The Highlander's Curse Read Online Free PDF Page B

flames as the savory rabbit
meat practically melted on my tongue. Swallowing, I said, “They’re not
ridiculous. If anyone here looks like an idiot, it would be you.” I glanced
over him, taking in the sight of his red and green kilt and bare shins,
weird-looking shoes, and the part of his kilt that he’d thrown over his
shoulder. That strip of cloth had been one of the first things I’d noticed
about him. That, and the fact that it hardly covered the tan, taught skin of
his chest and stomach. “I mean, come on…where’s your shirt?”
    He
snorted. “I only wear it if I’m goin’ intae town. Why would I risk ruinin’ a
perfectly good shirt just tae sit alone in the forest?”
    “Why do
you live in the forest?”
    “Why
dae ye wear such improper clothing?”
    “Well,
if you’d help me get back to Oban I could change my clothes.”
    “I
canna take ye tae a town or village I’ve ne’er heard o’.”
    I shook
my head, barely able to bite my tongue from what I really wanted to say. In the
hours since he grabbed me, I’d listened to the woods around us, and had come to
a very scary conclusion: There was no one around us. I hadn’t heard a single
car pass in all this time. I hadn’t even heard a jet fly overhead, and that was
something I could always hear from anywhere if I listened hard enough.
    “Ye’re
cold, lass,” the Scot said suddenly.
    I was
cold. Or rather, half of my body was. The front half was warmed by the fire,
but my entire backside was chilled from the night air. Not that I’d tell him.
    “I
dinna ken why ye’re bein’ so stubborn. I’ve done nae harm tae ye.”
    “Oh?
Tackling me to the ground doesn’t count as harm?”
    “Well.”
He shrugged, and I could have sworn an embarrassed flush warmed his face. “Ye
brought that on yerself, lass. Ye’re a feisty wee thing, are ye no’?”
    He had
no idea.
    “Hae ye
nae cloak then?”
    Great,
we were talking about my clothes again. I gestured to myself with my hands. “Does
it look like I have a cloak?”
    “Watch
the fire, aye?” He waited for my nod and stood, stepping away from the flames
and disappearing around a tree. I sat there, staring into the fire and then at
the surrounding darkness, wondering just how far I could get if I tried to make
a play for escape. Probably not far, I decided. My best bet was to wait until
he fell asleep. Maybe if I played nice for now, he’d trust me enough to sleep
without keeping one eye on me.
    The
Highlander returned a minute later with a bundle of white cloth in his hands,
holding it out for me to take. “Here, maybe this will help tae keep ye warm.”
    I took
the proffered item and unwadded it before raising my brows. “Your shirt?”
    “Aye.
Be careful wi’it, mind. ‘Tis the only one I’ve tae ma name.”
    I stood
and held it out to him. “I think you need this more than I do. Out of the two
of us, I’m the only one actually wearing a shirt.”
    He
waved it away. “Nae need. I’ve ma tartan tae keep me warm.” In illustration, he
fanned out the cloth that had been looped over his shoulder and wrapped it more
securely around himself. “Now, put it on before ye freeze tae death.”
    I sat
back down on the log and drummed my fingers on my knee. I didn’t want to wear
his shirt. My clothes were perfectly fine. I’d worn this outfit probably twenty
times and not once had anyone had anything negative to say about it. But oh,
get kidnapped and tossed out into the middle of nowhere, and suddenly my
clothes warrant a reaction so negative that I’m forced to cover them up….
    Finally,
I yanked on his shirt and cinched closed the wide opening just below the neck,
tying the strings together. I was swimming in the thing, but could immediately
feel the bubble of warmth around me. Biting my lip, I peered across the fire at
him. “Thanks.”
    “Ye’re
welcome.” He drew himself closer to the fire and cut off another chunk of meat,
carefully handing it to me.
    “So,
uh…should I just