My Tempting Highlander (Highland Hearts #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    T WENTY-FIRST C ENTURY S COTLAND
    E DINBURGH
    “You’re late. Again. They’re gonna fire your ass.”
    “Don’t start with me, Lilia.” Mairi Sinclair dumped her bulging work tote at the base of the back stair opening into the kitchen. “It’s not my fault this time.”
    Her twin sister, who neither looked nor acted anything like her, didn’t look up from the electronic tablet propped against her breakfast bowl of fruit. “You’re always late and it’s always your fault. Why would this morning be any different?” With one finger flicking through the paragraphs streaming down the screen, Lilia absentmindedly patted the other hand over to the bowl of fruit, fished out a handful of berries, and popped them in her mouth.
    “Granny.” Knowing her sister would immediately comprehend exactly what she meant without further explanation, Mairi didn’t bother to continue. There wasn’t time. Granny had kept her awake all night, nagging about jumping back to the thirteenth century. When she’d finally stuffed cotton in her ears and managed to muffle Granny long enough to fall asleep, the unrelenting woman had somehow managed to show up in her dreams and continue the lecture. “And where’s Eliza this morning?”
    Lilia slowly pulled her attention away from her reading, glancing around the kitchen as though she just realized where she was. “I don’t think she’s down yet. I haven’t seen her this morning. Why?”
    “Because she and Granny are plotting—big-time.” Mairi plunked her travel mug down beside the coffeemaker, lifted the empty pot, and held it up to her sister. “You couldn’t leave me one cup? One. Stinking. Cup?” She’d barely clocked a couple of hours of sleep. Without at least a gallon of caffeine, she’d never make it through a double shift at the hospital.
Dammit, this is gonna be one hell of a day.
    “Geez, you’re pissy this morning.” Lilia rose from the table, tucked the reading tablet into the hot pink briefcase on the table, and took the pot from Mairi. “Another pot won’t take but a second. Besides, as late as you are, I don’t see how it really matters anyway. If the hospital hasn’t fired you by now, maybe they won’t fire you today. Sit down and tell me what Granny and Eliza have done this time.”
    “I don’t have time to sit.” Mairi leaned back against the kitchen cabinets, massaging her fingers into the muscles knotted at the base of her neck. She was exhausted—and tensed tighter than a whore in church. Granny had not only kept the fire portal in the small hearth in her bedroom wide open, her image and voice echoing loud and clear from the coals of the dying fire, she’d even gone so far as to project her rant through the heat vents in the bathroom and the study as though the newly installed ductwork of the old Victorian house was a freaking intercom system between centuries.
    Granny had lectured for hours. No. She’d not lectured. She’d accused and shamed her, dumping on the guilt by the gallons. Mairi rubbed the burning corners of her tired eyes.
I am not shirking my heritage, ignoring my destiny, or shunning my damn family.
Granny had spared nothing. She’d used every form of emotional ammo at her disposal.
Shunned and turned my back on the family.
Those were the words that had stung the most. How could Granny say such a thing?
    “She refuses to understand.” Mairi pushed away from the counter, pacing back and forth in front of the quietly gurgling coffeemaker. “I don’t belong in the thirteenth century—I just don’t.” She jabbed a finger at the floor. “I belong here.”
    Lilia didn’t say a word, just thoughtfully sipped on a huge mug of coffee—the last damn cup of coffee, which she should’ve shared.
    Mairi hit the counter with a frustrated thump. She might be a Sinclair time runner, able to skate back and forth across centuries at will, but that didn’t mean she had to give up all the niceties of the future to take up permanent