Read Online FLAME ACROSS THE HIGHLANDS by Katherine Vickery - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katherine Vickery
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for a long moment, unable to look away. "And in spite of what you did I'm still drawn to you. It is my wish that you'll have second thoughts." As he spoke his eyes swept over her suggestively.
Smooth talking , arrogant rogue, she thought. Oh, he was clever. A smooth-talking dangerous man. Doubly so because of his charm.
"I'll not be changing my mind." Shielding her eyes she scanned the undulating landscape, looking towards that road from where the Campbells would be coming. It was a well-traveled horse trail, clearly visible from upon the hillside. Not a sign of anyone coming. What then if he abducted her, kept her from fulfilling her promises? A flush of guilt stained her cheeks for just a moment, knowing that such a thing crossed her mind. Appraising this dark-haired, terribly handsome man, she wondered if she would be very anxious to be rescued. The answer quite honestly was that she would not. Oh, if only he were Robbie Campbell.
Robbie Campbell. What was Robbie Campbell like? She could help but wonder. Would he be anywhere near as much a rogue as this man? Would his kisses be just as potent? She scolded herself for such musing. Few women married for love or sweet kisses. She had spoken that fact quite truthfully to Glenna. Why then should she be the exception? Be he handsome or plain , Robbie was to be her bridegroom . She would push any other thoughts away. She was soon to be the instrument of bringing peace. What greater gift was there than that?
"You say you'll not b e changing your mind? I wouldn’t be too sure of that." He startled her with another smile. His blue eyes were disarmingly frank. He looked bemused with the situation. Slowly Ian stood up, feasting his eyes on her for several moments longer.
"Och!" His ar rogance was not to be borne. "You'd best be sure of it. Yer boldness will bring nothing. I tell ye now to go away." That he had charmed her she refused to allow him to see. "Now, leave me once again to my tranquility. It's much I've got on my mind."
"Leave? And never see you again? Is that really what you want?" Disappointment rankled him as he realized she meant exactly what she said. Strange how her denial only seemed to make him more determined. He hated to lose. There were hundreds of pretty young women in the Highlands, yet somehow at this moment she was the only one he wanted. He laughed at such a predicament. He, Ian Campbell, had been shunned. How Aulay would laugh at that.
"Aye. It is my wish ne'r to see ye again." The finality of her tone stung him. So she was not just being coy. Remembering the p ain she had dealt him, the physical come-uppance, he was reminded that she was not.
"Well, then so be it. I wish you good day." His last look was a wistful one before he turned to walk away. He knew the image of her would be etched in his memory for a very long time. At least until he came upon another winsome b eauty, he thought with a grin.
A tidal wave of silence consumed them. For the first time in his life Ian did not know quite what to say. Thus he stole away silently, not sensing the eyes that followed him, watching as he moved through the trees. Nor did he know that for just a moment the woman he had briefly treasured was looking at him with regret, wondering what might have sparked between them if the fire had not been extinguished before it came to full flame. They might never meet again, that was all Ian knew and perhaps, he thought, it was just as well.
But what was her name? He did not even know that. He suddenly realized that she had not told him. Fool that he was, he had left without even a hint as to her identity. The thought crossed his mind that he had admitted defeat far too easily. If he ever beheld her again he would not let her go. Not again. With a shrug of his shoulders he set off to find Aulay.
Chapter
Smooth talking , arrogant rogue, she thought. Oh, he was clever. A smooth-talking dangerous man. Doubly so because of his charm.
"I'll not be changing my mind." Shielding her eyes she scanned the undulating landscape, looking towards that road from where the Campbells would be coming. It was a well-traveled horse trail, clearly visible from upon the hillside. Not a sign of anyone coming. What then if he abducted her, kept her from fulfilling her promises? A flush of guilt stained her cheeks for just a moment, knowing that such a thing crossed her mind. Appraising this dark-haired, terribly handsome man, she wondered if she would be very anxious to be rescued. The answer quite honestly was that she would not. Oh, if only he were Robbie Campbell.
Robbie Campbell. What was Robbie Campbell like? She could help but wonder. Would he be anywhere near as much a rogue as this man? Would his kisses be just as potent? She scolded herself for such musing. Few women married for love or sweet kisses. She had spoken that fact quite truthfully to Glenna. Why then should she be the exception? Be he handsome or plain , Robbie was to be her bridegroom . She would push any other thoughts away. She was soon to be the instrument of bringing peace. What greater gift was there than that?
"You say you'll not b e changing your mind? I wouldn’t be too sure of that." He startled her with another smile. His blue eyes were disarmingly frank. He looked bemused with the situation. Slowly Ian stood up, feasting his eyes on her for several moments longer.
"Och!" His ar rogance was not to be borne. "You'd best be sure of it. Yer boldness will bring nothing. I tell ye now to go away." That he had charmed her she refused to allow him to see. "Now, leave me once again to my tranquility. It's much I've got on my mind."
"Leave? And never see you again? Is that really what you want?" Disappointment rankled him as he realized she meant exactly what she said. Strange how her denial only seemed to make him more determined. He hated to lose. There were hundreds of pretty young women in the Highlands, yet somehow at this moment she was the only one he wanted. He laughed at such a predicament. He, Ian Campbell, had been shunned. How Aulay would laugh at that.
"Aye. It is my wish ne'r to see ye again." The finality of her tone stung him. So she was not just being coy. Remembering the p ain she had dealt him, the physical come-uppance, he was reminded that she was not.
"Well, then so be it. I wish you good day." His last look was a wistful one before he turned to walk away. He knew the image of her would be etched in his memory for a very long time. At least until he came upon another winsome b eauty, he thought with a grin.
A tidal wave of silence consumed them. For the first time in his life Ian did not know quite what to say. Thus he stole away silently, not sensing the eyes that followed him, watching as he moved through the trees. Nor did he know that for just a moment the woman he had briefly treasured was looking at him with regret, wondering what might have sparked between them if the fire had not been extinguished before it came to full flame. They might never meet again, that was all Ian knew and perhaps, he thought, it was just as well.
But what was her name? He did not even know that. He suddenly realized that she had not told him. Fool that he was, he had left without even a hint as to her identity. The thought crossed his mind that he had admitted defeat far too easily. If he ever beheld her again he would not let her go. Not again. With a shrug of his shoulders he set off to find Aulay.
Chapter
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