Tall, Dark and Kilted Read Online Free PDF

weakness—a damsel in distress—topped his list.
    A room hung with targes proved a close second.
    Glaring at them, he considered using his ghostly abilities to get rid of them. Perhaps send them hurtling into the North Sea, letting them sink into its briny depths, one shield at a time.
    Or simply flicking his fingers and making them vanish. All at once, and with a fine and satisfying burst of colorful sparks.
    Unfortunately, his honor wouldn’t allow him such mischievous pleasures.
    Mac MacGhee was a goodly sort, and in the short time he’d enjoyed the laird’s unwitting hospitality, he’d grown rather fond of the man.
    He also knew Mac appreciated the targes.
    Still earthbound and curse-free, MacGhee hadn’t spent an eternity holding one of the fool contraptions in front of his tender parts.
    He just wished the man had mentioned the pending arrival of his niece.
    His American niece.
    He shuddered, his every shred of self-preservation clamping around him. Cilla Swanner posed a greater threat than an entire hall strung with shields.
    From experience, he knew how dangerous such foreign wenches could be. Two of his closest friends had fallen for females of her ilk, even succumbing deep enough to marry them.
    Blowing out a hot breath, he shoved a hand through his hair, his friends’ capitulations riding him hard.
    He couldn’t risk any such foolery.
    It’d been bad enough looking on as the maid had bared her breasts.
    And what magnificent breasts! Full, well-rounded, and pink-tipped, they’d bounced as she’d crossed the room to peer at him. Seldom had he seen such creamy, succulent teats. And she’d stood so close to the poster frame that he could almost feel their silky-smooth weight in his hands.
    Almost taste her chill-tightened nipples beneath his greedy, swirling tongue.
    Saints, how he’d love to suckle them!
    At once, he felt a stir beneath his kilt. A sudden rush of heat and twitches that heralded the start of a man’s oh-so-irresistible swelling.
    “Damnation,” he growled, clenching his fists until the hot pulling receded.
    Furious, he stared up at the room’s hammer-beam ceiling. He should have vanished when the lass had stripped down to such a delectable state of undress.
    Most certainly when she’d headed toward him, her startled expression leaving no doubt that she’d seen him.
    But nae . . .
    He’d ignored all good sense to stare right back at her like a lovestruck gawp, his old instincts rooting him in place despite the perils.
    He frowned again.
    The curvaceous American was a peril he hadn’t expected to encounter at a remote Highland care home for the aged and infirm.
    He’d hoped to spend his days being bored and uninspired.
    Wholly free of temptation.
    Setting his jaw, he tossed another glare at the wall of shields. Then he curled his fingers around his sword belt, preparing to transport himself up onto the battlements.
    For reasons he didn’t care to acknowledge, he felt a strong need for a blast of chill, bracing air.
    Something told him he soon might even require a few dips in the icy sea.
    Hardwick sighed. He’d chosen the refuge for his proving period unwisely.
    Most unwisely indeed.

    Chapter 2
    “Fool.”
    The word followed Hardwick to the battlements, sticking as close to him as the blaring strains of Mac MacGhee’s favorite pipe tune still rattled in his ears. He cupped them with his hands and pressed hard, trying in vain to rid himself of the loud, droning echo.
    Not that he didn’t love pipes.
    He did, as did all self-respecting Highlanders.
    But there were bagpipes and then bagpipes .
    Mac MacGhee’s mechanically contrived blast of Heiland skirling was an abomination.
    Hardwick frowned. Never again would he make the mistake of manifesting in the laird’s privy quarters just prior to teatime.
    Nor would he allow himself any further moments of self-satisfaction over having chosen Dunroamin as the place of refuge for his proving period.
    His decision was disastrous.
    If