Highlander for the Holidays Read Online Free PDF Page B

did your friend,” she said, shaking her head.
    Jessie laughed. “Did you ever consider that maybe Duncan and Ian are the ones who should have made sure Merissa and I are harmless? Because all us city girls are taught from the cradle how to turn tigers into pussycats.”
    Realizing Jessie didn’t know that Ian was standing directly behind her, Paula pulled her down the bar—wrongly thinking she’d moved them out of earshot. “Then you better start thinking like a wilderness girl, honey,” Paula said, “at least when it comes to MacKeages, since Merissa told me you’re moving here.” She leaned closer. “The MacKeages and MacBains and Gregors are like one big Scottish clan, and are a good chunk of our population. And although their wives are real friendly, all the men are so old-fashioned it’s scary, even the ones born here. So you might want—”
    Ian stepped over and took hold of Jessie’s arm before Paula could do any real damage, and started for the door. “Thanks for the service, Paula,” he said with a wave over his shoulder. “I believe I’ll walk ye to your car, lass, and then follow you to the resort to make sure you arrive okay. It’s starting to mist, and it may freeze on the road.”
    “How much of that did you hear?”
    Ian stopped in the parking lot to face her, and folded his arms over his chest. “Enough to wonder how many tigers you’ve turned into pussycats since you emerged from your cradle.”
    She strode off, forcing Toby to break into a trot to keep up. “I was talking about Merissa ,” she said when Ian fell in step beside her. She fished her keys out of her purse, pushed the button on the fob, and opened the rear door of her car. “So you don’t have to worry; I’m so out of practice, I don’t even remember the rules of engagement,” she muttered, tossing her cane and purse on the floor in the back.
    Ian waited until Toby had hopped in the backseat before he used his hip to close the door even as he pressed his palms to Jessie’s face and tilted her head back. “Maybe all you’re needing is a little reminder,” he murmured, capturing her gasp of surprise in his mouth.
    She went perfectly still, not resisting but not participating, either. In fact, it appeared as if she wasn’t quite sure what was happening.
    She certainly tasted as sweet as she looked, and not ten seconds into the kiss Ian began to worry that his own arrogance might end up ruining his chances of seeing her again. That is, until he felt her hands slide up between them to settle on his chest; not to push him away, apparently, but to grip his shirt as if she were afraid he’d stop.
    Not likely, and definitely not any time soon. He slid an arm behind her shoulders and tucked her head in the crook of his elbow, dropping his other hand low on her back to pull her more intimately against him. Her lips parted enough to allow his tongue to go in search of hers, and Ian felt her shiver. And then he felt her soften at about the same time she made a sweet little sound that sent all his blood to his groin—which told him that if he didn’t stop now, he might not stop at all.
    He lifted his head to find her big hazel eyes staring up at him, unblinking.
    “A matronly pat on the arm might be how ye handle this sort of thing in the city,” he said, his voice sounding thick even to him, “but in the wilderness, that’s how we say good night to someone we just spent the better part of an enjoyable evening with.”
    Her cheeks flushed. But when she still didn’t move, Ian decided to kiss her again. Only his heart nearly pounded out of his chest when she pressed a hand to his face and kissed him back—although hesitantly, as if she were worried her boldness might encourage him to ask for more liberties.
    But he came by his patience honestly, thanks to his highlander genes. And since Jessie was moving here, Ian was content to let her grow comfortable with him at her own pace—assuming her sweet torture didn’t