Her Rebellious Heart: A Scottish Historical Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

house.
                  “Did you tell Besse?
              “Yes I did, and she will look in on him until I get back, but I”m quite sure he will be all right.”
    Scrutinizing her more closely he said,
                  “Are you crying, Bridget?” touching her wet cheek with the back of his hand. She jerked her head away.
                  “No, not really, just sorry I made such a mess of things.”
                  “Wasn’t your fault, it was his idea.”
                  “Yes, I suppose so, but I should have been tactful, instead of springing it on him like I did.”
    He took her arm,
                  “Well, let’s get going, it’s getting late and I have an early day tomorrow.” Piqued at his attitude she bristled and pulled away from him,
                  “Look, there is no need for you to walk home, I know every step of the way, probably a lot better than you do, and I wouldn’t deprive you of your beauty sleep for the world.”
                  “Well well,showing a temper are we? I am not doing for you my girl.  It’s only because your grandfather asked me to, and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him.   He’s a grand old man,”
                  without answer she tossed her head and started for the door. Aidan laughed as he followed her.
                  “Now, now, no need to run, slow up a bit.”
                  She clenched her fists and cried, “Ooh, Aidan MacLeod you certainly are infuriating. If I do move into Ty-Runach you and I will probably be fighting all the time.”
                  “That will be up to you, Bridget,” he said quietly, “It could be very pleasant for us if you want to make it so.” He looked at her boldly as he made the insinuating remark. It made her so angry she didn’t answer him, and quickly left the house.
     
     
                  The night was cold and dark. Swirls of fog were drifting in from the sea. She shivered and pulled her cape closer about her. The eternal booming of the surf on the rocks below them, sounding ominous in the eerie lights of the streetlamps, as they walked down the brae to Castle Street.
                  They spoke very little on the short walk to her home, but on turning into the wynd that led to the street where she lived, they were confronted with a man staggering all over the place, who had apparently just come from one of the pubs down by the harbor.
                  Bridget involuntarily drew closer to Aidan, laying her hand on his arm. He quickly covered it with his own, saying quietly, “Don’t be afraid, lass, it’s all right,” and in a few moments they had reached the house she lived in.
                  She said hurriedly, “Goodnight, Aidan, thank you for walking me home. Sorry if I inconvenienced you.”
                  “Oh, damn it, Bridget, come off it will you? If we are to be living in the same house, we will have to do a lot better than this. What say we shake hands and try to better friends?”
                  “Well,” she answered hesitantly, “all right, I’ll try, for Robert’s sake.”
                  She held out her hand, but he didn’t take it. Suddenly, she found his arms around her drawing her close against him. As she struggled to free herself, he pressed his mouth hard on hers. Furious, she managed to free one arm, raising it as if to strike him. He caught it and held it behind her back, his hold tightening about her, his mouth still on hers in a hard kiss.
                  Although fuming with anger at his presumptuousness, his touch also thrilled her, but never for a moment would she let him know it. She kept herself rigid in his grasp. Suddenly, he let her go and in a slightly husky voice bade her, “Goodnight, Bridget,” and was