Page 364 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“If I promise not to do any of those things while we are gone?” she asked.

“Promise?” Iain chuckled. “Lass, you cannot help yourself.”

“I can help myself well enough. Perhaps it is you who cannot help himself? Do you fear being unable to keep your word?”

He looked at her blankly.

“The vow you gave not to force me,” Victoria explained.

His confusion became open amusement. “If I intended to break my word, sweet, you would be tied to my bed.”

An image of that scene flashed before her eyes, inducing a quiver in her belly. For an instant, she wished Iain was close enough to lean on, but when his eyes grew curious, she fell back on her fury.

“You were more than a little out of control the other night,” she said.

“Out of control?” he repeated, then threw his head back and laughed so hard she wondered if perhaps he hadn’t already had an ale or two that morning.

He finally composed himself and regarded her with what seemed to be renewed respect mingled with shrewd understanding. “You have never seen me out of control—and if you are referring to the other night when I escorted you safely home, you should thank me for intervening. That was a nasty character following you.” Iain gave her a considering look. “Are you complaining?”

“Complaining?”

“Aye. Perhaps you would rather I had stayed?”

“Cad! You are a loathsome man.”

Iain’s brows shot up. “Not so loathsome as your admirer that night.”

“Loathsome and obnoxious.”

“Pretty way to speak to a man who you would ask a favor of.”

Victoria stopped. The abominable creature was right. “’Tis your fault,” she complained.

“Aye, I am sure you think so.”

“You have no intention of taking me?”

“It would be troublesome, chasing after you,” he said.

“I swear, I will give you no cause for concern.”

“Love, your very presence causes me concern.”

Victoria gave him a calculated look. “There is a simple way to solve that problem.”

Iain nodded. “True, but you are not cooperating.”

She clenched her fists and surprised herself by stamping her foot on the ground. “You know full well

I am speaking of releasing me.”

“That would not solve the problem,” he said with a definitive shake of his head.

“I suppose,” she said with a dramatic throw of her hands in the air, “were I to consent, you would gladly allow me to come with you.”

Dead silence followed until Iain asked, “Are you making an offer?”

“I will not give what you demand,” she said, cursing the whispered words, instead of the forthright statement she’d intended.