Page 6 of In Bed with a Highland Brute

When his hand grabbed her waist and pulled him toward her, she acted fast. Her foot struck out, kicking him in the shin.

“Ow,” he hissed, releasing her and stumbling back into one of the timber beams that held up the roof of the inn.

Eloise looked around the busy inn, checking that no one had seen their tussle in the candlelight. This job was getting more and more dangerous, however she had no choice but to carry on.

The night before, sitting at her sister’s dinner table, she had feared that Laird Noah Chattan knew who he was talking of when he mentioned ladies that worked as escorts in his clan. Eloise was one such woman, though she did not offer her body as part of the deal, just her acting skills. The last few years, she had taken the part of wives, sisters, even daughters, for men who wished to put on an act for their families and friends. It had earned her the money she needed to pay off her father’s debts, when he started to get death threats from his creditors.

It was her greatest secret – a secret that not even her brother Avery, who had left their home early as his father had made his life miserable, and her sister Scarlett, whom she hadn’t known about until not long ago, were aware of. Their father had indebted himself with some dangerous men. Out of fear for his life, he’d retreated from public life, and she had set about trying to save him by repaying those debts. Lying to her family, Avery and Scarlett thought that she traveled with or for their father when she was not with the Chattan clan. They had no idea she was working as an escort to earn the money.

Soon, it will all be done. There arenae many more debtors tae pay off.

The man she had kicked turned back to face her, his lips fixing into such a firm line that she nearly backed up. She was timid, quiet, yes, but she had learned long ago that a way to make a man back down was often to hold her ground.

“I paid ye, Eloise, remember that,” the man reminded her, thrusting his lips near her ear so that his long auburn hair tickled her cheek. Bile raised in her throat, and she fought to hold it down.

“Aye, tae act as yer wife, nae tae perform the marital acts, Stewart,” she hissed back and stamped down on his foot. He grimaced once more and stepped away from her. “The deal was for this evening only.” She gestured to the gathering of his family.

Stewart was an embarrassed soul. After so many years parted from his family, he wanted to return to them with the appearance of a successful man. He’d poured his savings into buying the nice clothes that now hung off his back and hiring Eloise for the night. He’d told the lie that he was a merchant with a wealthy wife, whereas he was in fact a groomsman. He was also avoiding telling his family that his true wife had left him.

“I have played my part fer the evening,” Eloise whispered to him. “It is time tae say goodbye fer the night tae yer family. Time tae leave, Stewart.”

He huffed heavily and looked around the room, clearly reluctant.

“Unless ye would like me tae walk out alone and have yer family questioning why yer wife would go alone.” She downed what was left in her goblet and put it on a ledge, turning ready to leave the inn. He caught her arm, his fingers vice-like. “Ow,” she muttered, trying to tear her arm out of his grasp.

It isnae like another’s touch.

For some reason, Eloise had been unable to get the dinner from the night before out of her head. It was one of the few times she had recently been back to see her sister and brother at the Chattan castle this last year. Sat beside Murdoch, one of the soldiers, she’d found him more talkative than usual, and those dark glares seemed to have reached inside of her, making her heart quiver.

He is an intimidating presence, aye, and a frustratingly handsome one.

The square jaw and angular lines of his face were rather difficult to forget. When their fingers had touched on the wine jug, she’d snapped her hand away, startled by the warmth that had spread through her at such a touch.

“Och, as ye wish, we will leave,” Stewart muttered darkly in her ear, “but act yer part, I dinnae want my family suspicious.”

“It is what ye are paying me fer.” Eloise put on a false smile and took Stewart’s arm, pretending to be loving as he drew her toward their hosts. She thanked them for their kindness that evening and gushed at how lovely it was to meet them. As she and Stewart left, she waited until they reached the stable and were far out of the view of anyone looking out of the windows of the inn, then she released Stewart and held up the palm of her hand. “Now it is time tae pay, Stewart. Ye gave me half afore tonight. It is time for me tae collect the rest.”

Stewart sighed as he turned to face her, thrusting his hands in his pockets as he sought out the money. He took his time, delaying the inevitable moment when he would have to pay her. Eloise looked around in the darkness, apprehensive about being seen. Something she had learned long ago in this business was the imperativeness of secrecy. No one must know. She also feared her brother and sister finding out the truth one day.

What would Avery say if he kenned? He’d be furious! Aye, embarrassed too, nae doubt. I cannae risk that.

“Stewart,” she murmured, waving her hand at him once again. “Ye did bring the money with ye, did ye nae?”

“Of course I did.” He huffed and turned away. “I just dinnae want anyone tae see. Come in the stable. Nae one will have a chance tae see us there.” He jerked his head, urging her to follow him. She trailed behind him to the stable and stepped inside.

The horses snorted and one neighed in acknowledgement of their presence. Their sounds echoed in the darkness, for so little moonlight filtered into the stable, Eloise could see but one beam of white light. Nervous to move out of it, she hovered on the edge.

“Stewart?” she whispered.

“This way. I think the money is in my saddle bag.” His voice had retreated across the stable, hiding in the shadowy corner so much that she could not see a glimmer of his face.

Slowly, Eloise stepped out of the light, moving toward him, the lure of the money too much of a temptation to refuse. After all, she wouldn’t have to do this much more if she could secure the money. Soon, she would be free.

Clasping her hand around the dagger in her belt, she approached the darkness.

“Stewart?”

A hand grabbed her loose wrist and jerked her forward. She yelped in surprise as her back was thrown against one of the stable walls. Two horses whinnied, one striking the ground nearby with its hoof as she thrust both hands forward, trying to push Stewart off her. He was much taller and larger than she was, making it a nigh-in impossible task.