My Tempting Highlander (Highland Hearts #3) Read online

  Wiping the pup’s soggy feet with a towel, she kept it cradled in the crook of her arm as she retrieved two more cups from the hooks underneath the cabinet. She glanced across the room at Ronan. Time for tea and interrogation. “How about some nice hot tea while you tell me about your keep?”

  Ronan huffed out a deep breath as he righted the kitchen chair he’d knocked over during the attack of the screaming teakettle and plopped down into it.

  “So you don’t want to tell me about your keep?” Suspicion heightened her senses. What was Chieftain Ronan Sutherland hiding? Mairi set the cups on the table along with a box of tea. He was acting so strange. Correction. He was acting stranger than before.

  Mairi tried to ignore the distinct feeling she was on the verge of stepping off a high emotional cliff. “Where exactly is Draegonmare?”

  Ronan jerked, staring at her as though she’d just zapped him with a jolt of electricity.

  “What is wrong?” Mairi pushed the puppy into Ronan’s arms then pressed her palm to his forehead. He didn’t seem to have the beginnings of a fever. “Do you feel like you’re getting ill or something? You seem…unwell.”

  Ronan reached up, took hold of Mairi’s hand, and pressed it to his cheek. A heavy sigh escaped him as he shook his head. “I am quite well. Better than I have been in a verra long time. I dinna wish to risk my current state.”

  What the hell did he mean by that? An excited shiver rippled through Mairi at the unspoken emotions reflected in Ronan’s eyes. She wet her lips, took a deep breath, and eased her hand out of Ronan’s grasp. “So where is Draegonmare?” she repeated. She needed facts before any additional bricks crumbled from the wall around her heart and made her even more vulnerable.

  Ronan placed the puppy on the table, then leaned back in his chair. A troubled smile pulled one corner of his mouth up while at the same time the other corner pulled down. “ ’Tis north of here. Along the shores of Loch Ness.”

  Loch Ness. Mairi frowned as she added hot water to the teacups. The only keep she knew along the shores of Loch Ness were the ruins of Urquhart Castle. “Where exactly on Loch Ness? I’ve been there a couple of times to visit Urquhart Castle and the visitor center, but I’m not familiar with any other keeps in that area. Is Draegonmare too secluded to see from that part of the loch’s shoreline?”

  “Aye.” Ronan’s smile completely disappeared. “Draegonmare is verra secluded. Few know of its existence.”

  Well, that explained it and made her feel a great deal better. At least Draegonmare was in this century. Mairi added a plate of shortbread biscuits to the table along with a jar of honey and a tiny cow-shaped pitcher of cream. “After we finish our tea, I’ll show you upstairs, where you can grab a hot shower and get warmed up before you return home or wherever it is you’re staying while in Edinburgh. Eliza has a closet full of men’s clothing—” She held up a hand at Ronan’s arched brow as she continued, “I don’t know why she has a closet full of men’s clothes. That’s none of my business.” Mairi lifted the plate of cookies out of reach of the exploring puppy. “All I know is that she’s got them and I’m sure she won’t mind your borrowing something to wear to get you home.”

  Ronan slurped in a gulp of hot tea, made a face, and slid the cup to the center of the table. “Did Mistress Eliza no’ tell ye? She extended an invitation for me to stay here for a few days.”

  Mairi nearly choked on the buttery bite of shortbread she’d just shoved in her mouth. What the hell was going on? Eliza knew Granny wanted Mairi to return to the past and yet she was doing her damnedest to firmly implant Ronan Sutherland into her life? Mairi swallowed hard, forcing the shortbread down past the sudden lump of what the hell knotted in her throat. “Actually, no. I wasn’t aware you were an overnight guest.”

  Where were they going to put him? The second floor belonged to Lilia and the fourth floor was Eliza’s domain, which she had declared off-limits to everyone except by invitation. Was Ronan Eliza’s next benefactor? Mairi rubbed a finger across her suddenly tingling lips. Ronan’s kiss sprang back to the forefront of her mind. No. Ronan Sutherland was not interested in Eliza MacTavish.

  Ronan smiled and leaned forward. He tickled a fingertip across the back of Mairi’s hand, which was currently curled around her cup. “Aye. Many nights.” The look in his eyes said much more.

  Mairi rose, rubbing the top of her tingling hand against the roughness of her still extremely wet jeans. “You can shower first. If you’re finished with your tea, come on and I’ll show you the bathroom as well as where you can find the clothes.”

  Ronan slowly rose to his full, heart-stopping height and smiled. “Aye, lass. Lead the way.”

  “I think not, my fine chieftain.” Eliza’s singsong voice chirped loud and clear, punctuated by the sharp clicking of her heels against the hardwood floor of the hallway. The swinging door to the kitchen popped open and she toddled into the room. “I’ll be more than happy to escort ye to yer room for the evening so my wee Mairi can see to her own shower. I’ll no’ have either of ye catchin’ yer death from traipsin’ about in a feckin’ rainstorm with no proper protection.” As Eliza stressed the word protection, she turned to Mairi and signaled her with a slow meaningful wink.

  What the hell does that mean? Mairi stole a glance at Ronan then subtly motioned to Eliza and mouthed What?

  Eliza cleared her throat, turned her back to Mairi, and motioned Ronan toward the back stair. “I’ve a private suite of rooms on the fourth floor. Off wi’ ye now. Let’s get ye settled for the evenin’.”

  “The fourth floor?” Mairi scooped the puppy up from the table and hugged him close.

  “Aye.” Eliza nodded. “And still yer wanderin’ mind. This gentleman is no’ destined for what yer thinkin’.” Eliza leaned in close and rested a perfumed hand atop Mairi’s arm. “This one is all yers, dearie, but he and I must have a long chat afore he claims the grand prize.”

  “I am not the prize pig at the fair,” Mairi whispered through gritted teeth, glancing across the kitchen at Ronan to ensure he couldn’t hear.

  “Shall I leave the two of ye a bit of privacy so ye might discuss whate’er ye wish?” Ronan carefully slid the kitchen chair up to the table then lifted his chin as he folded his arms over his chest. His body language transmitted his thoughts loud and clear. He’d heard every word.

  Eliza smiled and hugged an arm around Mairi’s shoulders. “Nay. Our discussion is quite finished.” She pecked a quick kiss to Mairi’s cheek then toddled across the kitchen. When she came even with Ronan, she nodded once more at the back stair. “But you and I have much to discuss. On wi’ ye now, m’chieftain.”

  Chapter 8

  Ronan wrinkled his nose against the almost overpowering scent of roses. The room reeked with the cloying sweet smell of the flowers in full bloom. And no wonder. Every flat surface large enough to hold a vase had been festooned with multicolored clusters of the aromatic flower.

  “Come. Come.” Eliza waved him forward from a doorway at the opposite end of the room. “This is my personal sitting room. I doubt ye’ll wish to tarry here overly long.”

  Ronan glanced around. The woman had the right of it there. He sincerely doubted if any of the delicate white furniture—chairs and curved settees all trimmed in gilt and upholstered with even more scenes of multicolored roses—could stand the full weight of him. The room reminded him a great deal of the gaudy abode of the woman that Graham had enlisted to assist with his initiation when he’d first shifted from wolf to man.

  With another wave of her bejeweled hand, Eliza ushered him into the next room. Och now. This is more like it. Ronan took in a deep breath and the tightness stinging across his shoulders disappeared. Leather. Whisky. The faint smoke of a well-tended fire. This room opened and embraced him like an old familiar friend.

  Dark wood paneling reflected the soothing warm glow of the flames dancing in the hearth. A massive wingback chair upholstered with a leather hide tanned to a rich burgundy sat beside a mahogany a
rm table holding a glass and a cut-crystal decanter full of an amber liquid that Ronan hoped like hell was whisky.

  “Aye, m’chieftain. ’Tis the finest MacKenna whisky. Gray and Trulie’s descendants have quite the successful distillery in this time.” Eliza deftly removed the sparkling top of the decanter and splashed a generous portion into the glass. “Here ye be. This’ll warm ye a damn sight better than that bit of Mairi’s tea.”

  “I thank ye.” Ronan accepted the glass with a polite nod then closed his eyes and enjoyed a healthy sip. The welcome burn seared down to his core then spread its healing warmth through his body. Aye. Much better than the nasty tea.

  Eliza toddled across the rich burgundy carpet to the massive mahogany sideboard situated in the corner between two floor-to-ceiling bookcases stuffed full with leather-bound volumes. She pulled a small wide-bellied glass from the cabinet and filled it with a ruby-colored liquid. She took a sip, smacked her lips together appreciatively, then finished topping off her glass. “I prefer port m’self. I never acquired a taste for the whisky.”

  Ronan got the distinct feeling Eliza was working up to a speech. “Out with it, woman. I would ken yer thoughts.”

  Eliza stared down at the glass cupped in her hand, slowly swirling the ruby liquid as she meandered closer to the center of the room. “If ye move too fast with Mairi…if yer no’ honest wi’ the lass…ye will regret it.”

  “Are ye threatenin’ me, then?” Ronan downed the rest of the whisky, savoring the burn as he refilled the glass. “Ye ken she is the one I mean to marry. She is the one to break the curse.”

  “I ken it well enough.” Eliza huffed out the words as though totally disgusted with Ronan’s insinuations. “I also ken that Mairi is a woman of this time. She’ll no’ blindly accept ye, marry ye, and then be perfectly content to toddle off and be an obedient Highland wife to a man she’s just met.”

  Ronan rubbed a knuckle against his breastbone. Damned if the woman had no’ voiced his silent fears. “How long must I woo her? Help me t’know how best I should go about this.” Surely Mistress Eliza would keep him from failing. Mother Sinclair would no’ have enlisted her help otherwise.

  “How long must ye woo her?” Eliza looked at him as though he’d sprouted a second head. “May the gods help us. Yer worse than I’d feared.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Ronan emptied his glass again then thumped it to the table.

  Eliza shook her head and huffed out a weary sigh. “A man should woo the woman he loves until she goes to the grave.” She balanced the round-bottomed glass atop the small table beside a door matching the dark wood paneling so closely, it nearly made it invisible. As she rested her hand on the door’s brass latch, she turned and pointed a finger at his chest. “If men would woo their wives as they should, they’d no’ be needin’ the likes of me to keep the excitement in their bedchamber. Their wives would keep them heated good and proper and so weary from mussin’ the sheets, they’d no’ have the strength to stray.” She pushed the door open and waved him forward. “Come. I’ll show ye how to use the facilities so ye dinna run the risk of scaldin’ the hide off yer arse.”

  “I’d never stray from Mairi. I’ve never met another like her. She makes me feel…” Ronan swallowed hard. “I’m an honorable man. I’d never stray.” Ronan strode after Eliza, straining to make out what she was muttering under her breath. How the hell could he make the woman understand that Mairi soothed his soul? And how dare she insinuate he’d treat Mairi in such a callous way?

  “Then woo her and see to it that she’s so smitten with ye she canna imagine takin’ a breath without ye.” Eliza pointed to an elaborate hollow of gold-striated marble built into the floor. “It takes a fair bit to fill the bath. Go ahead and twist all the knobs to start the water flowing.”

  “Knobs?” Ronan peered from one end of the tub to another, searching for what might be considered a knob. Damnation, the great stone hole is big as a small loch. Golden pipes curved downward from three sides of the huge gleaming box of marble. At one end, the side of the tub sloped backward. The seat built into that side was wide enough to comfortably hold two bathers reclining back in the water.

  “Knobs,” Eliza repeated as she nodded to an inset panel on the wall beside the tub. “The three to the right give ye the cold water to each of the faucets. The left side gives ye water hot enough to boil yer arse. Turn all the knobs then test the water to see if it’s to yer liking.”

  Ronan frowned at the panel then twisted the three sets of knobs on the left until they’d turn no more. Water gushed from all three of the golden pipes pointed down into the tub and soon steam was rising.

  “Ye best add some cold to the lot and test it like I told ye.” With an impatient huff, Eliza nudged him out of the way, twisted all three knobs on the right, then pointed down at the water. “Try it now.”

  Ronan knelt and slid his hand beneath the streaming water. Intriguing. “Aye. ’Tis quite pleasant.”

  “Ye’ll find soap, sponges, and washing towels on the shelf inset on the other side.” Eliza pointed to the far wall above the tub filled with all the articles she’d mentioned and quite a few more containers of colored oils and jars. “While ye soak, I want ye to think about what I told ye about earning Mairi’s trust and winnin’ her heart. I’ve put a change of clothes for ye in the wardrobe beside the bed. Breakfast at sunrise. Dinna be late comin’ down or ye’ll no’ eat again ’til the midday meal.”

  Ronan glanced down at the rising level of the steaming water in the tub. “And what about tonight? Have ye a bit of bread? I’ve no’ eaten in two days.” The whisky had done a fine job of tricking his stomach for a bit, but ’twould no’ last long.

  A wicked smile curled Eliza’s mouth as she backed her way out the door and slowly pulled it behind her. “Mairi will bring ye yer supper.” She paused and gave him a stern look before closing the door completely. “Mind what I said. Woo her. Win her.” Before Ronan could comment, Eliza firmly closed the door with a sharp click.

  Chapter 9

  The intercom beside the light switch crackled and popped as though clearing its throat. The red light flashed above the button, bidding Mairi push it and activate the speaker. Mairi tightened the towel around her wet hair and coiled it to her crown. She pushed the button and leaned as close as she could get to the ancient apparatus that only worked about half the time. “Hello?”

  Eliza’s voice blipped in and out from the yellowed plastic box. The only two words Mairi could make out were “dinner” and “guest.” She jammed her thumb harder against the button and put her mouth closer to the speaker. “You’re not coming through, Eliza. Just hold on. I’ll be downstairs in a minute.”

  “Aye, well and good,” came through the speaker loud and clear.

  Mairi donned her favorite pair of jeans, slipped a sweatshirt over her head, and scrubbed her fingers through her damp curly hair. There was no use bothering to blow out the wicked stuff. It tended to be a bit tamer when it dried on its own. Long, thick, and full of stubborn curls, it would take her a month of Sundays to get it dry with a hair dryer and a brush.

  She flipped off the light and padded into the bedroom. A telltale warm dampness soaked into the bottom of her right socked foot. “Ugh!” Mairi hopped to one side, peeling the wet sock off her foot as she moved. “You’re supposed to pee on the papers.”

  The gray fluff ball bounced from side to side, yipping happily at the new game of jumping to grab at Mairi’s dangling sock.

  “No. no.” Mairi scooped up the little dog and plopped it in the middle of the bed. “And if you pee on my bed, you’re going to the garage.”

  The puppy yipped then charged forward with a growl and latched onto the silky tassel dangling from the corner of a decorative pillow. He whipped his little head back and forth, tugging and rumbling with ferocity at the worthy adversary. The oversize pillow barely shifted as he yanked from side to side.

  Keeping an eye on the bouncing little dog, Mairi fished a
clean pair of socks out of the drawer, put them on her feet, then slipped on her worn tennis shoes before she happened across any more warm wet surprises. She scooped up the dog and cleaned the puddle of pee with a puppy pad then placed the puppy in the center of the large square of papers she’d spread in one corner for just that purpose. “You see that? That is your temporary toilet until you’re fully housebroken to only go potty outside. Don’t leave me any more presents.”

  The dog yipped and lunged upward. His needlelike teeth pinched her chin.

  “Don’t bite!” Mairi scolded while rubbing the back of her hand against her stinging chin. The puppy yipped and stretched to bite her fingers. “Damn, you’re mean.” She firmly tucked the little dog under one arm and headed downstairs. Ronan needed to take care of this little demon. After all, he was the one who found him. She rounded the last step and bounced into the kitchen. Disappointment dampened her spirits when she realized Lilia and Eliza were the only two in the room. “Is Ronan not going to eat dinner with us?”

  Eliza didn’t turn from the stove, just kept slowly stirring the ladle while peering down into the pot. “Our guest will be eating in his room this evening.”

  “Oh.” A strange sense of disappointment washed across her as she shoved the puppy into Lilia’s arms. “Here’s the dog you’ve always wanted.” She went to the sink to wash her hands, cocking an ear in Lilia’s direction in anticipation of the little buzz saw sinking his fangs into Lilia.

  “What a sweetie!” Lilia cooed, and murmured some unintelligible gibberish into the face of the furry little pup. The dog immediately rewarded her with an overload of doggie kisses, happily wiggling his entire body in her arms.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.” Mairi leaned back against the sink, drying her hands with the towel. “Apparently, you’re the only one he really likes.” Mairi snapped out the wrinkles from the damp towel and hung it beside the sink. “And why is Ronan eating in his room?” She leaned over the bubbling pot Eliza was stirring and inhaled. The mouthwatering aroma of tomato, basil, and rosemary confirmed it. Eliza had fixed Mairi’s favorite: a hearty ratatouille.