Read Online The Legend Mackinnon by Donna Kauffman - Free Book Online
Authors: Donna Kauffman
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And that was another question she wanted the answer to. Preferably before she got ready for bed.
“I can move my spirit out of my body if I choose, but only to land with it somewhere else on this godforsaken hill. I canna go back to the spirit world. No’ that this isany better or worse.” He poked a bit viciously at the log, creating a shower of sparks and ash. “Although you don’t always feel so damned cold in purgatory. Ye don’t feel anything.”
“You’re cold? This place is like an oven.” Maggie regarded him for a moment, not liking the softening she felt in her heart. “Is that why you maintain the fire so fiercely, Duncan? You’re always cold when you’re on earth?”
“I’ve lived in colder climes than this, lass, wi’ no fire to warm my hide, nor clothes to cover my back.”
It was a dismissal, if she’d ever heard one, and an evasive one at that, but Maggie was learning to read beneath his blustering statements and stony countenance.
“So,” she began, smiling freely when he stiffened in continued frustration, “when you pop out of here and take all this stuff with you, does it pop down wherever you do? I bet that gets real interesting.”
No response.
“Is this the furniture that was here originally? Or do you get to pick what you want? ’Cause I don’t see you as a lace curtain kinda guy. And can you conjure up anything? That would explain the empty cupboards. But you know, a satellite dish would be most appreciated.” She paused, gauging the tension mounting in his stance. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Still nothing. She stifled a short sigh. She didn’t really want him exploding in anger. She recalled what had happened the last time tempers had risen. Her temperature had risen right along with it. Along with several other things.
She’d managed to repress the memory of the kiss they’d come so close to sharing all afternoon and evening. Until now. Just the thought of it brought back the rush of sensations she’d felt, every touch, every—”
“What is wrong with ye, lass?”
Maggie abruptly stopped fanning her face. He’d turnedtoward her, but rather than a smug expression, she found concern. And frustration. He didn’t want to care about her. But could it be that he did? She recalled the meal he’d prepared for her. Even if he’d just conjured it up, it was still proof he’d worried about her. The idea of him caring made her feel … well, good. That was bad. Wasn’t it?
God, shouldn’t there be some lesson learned in what Judd put her through? Shouldn’t she be a better judge of men now? The simple answer was no. Different man, different set of criteria. And no two men were alike.
She almost laughed. Most certainly there was no man on earth like Duncan MacKinnon. God only knew what lessons she was about to learn this time.
“I, uh, I think I’ll go on up to bed,” she said finally. Whatever she’d thought she’d seen in his eyes moments before was gone. The implacable mask was back in place. If only he’d keep it that way for another couple of weeks or so. Maybe they’d both escape this incarceration with their emotions unscathed.
She went to the small bathing area and drew the curtain, then poked her head back out. He was staring at the fire once again, but she knew he’d watched her leave. The ripple of pleasure that knowledge sent through her should have been warning enough.
Shut the curtain and wash up for bed, Maggie
. But she had to know. “Just how far do your powers of observation extend? When you’re on earth?”
He kept his back to her. “If yer worried about your privacy, I’ve no intention of invadin’ it.”
“But could you, if you wanted to? Without, you know, physically invading it?”
He turned to face her. “Is there something ye have so unique that I should be sneakin’ about tae see it?”
Maggie flushed. “Point made. I’ll just take my excruciatingly average self to bed then. Sorry, to have bothered
“I can move my spirit out of my body if I choose, but only to land with it somewhere else on this godforsaken hill. I canna go back to the spirit world. No’ that this isany better or worse.” He poked a bit viciously at the log, creating a shower of sparks and ash. “Although you don’t always feel so damned cold in purgatory. Ye don’t feel anything.”
“You’re cold? This place is like an oven.” Maggie regarded him for a moment, not liking the softening she felt in her heart. “Is that why you maintain the fire so fiercely, Duncan? You’re always cold when you’re on earth?”
“I’ve lived in colder climes than this, lass, wi’ no fire to warm my hide, nor clothes to cover my back.”
It was a dismissal, if she’d ever heard one, and an evasive one at that, but Maggie was learning to read beneath his blustering statements and stony countenance.
“So,” she began, smiling freely when he stiffened in continued frustration, “when you pop out of here and take all this stuff with you, does it pop down wherever you do? I bet that gets real interesting.”
No response.
“Is this the furniture that was here originally? Or do you get to pick what you want? ’Cause I don’t see you as a lace curtain kinda guy. And can you conjure up anything? That would explain the empty cupboards. But you know, a satellite dish would be most appreciated.” She paused, gauging the tension mounting in his stance. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Still nothing. She stifled a short sigh. She didn’t really want him exploding in anger. She recalled what had happened the last time tempers had risen. Her temperature had risen right along with it. Along with several other things.
She’d managed to repress the memory of the kiss they’d come so close to sharing all afternoon and evening. Until now. Just the thought of it brought back the rush of sensations she’d felt, every touch, every—”
“What is wrong with ye, lass?”
Maggie abruptly stopped fanning her face. He’d turnedtoward her, but rather than a smug expression, she found concern. And frustration. He didn’t want to care about her. But could it be that he did? She recalled the meal he’d prepared for her. Even if he’d just conjured it up, it was still proof he’d worried about her. The idea of him caring made her feel … well, good. That was bad. Wasn’t it?
God, shouldn’t there be some lesson learned in what Judd put her through? Shouldn’t she be a better judge of men now? The simple answer was no. Different man, different set of criteria. And no two men were alike.
She almost laughed. Most certainly there was no man on earth like Duncan MacKinnon. God only knew what lessons she was about to learn this time.
“I, uh, I think I’ll go on up to bed,” she said finally. Whatever she’d thought she’d seen in his eyes moments before was gone. The implacable mask was back in place. If only he’d keep it that way for another couple of weeks or so. Maybe they’d both escape this incarceration with their emotions unscathed.
She went to the small bathing area and drew the curtain, then poked her head back out. He was staring at the fire once again, but she knew he’d watched her leave. The ripple of pleasure that knowledge sent through her should have been warning enough.
Shut the curtain and wash up for bed, Maggie
. But she had to know. “Just how far do your powers of observation extend? When you’re on earth?”
He kept his back to her. “If yer worried about your privacy, I’ve no intention of invadin’ it.”
“But could you, if you wanted to? Without, you know, physically invading it?”
He turned to face her. “Is there something ye have so unique that I should be sneakin’ about tae see it?”
Maggie flushed. “Point made. I’ll just take my excruciatingly average self to bed then. Sorry, to have bothered
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