Against Her Rules Read Free Page A

was the first time since she’d been
in university that she wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
That time she had been a complete idiot in front of her Irish history prof. He
was so cute that she just couldn’t speak right. Then she’d been nineteen. There
was an excuse. There was no excuse for a thirty-one-year-old woman. Even if she
was staring at the hottest piece of man she’d ever seen in her life. And that
was saying something, given her guest log.
      “I’m
sorry,” she said, trying to pull herself together. Please stop looking at
me! He was staring at her like she was a foreign species, trying to figure
out if she was plain crazy or dangerously insane. “That’s not funny at all. I
must be going loopy in the fog.”
      “No,
that’s fine. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” he said, his thick
Scottish burr rich and deep.
      The
hairs on her arms rose in response.
      “Let
me show you to your room.” Elsie turned away so that she wouldn’t have to keep
seeing the incredulous look on his face. Clearly he thought she was a nitwit.
      As
she led him up the stairs and down the wide hallway, she felt herself grow warm
at the thought of him walking behind her. Was he thinking she was a loon, or
was he enjoying the view? She was confident enough to know she had a decent
bod; still, she imagined for someone like him, only a tall, lanky blonde could turn
his head. He had to be at least six feet tall, with coal black hair that was
just the right length. Not cut close but not sloppy either. If someone took a
dash of Gerard Butler, added in a sprinkle of Daniel Craig, and then spiced it
up with a little bit of Colin Farrell, then she figured this would be the end
result.
      She
had no idea what colour his eyes were but they were dark, like pools of ink. He
had just a slight bit of stubble on his face, enough to make him appear a
little wild, and a strong face that clearly had seen a fair bit of sun. Add all
that to a body that just oozed strength, and you had the total package. An
honest-to-God, perfect specimen of masculinity.
      This
was not good. Not good at all. Lusting after a guest was a definite no-no. And
she was seriously lusting after this man. She had to keep far, far away from
him. In a split second she decided that there was no way he was staying in this
wing of the house. It was too close to her own suite of rooms. In fact, he couldn’t
stay in the house at all.
      She
turned suddenly. “Mr. Scott, you’re an artist, are you not?”
      “I
am, yes.”
      Oh
God. Don’t smile at me like that. Stop it. Stop smiling now!
      “And
you’re going to be studying our sea birds?”
      “Aye.
For a book I’m working on.”
      The
man was a grinning idiot. A beautiful, temperature rising, heart palpitating
idiot.
      “Well,
I had an idea just now, and it might be of interest to you.” She opened the
door to the nearest room and walked to the large window.
      “Do
you see that little blue cottage over there? I sometimes rent it out to writers
and other people who come here to do some quiet work. It has a fantastic view
of the cliffs where the birds nest. Might you be interested in staying there?” Oh
no. What if he thinks he’s not welcome here! “I mean, it’s just an idea. I
can show you your room here and you can decide, if you like. I was just
thinking...”
      “That’s
a wonderful idea,” he said. “If it’s no trouble. I’m sure the view is
spectacular, since the one from here is pretty magnificent itself.” It was then
that she noticed he was staring at her, and not out the window.
      “Oh,
it’s no trouble at all.” She hoped. In fact, she had no idea how much trouble
it would be. The last time the cottage had been used was three years ago. Her
brother, Will, had stayed there when he was working on a novel he never
finished. In fact, the cottage was his. She’d never rented it out. But there
was one thing she knew for certain and that