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Not that I think it would make any difference now if I found out she was a gold digger.
I’ve tasted her, and I want more.
I was so close to claiming her for good, taking her for the first time and putting my mark on her in a way no man ever will ever be able to again.
I wouldn’t be able to stop now if I wanted to unless she changed her mind. Respect for her is the only thing that can hold back the animalistic longing in me now.
“At first, yes,” I say. “But we have enough in the bank to make it through. We’ve also gotten a few green grants over the years, which has helped, and we run a sponsorship program where people can adopt one of our stags and get updates about them over email.”
I can see her interest, but it isn’t the money. Alana is genuine. “It’s not a lot, but it’s something. We make the rest of our income from the land in other ways than having to kill anything or destroy the ecosystem.”
“That’s good,” Alana sighs. “It would be terrible if you had to go back to hunting or even sell off the land. On the other hand, someone else might not be so kind to it.”
Well, that’s about the response I expected from the most perfect girl.
“Tomorrow,” I say, not sure I can even wait that long to give her everything she wants.
“Tomorrow?” she repeats, looking up and raising an eyebrow.
“I’d like to see you again tomorrow,” I tell her, almost surprised it isn’t so obvious it’s written on my forehead. “I’d like to make the day special for you if I can.”
“Oh.” She colors slightly as she catches my meaning, and I wonder if I have missed the mark for a moment. Maybe put her off by being too forward, too clear in what I have planned. But then she smiles, shyly, but with genuine excitement. “Then tomorrow it is.”
“I’ll meet you in your hotel lobby in the morning,” I tell her. My mind is already racing through all the things I want to show her, all the things I want to do to her.
“How should I…,” she hesitates. “How should I dress?”
I smile. A good question, I think.
She clearly thinks about how she comes across to others. It isn’t something that would bother me much, but a few things are expected of the wife of a Laird.
She will need to be able to keep up with a few social engagements during the year, at least. It doesn’t escape my notice that I’m already thinking about how she will be as a wife. “Comfortable, but warm. And perhaps a dress to change into for our meal.”
“An evening meal?” she asks, raising her eyebrows again.
I chuckle. “I promise it won’t be grilled cheese.”
She eats the last bite from her plate with a grin. “I wouldn’t mind if it was. That’s a good grilled cheese sandwich.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Alright. I’m taking you back now. Let’s go to the car.”
“So eager to get rid of me?” she asks, with a pout.
“I have to get rid of you,” I tease back with a devilish grin. “I have a lot of things to organize. And besides – if you stay here, I won’t be able to hold myself back.”
That has the desired effect. She flushes bright red for a moment, untucking her hair from behind her ears in a motion designed to hide her face, but I can see that she is secretly pleased. Flattered.
God, what kind of world does she live in where men don’t treat her like a princess every day?
I’m going to have to change that.
Well, maybe not to the point of annoying her. But she will know how irresistible she is.
“I’d better go soon, then,” she says, looking up shyly, her eyes peeking through her lashes. “Because I might be unable to hold myself back if that taster is anything to go by.”
I bark out a laugh, and then I get up from the table because I’m going to have a hard time holding back if she keeps talking like that.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
