Page 26 of My Notorious Highlander

"I've been told I was a hellion at seven summers."

He grinned. "I can well imagine that… considering what a hellion you are now."

Her mouth dropped open and he laughed, his eyes darkening in an enticing way.

Iain leaned forward, frowning. "Do you not ken 'tis not polite to laugh at a lady?"

Torrin got his amusement under control… barely, his green eyes sparkling with mischief. "I doubt that a hellion would like a polite man."

Heat washed over her and she imagined her face turning as red as her hair. She ate and tried to ignore him. 'Twas impossible, of course, but she could pretend.

Torrin leaned closer. "Pray pardon, Lady Jessie. But I do love the way you carry plenty of weapons about."

Ha. He probably detested it, for it meant if he tried anything, she could well defend herself. She'd best change the subject before the conversation embarrassed her any further. "Do you think MacBain will return?"

Torrin sobered. "'Tis possible, so we must be ready. And because of this, I think it best that I stay until Dirk and his company of men return."

Iain leaned forward. "I'll stay too, m'lady. You'll need me to protect you from this rogue."

Torrin snorted. "You're daft. I've been naught but a gentleman."

"Well… I thank you both for staying to help us. I fear we've angered MacBain greatly and he may seek revenge."

"'Tis true."

The longer Jessie sat beside Torrin, the more aware of him she became. His manly scent of leather, the great outdoors, and the familiar mint soap made here at the castle near entranced her. Somehow, he made the soap smell different and more compelling. His height, the broadness of his shoulders and his overall presence also distracted her from her meal. She could've been eating sand and would not have known the difference.

Her hands jittery, she devoured the porridge as quickly as possible and arose from the table.

"You cannot be finished already," Torrin said.

"Aye, I always eat a light breakfast. Pray pardon, but I must see if the kitchen servants are keeping on task."

She hastened away and down the stairs. In the stone-vaulted kitchen, she glanced around, seeing that everyone was completing their duties, just as they always did. The heat of the kitchen fires was intolerable on her already overheated skin. She exited the doorway into the walled kitchen garden and deeply inhaled the cool breeze off the sea.

She did not understand her reaction to Torrin this morn. She felt as if she'd been in an oven. Of a certainty, she had always been drawn to him against her will. But now that she no longer believed him a murderer, she found him far more appealing. 'Twas as if an invisible barricade had been knocked down. The sensation of sitting next to him had been too intense. She knew not how she would react if he touched her.

His cocky, confident smile and teasing manner tempted her more than she could believe. He could make her smile and blush without any effort at all. Closing her eyes, she remembered and relished everything about him.

"M'lady?"

She jumped and her eyes popped open to find Torrin standing beside her in the doorway. His enticing scent surrounded her.

"Saints! You startled me." And now she was overheating again, even though the morning air was cool.

"I have your weapons." He held up the dirk in one hand and the sgian dubh in the other.

"Oh. I thank you." How daft she was to be so unhinged by his presence that she'd forgotten all about her beloved knives. She took them, her fingers brushing against his. The extreme warmth of his skin compelled her to glance up. He watched her with great interest from beneath lowered lashes.

The smoothness of his skin told her he had shaved that morn, and she found herself wanting to stroke her fingers along his jaw line. But her hands were full of weapons. She focused on those and slid the dirk into the sheath that hung from her belt. Next, she bent and, lifting her skirts a wee bit, placed the smaller sgian dubh into the sheath strapped above her ankle.

She straightened, appreciating the slight weight of the blades. They gave her more confidence. "That feels better."

Torrin gave a slight, lopsided grin. "Never heard of another woman who loves weapons as much as you do."

She shrugged. "I suppose I'm odd."

"Nay, fascinating and unique."