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“Sweetheart, I—”
Lightning exploded outside, followed by a deafening roll of thunder that seemed to vibrate through the whole hut. Kathleen startled, then made a grab for her blanket as it began to slide from her shoulders.
“Good Lord, that was awful,” she exclaimed.
Grant rose and crossed to the small window. He tried to see through the driving rain, but couldn’t because it was practically a bloody gale out there.
They wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
And that could be a problem. Dusk would come fast on the heels of the storm. As it was, they were skating on the very edges of propriety. If they were stuck here alone much longer—
“I hope the horses don’t take fright,” Kathleen said.
Grant returned to the table. “They should be fine. The shed is new and sturdily built.”
Her lips rolled inward, tight with anxiety.
“You’re worried about Jeannie.”
She gave a morose little nod.
To hell with it.
The time for caution had passed, blown to tatters by the storm.
He pulled his chair close to hers and sat. Then he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her against him. She sank into his embrace with a funny little sigh.
“I did almost marry,” he confessed. “When I was young and exceptionally stupid.”
She wriggled sideways to look at his face. The motion pushed her breasts against him, a sensation he thoroughly enjoyed.
“Really? What happened?”
“Graeme and I eloped.”
She choked out a laugh. “I know you and Graeme are exceedingly close, but that seems a bit much.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her messy curls. “Cheeky lass. I mean we jointly eloped with two young ladies of our acquaintance.”
“Not very successfully, obviously.”
“It was an epic disaster from beginning to end.”
“They why did you do it?”
“It was my grandfather’s idea, so that should tell you something.”
When she tilted her head, her face was so close that he could practically count the freckles that danced across her cheekbones.
“I’ve noticed he’s something of a matchmaker, but that idea seems rather deranged, even for him.”
“When it comes to matchmaking, Angus lets no obstacle stand in his way, including the feelings of the various parties.”
She wrinkled her nose. “How did this all come about?”
“Mostly as a result of our own bad behavior. The family consensus was that at the advanced age of twenty-two, it was time for the terrible twins to grow up. Angus believed that the most expedient path to such a laudable goal was marriage.”
“Did he also pick out the girls for you?”
