thankye?”
“Aye,” Greer replied smugly. “Simon and Da are on their way.”
****
Both Charlotte and his sister left before Simon and his father got there, which was lucky for Niall. Lucky because he knew his sister wouldn’t be able to keep from smirking and his brother would be sure to pick up on it. And lucky, too, that Charlotte wasn’t here. He didn’t think he could keep a very self-satisfied smirk off his own face if she was.
Charlotte had kissed him.Shehad kissedhim. Ever since he’d brought her home, he’d been wanting to taste her, feel her lips moving against his, have her open her mouth to him. She had been willing. He could feel it, not only because she’d thrown her arms around him, but the way her body melded easily into his, the way she had subtly pressed the softness of her plump breasts against his chest. If only Greer hadn’t interrupted…
“Well, what did the lass say?” his father asked.
Niall pulled himself abruptly out of his fantasy of where that kiss might have led. And, he reminded himself sternly, if Greerhadn’tcome in when she did, his father and brother would have witnessed where that kiss might have led, which would have been disastrous…and not only because they thought he was besotted. Simon would have told him she was manipulating him, while his father would probably make another reference to Samson and Delilah.
“She was verra glad to hear it.”
“Nae doubt,” Simon said. “’Tis a good opportunity for her.”
“And one that we’ll be watching.” His father eyed him. “Ye did explain the circumstances to Keir?”
“Aye. We had a talk.” He made an effort to keep his expression impassive. Keir had laughed when he’d “admitted” he was interested in the lass and wanted to find out if she might have another swain. His friend would laugh even harder now that it was actually true. One kiss and he was already wondering if there had been other men in her life other than the betrothed Grant, whom she was running away from. “Keir kens what he needs to do, but I did swear him to secrecy.”
