Susana and the Scot Read Free Page A

sent here by the Laird of Dunnet to oversee the defenses of Reay.” His grin broadened as her dismay blossomed. “In fact, I’ll be here for quite some time.”
    *   *   *
    Susana Dounreay’s heart lurched.
    It had been bad enough to see him pounding down the hill like an avenging angel, racing toward her—all her bad dreams and nightmares combined. The one man she never wanted to see again.
    It had been bad enough that he’d smashed her favorite bow.
    Bad enough that he’d touched her, wrapping her in his arms and pressing her against his hard hot body, releasing memories and regrets and hungers so long caged.
    On top of all that, he didn’t remember her.
    After everything, after all they’d shared, after all he’d done to her … he didn’t remember her.
    She should be happy. She should be delighted. Thrilled beyond words. She had no idea why the thought nearly crushed her.
    But even that wasn’t the worst of it. Because then Andrew—the man she never wanted to see again—had blithely announced that he was here to stay.
    Acid churned in her belly as the prospects and probabilities flickered through her mind. Panic seared her.
    He couldn’t stay. She couldn’t allow it. She couldn’t bear to see him, talk to him, suffer his presence every day.
    She crossed her arms and studied him, searching for a weakness perhaps. To her annoyance, she did not find one.
    He was much taller than he had been when they’d last met. And broader. And his muscles were … Her gaze strayed to the flex of his chest. Och, aye. He’d not had such spectacular definition as a boy.
    He’d always had the most beautiful hair. White-blond and flowing and long. All the girls in the parish in Perth had swooned over it. Susana suppressed the urge to grab her dirk and slice it all off. His eyes were still as blue, though they seemed shadowed. His face was sculpted perfection, from the long blade of his nose to his broad forehead … to those damn dancing dimples she wanted to slap.
    Rage swept through her. Rage and frustration and … something else she would not name.
    How on earth was he even more handsome?
    Clearly the years had been friendly to him—which for some reason infuriated her more.
    Ach, she didn’t want him here.
    â€œYou might as well turn around and go back home.” She thought she’d invested the suggestion with the appropriate tone of authority, but apparently she had not. He grinned at her. Those dimples, the ones she remembered so well, rippled. Her gut rippled along with them.
    â€œI willna. My brother is counting on me to secure these lands—”
    A cold hand clutched at her chest. “Your brother?” A horrifying suspicion arose.
    â€œDunnet. Alexander Lochlannach is my brother.”
    Ah. Bluidy hell. He was a Lochlannach.
    Her brother-in-law.
    No matter what she said or did, no matter if he left or stayed, they were tied together, forever, by the bonds their siblings had forged. It was a pity that, with all the heartache he’d given her six years ago, he hadn’t bothered to mention his family name. Had she known, she would never have encouraged Hannah to marry into the family. In fact, she would have advised her to run.
    He leaned on his sword and proffered an arrogant smile. “I’m Andrew,” he said, and her stomach clenched. Ach. She knew. She knew his name far too well. She’d cursed it often enough. “And you must be Susana?” he said in a silky voice. “Hannah told me you were lovely, but I had no idea how lovely you were.”
    Was he even cockier now than he’d been as a boy?
    Was that humanly possible?
    She glared at him. “Why are you here?” she hissed.
    He misunderstood the true meaning of her question and answered it at face value. “Because, Susana, you need our help. The raids on your lands have been increasing,