Page 3 of A Scoundrel’s Promise

Mackenzie knew which one she hoped he was, but said, “I do not know.”

“Oh dear,” Cora said. “He’s headed out of the abbey.” She looked at Mackenzie. “He will meet us on the road.”

This was more than Mackenzie could’ve hoped for. “There is no harm in greeting a fellow traveler,” she said.

“Oh, I knew this was a bad idea. What will happen if he tells someone that he saw us?”

“Why would he? A gentleman doesn’t say, ‘Oh, by the way, I happened to say hello to two ladies on the road.’”

“I suppose not. I believe he has seen us,” Cora whispered, as if fearing he would hear her.

Even at a hundred feet away, Mackenzie discerned his eyes on her. Had he noticed her and not Cora? Cora was dark, and she was fair. Did he favor women of fair hair? Nae. She was being ridiculous. How could she possibly know which of them he regarded? They rode side-by-side. For all she knew, he had eyes only for Cora. Though, in truth, she had not found that to be the case very often. Cora was quite beautiful, her body lush, but Mackenzie’s fair hair draw men like honey.

Cora was right. They would intercept one another at the gate. Almost. They needed to slow. But if they slowed, it would be obvious they wanted to meet him. They drew nearer to the gate and the gentleman came into better focus. His thick, dark hair was a bit longer than was fashionable. Mackenzie couldn’t yet discern his eyes, but she wagered they were dark, like his hair. He was definitely different than other gentlemen of her acquaintance. But she wouldn’t be meeting him today if she didn’t do something.

They neared the gate. Mackenzie forced her eyes to stay on the road. She had long ago learned that the way to capture a gentleman’s attention was to ignore him. How was she going to meet him without him knowing she had intended an introduction? She caught sight of a rock on the left edge of the road, opposite the gate, and urged her mare left.

“What are you doing, Mackenzie?” Cora asked.

As they reached the arched gate, they also reached the rock. Mackenzie yanked the left rein. As hoped, her mare faltered a step. Mackenzie cried out and fell from the saddle. She landed on her hip harder than expected and her teeth jarred with the impact.

“Mackenzie!” Cora cried.

From the corner of her eye, Mackenzie watched the gentleman burst through the arched gateway. He reached them as Cora jumped from the saddle. For her small stature of only five feet two inches, she was very agile on a horse, and wasn’t afraid to jump from the saddle—as Mackenzie had just done.

The gentleman reached them, leapt from the saddle and dropped to a squat beside Mackenzie.

His brow furrowed. “Are ye unharmed?”

His soft burr washed over her like velvet. Mackenzie stared.

Cora stared.

He cocked a brow.

Mackenzie stared up into the greenest eyes she’d ever seen. His mouth quirked, and she realized she was staring.

“I—” Her gaze caught on his mouth and her mind went blank.

“Cat got your tongue?”

He scooped Mackenzie into his arms. She cried out and threw her arms around his neck. Her heart raced. She had been kissed a time or two, but she had never been pressed so tightly against a man’s chest.

Mackenzie wanted to squirm but became oddly aware of the warmth of his chest pressed against the side of her breast.

“Mackenzie.”

The recrimination in Cora’s voice snapped her from the spell.

“I can stand, sir,” the words came out a whisper.

“Are you certain?” he spoke in such a grave voice that she believed he feared for her safety. Then she saw the gleam in his eye. The cad toyed with her.

“Quite certain.” She wriggled in an attempt to get him to put her down.

Her breast pressed against his hard chest. She froze.

Both his brows shot up this time.