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"All right," Errol says. "You may remove the mask now."
I peel it off, stuffing the mask in my pocket. And I freeze. But instead of feeling cold, I grow warm and tingly. Why am I reacting this way? Because Errol stands about fifteen feet away, wearing only a kilt, with a leather belt to hold it up. I barely notice the boots and black socks that cover his feet.
"What are you doing?" I ask. It's possible I sound slightly breathless. Can't help it. His muscular body, and especially that impressive chest, makes me want to rush over there and rip that kilt off. "Is this your surprise?"
"No, lass. This is."
He holds his right hand at his side with his fingers curled as if he's holding something in his palm. Then one finger twitches.
And the earth erupts.
I jump and yelp as the explosion rings in my ears. The detonation happened further behind Errol, probably thirty feet away. It's hardly the loudest sound I've ever heard, but the noise jarred my nerves for sure. I hold a hand to my chest and struggle to calm my pounding heart.
"Are ye all right, Ashley?" Errol asks. He seems genuinely concerned. "I should've warned you."
"I don't think a warning would've helped. An explosion is always a shock, even if you know it's coming." I lean sideways to peer around his body at the area where the ground had detonated. "What was that, anyway? C-4?"
"No. It was a land mine."
I jerk upright and gape at him. "Land mine? Is that legal?"
"Probably not. But I believe in being prepared, even if it means I sort of…skirt the legalities. A serious situation requires more than a bow and arrow."
"I guess so." But after another peek around his body, I have another question. "What set off the mine? Nobody stepped on it."
"These mines don't have pressure switches. They're activated by an app on my mobile." He holds up his phone. "I can set them off from the other side of the world if I want."
"Uh-huh. Was this the other thing I needed to know before you'll agree to help me?"
"Aye."
"Well, I can handle this."
He lifts his brows. "Can you?"
Errol is still holding his phone up, and he taps the screen with one finger.
Another mine detonates.
I jump and yelp again. "Jeez, Errol, how many of those things do you have?"
"That was the last one."
Well, thank goodness for that. I might need a defibrillator if he sets off any more explosives. But I do get it now. He's not the type of guy who sits around talking about how tough and wild he is. Errol actually lives that way. Maybe I should worry about that, but somehow, I believe he knows what he's doing and exactly how far he can safely go. I need someone wild, someone who will do whatever it takes—and that means I need him.
My gaze wanders over his body, from that impressive chest to his bulging biceps, and further down to what I know he's hiding under that kilt. I bet he has powerful thighs too, but I can't see those. The plaid hides them.
I don't realize what I'm saying until the words tumble from my lips. "You know, it's not fair. You've seen me completely naked, but I've only seen you half-naked."
"Aye, that's not fair, is it? Well, I can fix that." He unhooks his belt and flings it away. His kilt slumps to the ground at his feet. "There. Now we're even."
My jaw drops. Errol Murdoch stands before me in the nude, every inch of his mouthwatering body on display, and I can't stop staring at his groin. At his dick. The sunset has continued to sink below the horizon, deepening the twilight, and only the floodlights inside the courtyard illuminate the green. I can see enough of Errol to know he has the kind of body that any woman would love to experience just once, to know what it feels like to have those powerful muscles flexing around her body.
My mouth is actually watering now. And slick heat pools between my thighs. God, I want him. It's crazy, and I shouldn't do it. I won't do it. But ever since our kiss earlier this evening, I keep having trouble remembering that this is a professional endeavor, not an excuse for hot sex.
I loved that kiss.
Errol saunters up to me, still completely naked except for his boots and socks. "Have I shocked you, Ashley? I thought the lass who let her robe fall open wouldn't mind seeing me starkers."
