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Authors: The Heart You Own
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Roberts’ son hug and play, and then walk hand in hand. He didn’t know where these emotions were coming from. I’m not here looking for any type of romantic involvement, he had to remind himself once again. The last thing he needed or wanted was an emotional entanglement … especially from this particular female. But then why do I want to pound Roberts into the ground for touching what is mine?
Mine? The last thought floored him. She wasn’t his. He didn’t even know her.
Kara, Austin, and Alicia had reached the top of the porch where Hawke stood. Austin greeted his father and Case, and turned to Alec and Hawke for introductions.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. MacCairn, Mr. Pryce,” Austin smiled, shaking hands with the two men.
Austin turned to speak to his father and Case about the schedule for gathering and shipping the spring calves.
Kara stood quietly between Austin and Hawke, listening to the discussion, adding her opinion when necessary, still holding hands with Austin, unaware of the effect it was having on Hawke.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Hawke leaned down to Kara.
“So tell me, lass,” his deep voice rumbled softly, “how well acquainted are you with the young Mr. Roberts?” He felt a small amount of satisfaction as her eyes flashed angrily in his direction and a delicate blush stole along her cheeks. If looks were flame, he’d be ash.
Smiling brightly at him, she hissed between clenched teeth, “Better than I’ll ever be acquainted with you. I guarantee.”
Hawke chuckled, leaned closer to her ear. “I wouldn’t be making any bets on that, lass.” He straightened up.
• • •
Stoneham’s warm breath and soft burr sent shivers down Kara’s spine. Turning in surprise at his words, she saw the merriment dancing in his silvery eyes, and flushed clear to her toes. The man was insufferable. How dare he be so forward right in front of her father? Looking around, she was relieved to see no one else had been aware of the exchange. Turning back, she saw a look of aggravation as his gray eyes darkened, seeing her and Austin’s still joined hands.
Well, if this bothers him, she smiled smugly to herself, I think I’ll have to gig his temper a little more. She slid up closer to Austin, tugging on his hand to gain his attention, and asked him to find her later so they could spend more time together … alone. She was going to make sure she continued to irritate the Scottish giant. Maybe it would be enough to make him stay away from her. Smiling into stormy gray eyes, she turned to Alicia, congratulating herself on winning that round as they walked away.
Chapter 8
At dinner, Kara was seated next to Austin and across the table from Hawke. Alec and Alicia were seated on the same side with Hawke, engrossed in each other. Hawke had been seated next to Mrs. Roberts, a charming woman, a more mature and still quite attractive version of her daughter. A peal of silvery laughter drew his attention back across the table to Austin and Kara. She sparkled in a pale green gown, her hair gathered loosely in a knot on her head with tendrils of curls lying lightly on her shoulders. It seemed the two were inseparable, and it was beginning to grate on Hawke’s nerves. Every time he looked at her, she made a point of turning her considerable charm on the man seated next to her. Knowing it was on purpose didn’t make it easier to watch.
Well, if she thought her obvious attempts were going to get to him, she was wrong. He had seen these games played by the best flirts in the drawing rooms of London. This battleground he was familiar with. He was not here to get involved in her games or in her life, he reminded himself again. He was here for business reasons only.
Hawke decided to draw the other man into conversation. “Tell me, Austin. Alec and I were discussing the various game available out here. Perhaps you’d be willing later in the summer to guide us on a hunt?”
“You bet,”
Mine? The last thought floored him. She wasn’t his. He didn’t even know her.
Kara, Austin, and Alicia had reached the top of the porch where Hawke stood. Austin greeted his father and Case, and turned to Alec and Hawke for introductions.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. MacCairn, Mr. Pryce,” Austin smiled, shaking hands with the two men.
Austin turned to speak to his father and Case about the schedule for gathering and shipping the spring calves.
Kara stood quietly between Austin and Hawke, listening to the discussion, adding her opinion when necessary, still holding hands with Austin, unaware of the effect it was having on Hawke.
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Hawke leaned down to Kara.
“So tell me, lass,” his deep voice rumbled softly, “how well acquainted are you with the young Mr. Roberts?” He felt a small amount of satisfaction as her eyes flashed angrily in his direction and a delicate blush stole along her cheeks. If looks were flame, he’d be ash.
Smiling brightly at him, she hissed between clenched teeth, “Better than I’ll ever be acquainted with you. I guarantee.”
Hawke chuckled, leaned closer to her ear. “I wouldn’t be making any bets on that, lass.” He straightened up.
• • •
Stoneham’s warm breath and soft burr sent shivers down Kara’s spine. Turning in surprise at his words, she saw the merriment dancing in his silvery eyes, and flushed clear to her toes. The man was insufferable. How dare he be so forward right in front of her father? Looking around, she was relieved to see no one else had been aware of the exchange. Turning back, she saw a look of aggravation as his gray eyes darkened, seeing her and Austin’s still joined hands.
Well, if this bothers him, she smiled smugly to herself, I think I’ll have to gig his temper a little more. She slid up closer to Austin, tugging on his hand to gain his attention, and asked him to find her later so they could spend more time together … alone. She was going to make sure she continued to irritate the Scottish giant. Maybe it would be enough to make him stay away from her. Smiling into stormy gray eyes, she turned to Alicia, congratulating herself on winning that round as they walked away.
Chapter 8
At dinner, Kara was seated next to Austin and across the table from Hawke. Alec and Alicia were seated on the same side with Hawke, engrossed in each other. Hawke had been seated next to Mrs. Roberts, a charming woman, a more mature and still quite attractive version of her daughter. A peal of silvery laughter drew his attention back across the table to Austin and Kara. She sparkled in a pale green gown, her hair gathered loosely in a knot on her head with tendrils of curls lying lightly on her shoulders. It seemed the two were inseparable, and it was beginning to grate on Hawke’s nerves. Every time he looked at her, she made a point of turning her considerable charm on the man seated next to her. Knowing it was on purpose didn’t make it easier to watch.
Well, if she thought her obvious attempts were going to get to him, she was wrong. He had seen these games played by the best flirts in the drawing rooms of London. This battleground he was familiar with. He was not here to get involved in her games or in her life, he reminded himself again. He was here for business reasons only.
Hawke decided to draw the other man into conversation. “Tell me, Austin. Alec and I were discussing the various game available out here. Perhaps you’d be willing later in the summer to guide us on a hunt?”
“You bet,”
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