My Laird's Love (My Laird's Castle Book 2) Read Free Page B

think she’s probably either still waiting or she called the police.”
    “The police? It is several days to Glasgow, even by horse. She canna have reached Glasgow yet if ye just misplaced her.”
    “What? Sure, she can...in the car. We had a rental car. I mentioned that, right? We weren’t hiking across Scotland.”
    “Nay, I dinna think ye were. That would be a long hike for two ladies.”
    I looked up at James, wishing I could see his expression. I suspected he was laughing at me the entire time, playing the Highlander as he was, but I couldn’t tell in the darkness. I didn’t mind. He was helping me, and if he wanted to have a little joke at my expense, that was fine.  
    At some point, we turned left and crossed over a small bridge. The hum of the river faded, and I knew we headed away from it, probably toward the mountains. Though I was still tucked safely in James’ arms, I shivered with both a chill and fear of the unknown.
    “Are ye cold, lass?” James asked me. He wrapped a length of cloth around me, the material still warm from his body.  
    “Is that better? I should have realized ye were cold, and shared my plaid with ye at the outset.”
    I realized then that he had wrapped part of his kilt around me, the same kilt that appeared to still be attached to him.  
    “Yes, thank you,” I said. The horse ambled on, and the physical intimacy between us seemed magnified by our shared covering. I felt cocooned in his embrace, certain that this was going to be one of the most remarkable nights of my life.

Chapter Three
    “We are almost there,” James said out of the darkness. I startled at the deep timbre in his voice. For the past fifteen or so minutes, I’d been reclining against him in the darkness, lulled into a dreamy state by the warmth of his body.
    “Oh, really?” I heard the disappointment in my voice, and I gave myself a quick shake and straightened. What on earth was I thinking? Of course I wanted to be somewhere—to find shelter, warmth, a telephone, Julie!  
    “Are ye still chilled?” James asked, apparently responding to my shake.
    “Oh, no,” I said. “I’m toasty warm.”
    I heard him chuckle, a pleasant sound that I knew I wanted to hear again.  
    “Is it late?” I asked. I had no idea what time it was.  
    “A bit,” he said. “But they willna hold that against us.” He tightened his embrace around me, and I pressed against him instinctively.
    I caught sight of a glow in the near distance, partially obscured by the branches of some tall trees.  
    “That is Gleannhaven Castle,” James said.
    We continued toward the light, and the trees fell away to reveal what appeared to be a large building, rectangular and multistoried—if the flickering lights reflected in the windows were anything to judge by. Turrets flanked each side of the castle.
    James drew the horse up and pulled his plaid from my shoulder before dismounting. He lowered me from the horse, and I slipped into his arms. I drew in a sharp breath as I looked up at him.
    “I dinna ken what Colin and Beth will say to yer trews, so I will just wrap ye in my plaid again. It willna cover all of ye, but it will have to do.”
    He grinned and slipped both his arm and the thick material around my shoulders. Unsure of what to make about his concern regarding my jeans, I turned to look at the castle. I balked as James attempted to guide me forward.
    “Come, lass. There is naethin to fear.”
    “Oh, I’m not really afraid. Just in awe! Look at the size of this place. Now I see why they call it a castle.”
    James chuckled again. “Aye! Colin’s grandfather built it to protect his family and lands from some greedy clans.”
    I looked up at him, the golden lights of the house enabling me to see his face more clearly. He gazed at me with a wide even-toothed grin. Still having fun, I guessed. I smiled back.  
    His face was more angular than I had first suspected, with a firm chin. Deep dimples creased his clean-shaven