Highland Fling Read Online Free PDF

“You’re kind of a bully.”
    “Aye, it wouldn’t be the first time I was told that.” He finished his drink and set the cup down. “Shall we?”
    “Yeah. I guess we’d better.”
    They stood and walked out together, waving goodbye to the friendly barista, who wished them a good night.
    When they arrived back outside James’s apartment, her stomach had that leaden feeling again and another wave of misery swept through her. All that money. Gone. Along with the man she’d dated for over a year. Clearly her instincts in judging people were for shit.
    “You sure you’re okay to drive?”
    She gave a humorless smile and glanced over at Aleck. “I’m not full of alcohol, just self-loathing.”
    His brows furrowed and he opened his mouth to say something, but she didn’t want to hear it.
    She climbed out of the car and called out, “See you in my rearview, boss boy.”
    Aleck held her to that promise. He ensured they were never separated by more than one or two cars, keeping her taillights in his vision at all times.
    They were lucky in their timing and drove onto one of the ferries with only a few minutes’ wait. She didn’t go upstairs during the crossing, but sat in her car, so he did the same.
    He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and stared at her through her back window. She looked as if she were asleep with her head back against the headrest and not moving.
    Full of self-loathing, she’d said. Why? She was too hard on herself. Aleck hadn’t much cared for her boyfriend, but he couldn’t have predicted the arse would do this kind of thing. Some people were just shoddy pricks.
    The boat pulled into the dock and she shifted in her seat, clearly awake now.
    As they drove off the boat and onto the island, the first thick raindrops hit his windshield. Shite. Nothing like driving in a heavy rainstorm at night, on the dark tree-lined roads of the island. He slowed down, knowing deer could dart across the road at any point. Delonna seemed to be in a similar mindset and decreased her speed as well.
    By the time they reached the busier and artificially brighter side of the island—Oak Harbor—it was nearing midnight. Aleck pulled his car into the driveway behind her and climbed out. Delonna was already halfway to the door and cast him a backward glance.
    “I made it. Thanks for the escort, but you can head out now.”
    “Aye, you made it to your front porch, but I’ll see you safely inside if you don’t mind.”
    Under the porch light he saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes, but then her lashes fell and she nodded. “Always the gentleman.”
    “I try.”
    She unlocked her door and stepped inside. He followed just steps behind her.
    When she hit the lights, they both looked around the interior. Not sure what he’d expected to find, he was relieved to see everything in close range appeared to be in order. Without a word, he stepped past her and moved through the house, checking each room and closet for a sign of anyone.
    “No one’s here,” she called out, exasperation in her words. “Well, besides us.”
    Without acknowledging her protest, he opened the door to another room and slid his gaze over it.
    “Wait, don’t go in there.”
    Aleck stumbled to the side as she shoved past him and then dove past him into the room. He watched in dismay as she knocked some kind of long, cylinder pink thing off the nightstand.
    Shaking his head, he muttered, “What the—”
    “Nothing. You saw nothing.”
    “Actually, I’m quite sure I just saw your vibrator.”
    “You saw nothing, dammit!”
    He couldn’t help but laugh as her face turned scarlet.
    “There’s no shame in masturbation, Lana. I’ll not be judging you or your Naughty Rabbit, Pink Wand of Pleasure, Tantric Teaser, or whatever it is you call it—”
    “Shut the fuck up!” Eyes wide with mortification, Delonna glared at him. “And I take back everything I just said about you being a gentleman.”
    His lips quirked as he made an