My Heart's in the Highlands by Angeline Fortin (ebook reader screen TXT) 📕

seemed impulsive and rash. That more time should passbefore her emotions could be so firmly engaged.

This was the time for gentle words likeadmire and esteem, not like. Not love.

She needed to remember that. To not rushherself or Ian. Her mother had told her long ago that the swiftestway to disengage the attentions of a gentleman was to declare one’sfeelings too quickly, and Hero didn’t want that at all.

“I’d like to apologize once again for myfather’s behavior this afternoon,” she said finally, rising andtaking a step away, breaking the intimate bubble that had cocoonedthem. “It was most unbecoming a duke of England.”

“Think nothing of it,” he responded, hisbrogue low and husky as he rose as well. He towered over her soHero had to tilt her head back to look at him.

“And thank you once again for offering youraid in retrieving him. I don’t know how I would have gotten him outotherwise.”

Ian’s eyes were dark with something Herocouldn’t define, but she soldiered on, “You’re very good withhim.”

“He’s a good man, Hero, if a tad impetuous.”Ian paused and reached out to take her hand. “Though I do not caterto the duke to gain your favor, it gratifies me that in doing so Iplease you.”

Hero blushed once again and looked down attheir entwined hands. Oh, he did please her ever so much! “He is agood man, and no one shows him the kind of patience and evencamaraderie that you have today. Not my brother or sisters or evenmyself.”

“Perhaps I get on so well with him because Iam a child at heart myself,” Ian said with a nonchalant shrug. “Butbefore you think too highly of me you should know that I so enviedhim the pleasure of jumping into those cool waters, I appreciatedan excuse to follow him in. With the weather being so unusuallyhot, I would have been hard put not to encourage him to give it ago if he hadn’t leapt in on his own.”

Hero just shook her head and, rising to hertoes, pressed a tender kiss to Ian’s cheek. “You are a goodman, my lord Ayr. Thank you.”

Ian slanted his brows, offering a decidedlyroguish grin. “If going about my normal business gains me yoursweet kisses, I shall have to try to be a better man and see whatmore happens.”

Hero raised a brow at his suggestive words,trying to gauge his intent. “Are you toying with me, Lord Ayr? Nowthat I am not a sister, do you believe that a lonely widow in yourhome might be an easy conquest for you?”

The words might normally have offended Ian,impugning as they did his honor and integrity, but he couldn’t takeoffense. Her words were nothing more than an honest inquiry, hecould tell. If Hero were curious for his intentions, he was noless. This entire situation, this unusual yet undeniable magnetism,was quite beyond anything he’d ever experienced. It had been soinstantaneous that he couldn’t recall a single moment ofdetachment.

And he wasn’t alone in being rather mystifiedby the intense desire between them. Ian would wager his life on it.Hero felt the compelling attraction between them as irresistibly ashe did, whether she had admitted as much or not. Her long looksover the tedious carriage ride the previous day and those in thegardens that morning had proven it, and he didn’t believe it wasmerely gratitude for him allowing Hero her home. She wanted him asmuch as he wanted her.

All of it was a portent of things to comeand, for a woman of questionable experience, perhaps a source ofindecision. He could do little but say what was in his heart tocalm her fears. Stepping closer, Ian reached out to cup her cheekin his palm. His thumb brushed over her bottom lip as he pulled hercloser. “Do you truly believe I toy with you, Hero? That I see youas nothing but a body to warm my bed?”

Her cheeks flushed scarlet but she didn’tlook away. Nor did she answer.

A tender smile curled the corner of Ian’smouth as he moved even closer, his other hand rising until hecradled her face in his hands. Hero tilted her head back to look upat him, her hands as if by their own will rising to his chest. Hegazed down at her, her face partially cast in shadows in the waninglight of the hall. “You are a beautiful woman, Lady Ayr, but notthe only one in the world. Beauty only begins an attraction such asthis. I believe there is much more awaiting us.”

“Much more?” she asked breathlessly as hestroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “How much more?”

How much more indeed, Ian thought. He wantedher as his own. That much he had already acknowledged, but Iandidn’t want her for only a brief affair. He wanted her forever athis side. Good God, he was truly going insane to be thinking suchnonsense after only a few days’ acquaintance. Especially when Ianhad never considered sincerely courting a woman in all his thirtyyears.

But he was the marquis, some rational part ofhim argued in justification. He would need an heir someday, and forthat he would need a wife. The idea of possessing this incrediblewoman, having her for his own, roused some raw, primal urge in Ian.He could have her.

Ian brushed his lips across her cheek beforewhispering in her ear, “So much more.”

He felt her shiver at the words as he trailedhis lips lightly across her jaw until they hovered over hers. Ianfelt her sigh, felt her hands clench against his shirt, invitinghis lips to take hers.

“Daughter!” Beaumont bellowed, and Herojumped away from Ian with a flush of embarrassment. She swalloweddeeply, her tongue darting out to wet her suddenly dry lips. Ian’seyes followed the motion and darkened with a desire even Hero couldrecognize.

“I believe your father has finally falleninto disfavor with me,” Ian said drily.

“Daughter, where are you?” her father yelledagain. Suddenly the whole situation sent a shaft of humor and joyspearing through her and Hero bit her lip to stifle the grin thatsprang to her lips. Ian’s touching words had whisked away thelingering uncertainty she’d had regarding his motives and left