How to Handle a Highlander (Hot Highlanders) Read Online Free PDF

been something about her that seemed out of place, if indeed she was in agreement with her brother’s schemes. There had been no bright smile on her face, only a solid look of determination.
    Gahan shook off his suspicions. The lass was set to do what her brother wanted, no matter her horror over the groom. He needed to listen to his gut instinct. Moira was kin to Sandra; that made her a master of deceit. She was using Achaius as much as the old man was planning on using her young flesh. It shouldn’t sicken him. At least not beyond the pure callous nature of it.
    But it did.
    ***
    “I do nae like him here,” Bari complained.
    “Well, there is naught ye can do. The man is me overlord. Yers too,” Achaius groused. “I do nae know how he learned of the wedding, but it does nae matter. I cannae tell him to leave unless ye want him to know we plan to unite our clans against his father. He has the right, as me overlord’s son, to witness the wedding. The union will be stronger for it too.”
    “Then let’s get the vows spoken.”
    Achaius shook his head. “Nae until I have the dowry.”
    “I brought it,” Bari snapped.
    “Me secretary is still drawing up the contracts. Until ye sign them, the dowry is nae complete because of the land ye promised. Ye cannae claim to have that in yer hand.”
    Bari slammed his mug down on the table. The door opened as one of the Matheson retainers looked into his laird’s private chamber to investigate the sound. Achaius gave the man a wave of his old hand, and the door shut again.
    “Do nae make the mistake of thinking me a fool, lad.” Achaius was stopped by a coughing fit. It racked his body for several long moments before he cleared his throat. “Every bride I’ve wed increased the Matheson land. Yer sister will be no exception. Land is better than gold, because when ye have land, it can be farmed and the crops sold. Land is a man’s true wealth. I’ll see the papers signed and witnessed before there is any visit to the church.”
    “If that was yer feeling, ye had some nerve handling her so publicly.”
    “I’ve got nerve aplenty, lad, which is why ye’re sitting here. For all yer words of how worthless yer sister is, she’s something I want, and ye know it.”
    “Half sister,” Bari corrected. “Her mother was me father’s second wife. A common-born woman.”
    “Ah, yes. Ye see? Yer father knew the value of wedding, and I bet his second wife brought gold or silver with her since she did nae have a claim to a fine family.” Achaius took a swig from his mug and smiled as he swallowed. “Now Sandra was a fine bit of woman. I’d have enjoyed spreading her out in me bed.” He reached down and rubbed his crotch. “I’m hard just thinking about it.”
    Bari snarled, and Achaius chuckled.
    “Was she meant for better men than me?” He leaned forward. “Do ye think I do nae know ye would never have offered her to me?”
    “Sandra was a rare beauty.”
    “And a conniving bitch.” Achaius pounded a fist on the table. “Better ye understand, lad, I’ll be the master here.”
    Bari set his mug down. “Maybe I should take me offer and go, because ye promised ye’d ride out against the Sutherlands with me in exchange for me sister. It seems all ye are interested in at the moment is fucking and collecting land from me.”
    “Until I have the contracts signed and sealed, that is all I’m interested in. I agreed to the match and yer terms of riding against the Sutherlands in exchange for the land ye agreed to settle on Moira. Money a man can make, but land, well, that is something they do nae make any more of. That’s what set yer sister above the other lasses I might have chosen. Ye are nae the only man who knows me retainers are the best and plentiful.”
    “Then we’re still agreed. Let’s get the vows spoken,” Bari pressed.
    Laird Matheson held up his hand as Bari stood up. “Tomorrow will be soon enough. Yer sister will have less fight in her after a