Read Online The Highlander's Bargain by Barbara Longley - Free Book Online Page A

they’re done. Got it?”
    “Pee. Lift seat. Done. Put seat back down. Got it,” he repeated. One side of his mouth quirked up, and a dimple appeared. His eyes filled with humor.
    Her heart rate surged. He was onto her. Did fifteenth-century bathrooms have seats? Garderobes. That’s what they were called back then. Did fifteenth-century women scold their men for leaving the seat up? Could this be any more awkward?
    “Moving on, this is the tub and shower for bathing.” She turned to the old claw-foot bathtub, which she loved. A shower had been added, with the plastic curtain going all the way around the perimeter. “Here’s how it works.” She showed him how to adjust the temperature and switch from tub to shower.
    “Where does the hot water come from, lass?” His tone was filled with wonder.
    “The water heaters are in the basement along with the boiler to heat the building.” She patted the radiator against the wall. “This radiates warmth when it’s cold outside. I’ll take you to the basement at some point, but not now. Aren’t you hungry?”
    “I am, but no’ all that eager to depart once again.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I fear I’ve no energy left.”
    “Oh. Right. I didn’t think of that. Sorry.” Another dollop of guilt plopped onto her pile. “You’ve been through a lot in one day. I’ll have pizza delivered. We can relax and watch TV while we’re waiting.” She grinned. “I even have a six-pack in the fridge.”
    “Six-pack in the fridge,” he mumbled. “You do ken I understand but a small portion of what you say, lass. Aye?”
    On impulse, she reached for his hand. The contact sent all kinds of exciting fluttery sensations whizzing through her. She tried to ignore them. “Come on.” She tugged. “I’ll show you what a six-pack in the fridge means.” He tugged back.
    “I’ll join you anon.” His face colored up again. “I need to . . . ah . . .”
    “Use the bathroom? Toilet, facilities, bathroom or restroom. That’s what we call this.” She whirled her hand to encompass the room, which grew smaller by the second. Uncomfortable moment. She pointed to the roll of toilet paper and released his hand. “For your comfort, convenience and personal cleanliness,” she practically chirped. Wow. Charmin ought to hire her to do their ads. “Remember to put the seat back down.” Entirely embarrassed, she backpedaled her way into the hall and turned to head for the kitchen. “And close the door!”
    Oh no. You did not just say that! She heard his muffled chuckle as he shut the door. Thank goodness the man had a sense of humor. She made her way back to the kitchen and grabbed the refrigerator magnet with the phone number of her favorite pizza delivery place. Moving to the counter, she took the cordless phone from its jack. Once she’d placed the order for an extra-large, thin-crust deluxe combination pizza, she settled herself on the living room couch and turned on the TV.
    Thank goodness she hadn’t cancelled her cable service yet. She channel surfed, selected an action movie scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes, and ordered it on pay-per-view. Her nerves were all over the place, driving her crazy with a butterfly rampage and self-consciousness. Why did she feel like she was on a first date? She and Robley were not dating. He was her tenant.
    It wasn’t long before she became super aware of him as he opened and closed drawers in his room. She should get clean sheets and make the bed for him, but just the thought of being in his bedroom together sent her pulse surging again. Later. She’d go make the bed while he watched TV.
    Robley strolled into the living room wearing a pair of jeans that emphasized his narrow hips and muscled thighs. His navy-blue V-neck T-shirt stretched across his sculpted pecs, and without the billowing shirt he’d worn earlier, his biceps put on quite a show. It was all she could do to keep from drooling. “Those clothes look good on