Read Online Tess and the Highlander by May McGoldrick - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: May McGoldrick
Ads: Link
soaked her dress.
“If ‘tis dying that you wish to inflict on yourself,
then why not just walk to the west cliffs and jump into the
sea.”
“That would be committing a sin,” she whispered
absently, focusing on the sheep.
“Then why not let me walk over there with you, and I can push you over the edge.”
“I already know that you won’t do that.” She gave
him a smile that went right to his heart. “Colin, I cannot leave
her here in the middle of this storm. Something is not right with
her.”
Colin considered pulling her to her feet and forcing
her back to the priory house. It was so much easier to play the
bully than to reason with a strong-willed woman. But her simple
comment that she knew he wouldn’t hurt her had touched him deeply.
More than it should have.
Frustrated, he pushed himself to his feet and
glanced around. “Would you be happy if she were settled in some dry
place?”
Her dark eyes looked up at him hopefully.
“I can carry her to that wall where I settled in two
nights ago. ‘Tis fairly well sheltered. I can even make a fire for
her, and bring in some seaweed and spread a dry bed.” Mischief
twinkled in his eyes. “I can even go up into your loft and bring
down one of your wool dresses. Perhaps sing for her…”
“You are making fun of me.” The droplets of rain
shone like jewels on her face.
“I just needed to find out the extent of your
attachment to this animal. I mean, you don’t give a second thought
to sleeping out in a freezing storm, but when it comes to…”
“Helping me to get her to that dry overhang will
do.”
Tess stretched her hand up, and he immediately took
it, pulling her to her feet. Despite all the physical work she did
on the island, he was amazed by the silky softness of her skin. He
let go of her hand abruptly.
Makyn preferred walking to being carried by Colin,
but her steps were slow and wobbly, her head hanging down. Tess ran
ahead of them, and by the time Colin had led the ewe to the
sheltered spot, Tess had spread a bed of dry seaweed for the
animal.
“No fire,” she said softly before he could make a
comment. “And I will come inside, so long as you don’t
pester me about occasionally coming out to check on Makyn.”
Colin controlled his urge to say anything, and
instead simply nodded agreeably.
Makyn settled down on the bedding, but continued to
show little interest in what was going on around her. The wind and
rain were picking up in intensity. As time passed by, Colin could
see that cold was having its effect on Tess. Crouching beside the
sheep, she was beginning to shiver again.
“You promised to come inside.”
Tess nodded and stood up. She must have risen too
fast, for Colin saw her put out a hand to stop herself from falling
forward. As he instinctively reached out to steady her, another
instinct—that of pulling her into his arms and kissing her
lips—suddenly blocked out all rational thoughts.
She was looking up at him, innocent and vulnerable,
and then her eyes widened. As much as he wanted to kiss her now, he
hesitated. Then the realization that taking advantage of her in
this situation would be a mistake poured through his body like icy
water. His hands immediately dropped to his sides. Without uttering
another word, he turned and strode quickly away and across the moor
toward the rocky cliffs overlooking the sea.
He had felt his body respond to women before, but
there was something in his attraction to this island lass that was
so different. He had never been faced with such aggravating
thoughts of right and wrong. It was only a kiss he wanted. Only a
kiss, he repeated to himself. So why was it, then, that confusion
and guilt were churning about inside of him?
He reached the rocky bluffs and stared out at the
rolling sea. Suddenly, the weather around him couldn’t even compete
with the turbulence of his mood.
When had wooing lasses become so blasted
difficult?
CHAPTER 6
What was wrong with
“If ‘tis dying that you wish to inflict on yourself,
then why not just walk to the west cliffs and jump into the
sea.”
“That would be committing a sin,” she whispered
absently, focusing on the sheep.
“Then why not let me walk over there with you, and I can push you over the edge.”
“I already know that you won’t do that.” She gave
him a smile that went right to his heart. “Colin, I cannot leave
her here in the middle of this storm. Something is not right with
her.”
Colin considered pulling her to her feet and forcing
her back to the priory house. It was so much easier to play the
bully than to reason with a strong-willed woman. But her simple
comment that she knew he wouldn’t hurt her had touched him deeply.
More than it should have.
Frustrated, he pushed himself to his feet and
glanced around. “Would you be happy if she were settled in some dry
place?”
Her dark eyes looked up at him hopefully.
“I can carry her to that wall where I settled in two
nights ago. ‘Tis fairly well sheltered. I can even make a fire for
her, and bring in some seaweed and spread a dry bed.” Mischief
twinkled in his eyes. “I can even go up into your loft and bring
down one of your wool dresses. Perhaps sing for her…”
“You are making fun of me.” The droplets of rain
shone like jewels on her face.
“I just needed to find out the extent of your
attachment to this animal. I mean, you don’t give a second thought
to sleeping out in a freezing storm, but when it comes to…”
“Helping me to get her to that dry overhang will
do.”
Tess stretched her hand up, and he immediately took
it, pulling her to her feet. Despite all the physical work she did
on the island, he was amazed by the silky softness of her skin. He
let go of her hand abruptly.
Makyn preferred walking to being carried by Colin,
but her steps were slow and wobbly, her head hanging down. Tess ran
ahead of them, and by the time Colin had led the ewe to the
sheltered spot, Tess had spread a bed of dry seaweed for the
animal.
“No fire,” she said softly before he could make a
comment. “And I will come inside, so long as you don’t
pester me about occasionally coming out to check on Makyn.”
Colin controlled his urge to say anything, and
instead simply nodded agreeably.
Makyn settled down on the bedding, but continued to
show little interest in what was going on around her. The wind and
rain were picking up in intensity. As time passed by, Colin could
see that cold was having its effect on Tess. Crouching beside the
sheep, she was beginning to shiver again.
“You promised to come inside.”
Tess nodded and stood up. She must have risen too
fast, for Colin saw her put out a hand to stop herself from falling
forward. As he instinctively reached out to steady her, another
instinct—that of pulling her into his arms and kissing her
lips—suddenly blocked out all rational thoughts.
She was looking up at him, innocent and vulnerable,
and then her eyes widened. As much as he wanted to kiss her now, he
hesitated. Then the realization that taking advantage of her in
this situation would be a mistake poured through his body like icy
water. His hands immediately dropped to his sides. Without uttering
another word, he turned and strode quickly away and across the moor
toward the rocky cliffs overlooking the sea.
He had felt his body respond to women before, but
there was something in his attraction to this island lass that was
so different. He had never been faced with such aggravating
thoughts of right and wrong. It was only a kiss he wanted. Only a
kiss, he repeated to himself. So why was it, then, that confusion
and guilt were churning about inside of him?
He reached the rocky bluffs and stared out at the
rolling sea. Suddenly, the weather around him couldn’t even compete
with the turbulence of his mood.
When had wooing lasses become so blasted
difficult?
CHAPTER 6
What was wrong with
Similar Books
