Page 34 of Highland Storm

Hawke took it from her, uncorked it and took a swig. “Mountain Magic,” he said with a smack of his lips, sounding satisfied.

“See? I told ye my Mountain Magic is strong as well as an important secret weapon,” said Callum with a cackle from the front of the cart. “Guid thing I brought a barrel of it along for the trip.”

“What trip? Where are ye goin’?” asked Phoebe. “I thought ye all came lookin’ for me.”

“Dinna flatter yerself, lass.” Hawke stepped from the wagon to mount her horse. “Ye are just a diversion along the way. Now come.” He held out his hand to her, but she shook her head.

“Nay. I’d rather no’ ride with ye. I’ll stay here in the back of the cart instead.”

“Ye dinna have a choice. Now give me yer hand or I’ll get off this horse and throw ye over my shoulder, so dinna think I willna do it.”

“Oh, all right,” she grumbled, giving him her hand and mounting the horse in front of him.

“Let’s ride,” Hawke called to the rest. “If we hurry, we can make it to Elvanfoot before sunset. We’ll camp there for the night alongside the River Clyde. Then we’ll stop off at Glasgow tomorrow before headin’ home to MacKeefe territory.”

“Glasgow?” asked Phoebe, interested to hear this, since it was near the MacNabs’ castle. “We’re stoppin’ there?”

“Dinna get excited,” Hawke said in a low voice, right next to her ear. “We’re only droppin’ off my grandda at the Horn and Hoof and we’re no’ goin’ through MacNab territory to do it. Oh, and if ye think I’m takin’ my eyes off of ye for one minute this entire trip, ye’ve got another guess comin’. Ye will stay with me every second and, this time, I willna be so foolish as to leave ye with a blade.”

His hand snaked around her, grabbing her thigh and making her jerk.

“What are ye doin’?”

“I’m disarmin’ ye, lass.” His palm covered the knife right through her clothes that was strapped to her thigh. Then he used one hand and gripped her gown, pulling it upward, exposing her leg.

“Stop it!” She struggled in his arms.

“Sit still,” he warned her, expertly using his fingers to slip the knife out of its sheath, holding it up in the air. “A throwin’ knife?” he asked, sounding surprised, perusing her weapon.

“Aye. And I ken how to use it, too.” Phoebe hurriedly pushed her gown back down to cover her leg.

“Is this the only one ye have or are there more?”

“Aye. Nay,” she said, answering both of his questions at once.

“Well, which is it? Aye or nay?” he asked in a low voice.

“It’s the only one.”

“I dinna believe ye.” He moved the reins to his hand that was holding her knife, and with his other hand he patted her down and ran his fingers over her other leg.

A rush of energy flowed through her. Then her body stiffened at his action. She despised it and yet liked it at the same time. Once again, Hawke was confusing her and keeping her from thinking with a rational mind. “I told ye, I dinna have any more.”

“Nay?” he asked. “Well, mayhap no’ on yer leg but perhaps ye’re hidin’ it down yer bodice.” He leaned forward and glanced down her cleavage, causing her to blush. She liked the feel of his hands on her body, and also the way he was looking at her right now as if he wanted to eat her.

“Why dinna ye go ahead and check,” she challenged him boldly, knowing he wouldn’t do it.

“I think I will.” He lifted his hand to her shoulder and let it trail down, brushing past her breast, and under her arm. She gasped. Mayhap he would do it after all! And in front of the other men no less.

His hand slid up under her breasts to the front of her causing her body to tremble. Then he leaned forward again and whispered in her ear so only she could hear him.

“One thing ye dinna ken about me is that I never back down from a challenge.”

“Then ye’re – ye’re goin’ to reach down my bodice?” she asked, her breathing labored and with a tremble to her voice. Her action only caused her chest to expand and contract more.

“Do ye want me to?” he asked, making it very tempting for her to agree.

“Do ye want me to say yes?” she asked in return, playing his game better than him.