Read Online HighlandHeat by Tilly Greene - Free Book Online Page B

of
unexplainable longing. Obviously, no help was coming from that quarter or from
any of the other ladies who silently stared at the flowers. With a deep breath,
Grace took the initiative and stepped forward. She tried to see the face behind
all the flowers, only it proved impossible with such an abundance of flora. She
went for her second option and simply spoke.
    “Hello, um, may I help you?”
    “Yes, lass, but first, where should I put your bouquet?” The
deep voice, full of cool lochs and craggy hills, came to her from amongst the
beautifully fragranced blooms. Now she knew who it was. There was no mistaking
the man standing behind the beautiful spray or the emotions that sprang to life
after hearing his voice.
    “Oh yes, of course. Here on this desk would be perfect. Um,
thank you.” Once the arrangement had been safely set down, there was no chance
of hiding from the man who had equally riled her anger and lust. Nor did she
want to. The desire he created still danced through her body. Now he was here
in her space and her passionate soul instantly lit up like Bonfire Night.
    “Good morning, Grace. I needed to apologize to you in
person. Last night I was both wrong and rude. You asked for my help, and while
I was willing to lend a hand, I never should’ve taken information overheard as
fact. Will you accept my apology?”
    “You’re Hamish Buchanan!” Without pause, she reached out to
shake his hand. He was one of the most important people in her home country and
it was an honor to meet him. This proved the point that last night he had her
so totally messed up that she’d failed to recognize him. She’d known of this
man since birth. Well, that was an exaggeration, but she still should’ve
recognized him. Although in her defense, she couldn’t remember seeing a photo
of him in years.
    The story was that he should never have been born, much less
lived the full and extraordinary life he had. When she was a child in primary
school, the story of his birth had been told again and again. It was an
incredible tale, with a book full of beautiful illustrations to match. Because
the way his lovely blond hair had been depicted, she’d come to believe that
when his mum died, the halo from the angel who escorted her away had been
placed upon his head for hair.
    Looking at the wild mane of hair, she could still see how
the impressionable child inside her had come to such a whimsical conclusion.
    She held her hand aloft, waiting for his to reach out to
shake hers, except it didn’t. She was about to drop it to her side when one of
those beautiful and powerful hands she’d been admiring earlier gently took hold
hers and then she felt his lips softly grazed along the top. It was
old-fashioned, gentlemanly and left her feeling very much a woman. He startled
her even further by turning it over and pressing a longer, more heated kiss to
the throbbing pulse point on her inner wrist.
    Grace gasped at the wickedly delicious touch of his lips and
could have sworn she heard the others sigh in unison somewhere behind her. She
wasn’t sure they actually did this, but that’s how it played in her head. The
man brought with him an air of courtly manners that managed to make her feel
like someone he wanted. She felt no shame in her desire for him and was fine
with him knowing it, feeling her pulse racing beneath his lips. It was a
natural reaction to seduction and nothing to be embarrassed about.
    Standing there in the front of her shop, her body cried out
for this man’s touch. There was no doubt in her mind what he was doing. Without
trying, he was seducing her to such a level there was no chance of her denying
whatever he offered. As far as this man was concerned, the negative two letter
word was banned from her vocabulary. She was ready and eager to drop to her
knees, to beg for his body to take hers, however he would.
    “Oh my.” Aimee whispered behind them before she shooed the
two assistants away. Thankfully, someone was