Read Online The Highlander's Curse by Katalyn Sage - Free Book Online

snapped the picture
and then scowled at the results. Damn cloudy sky. “Hold on.” Turning on the
flash, I took another pic and his eyes bugged at the flashing light. I turned
the screen toward him.
    “Remarkable.”
He snatched it from me.
    “Swipe
your finger across the screen again like before—yeah, like that.”
    The
Highlander saw the other picture of himself and a half-smile formed. “Ye’re
sure it’s no’ magic? I’m startin’ tae believe ye’re o’ the suire fem .”
    “What
does that mean?”
    “Ye may
ken them as fairies.”
    I laughed
as he scrolled through more pictures. His eyes studied every detail and,
sometimes, looked up at me to check my features before returning his gaze to
the screen. I couldn’t look away from him, the fascination in his features made
my own heart beat with excitement. He looked so full of wonder and awe. I could
have spent all day watching him like that.
    And
then his face reddened.
    I
flicked my eyes downward to see what caused that reaction, and my gaze landed
on the picture of me in my hot pink bikini, tanning on a sunny day next to one
of my friends’ pools. Snatching the phone from him, I backed out of the
pictures, and looked up at him. Oh jeez, his eyes were fastened on me. Probably because I’m such a fat ass. Why couldn’t I have had one of those
perfect model figures? “That was just, uh…I was tanning. I only took it for my
boyfriend.”
    It was
a while before he finally drew his eyes away from me, and I could feel my own
embarrassment skitter through me, the heat of it flushing my face and ears. The
Highlander cleared his throat and stabbed his fingers into his hair. “So ye’re,
uh…” Another small flush spread across his cheeks, barely adding color to his
tan skin. “Ye’re tae be wed then?”
    “No.” I
shook my head emphatically. “I’m not engaged. I mean, he was just a boyfriend.
He isn’t anymore.”
    “Oh.”
He seemed on edge suddenly, his once calm demeanor turning to what reminded me
of something like a caged animal. “We should check yer dressing, I think. Make
sure yer wound is still clean, aye?” He scooted off the tree trunk and knelt in
front of me as I placed my foot against his leg. With nimble fingers, he untied
the cloth and carefully unwrapped my foot, revealing a whole lot of black and
blue, and a bit of dried blood.
    The
Scot produced his flask from his sporran and poured alcohol over my foot before
inspecting my big toe. “It’ isn’ae much tae look at, but I think it’ll heal
fine.”
    “Will I
be able to walk on it tomorrow?”
    He
prodded at the wound gently and I flinched. “I dinna ken. I’m no’ so sure the
bruises will’nae spread farther. That splinter went in fair deep. I’m nae
doctor, but I fear it’ll get worse wi’out proper care.” He lowered my foot
until it was on his leg once more and his hand rested on my shin.
    My
heart leapt at the feel of his warm hands on my chilled skin, and I drew my
gaze upward, meeting his. I’d never had anyone put so much care into my comfort
before, and not for the first time, I regretted the way I’d treated him up
until now. Yesterday, Cailen had protected me from two other men who could have
done so much more than just kidnap me. He’d built a fire to keep me warm, he’d
cooked meat for me to keep me fed. Sure, he’d refused to leave me alone, but
now that I thought about it, he’d meant to protect me then as well. And with my
foot, he’d taken great care in trying not to hurt me even as he pulled out what
had to have been the biggest splinter in history.
    “Why do
you carry around a lacy handkerchief anyway?” I asked, pointing to the shredded
cloth he’d just removed from my foot.
    “‘Tis
ma mither’s. I like tae keep it wi’me.”
    “And
you put it on my foot? You ripped it up?” He’d lived out here on his own for
two years and had torn up the only thing he had of his mom’s?
    “It’s
naethin’. Here, I think ye might need a wee