The Highlander's Hope - A Contemporary Highland Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

ceilings soared high above them.  He took one turn and then another, winding around towards the back of the house.  Finally, he pulled open a door, and let her step through.
    Her heart pitter-patter ed in delight at the sight of all the books, despite her recent troubles.  Two levels of full-sized book cases lined every wall, the only interruption occurring where the stone fireplace cobbled its way to the ceiling.  A roaring fire was already dancing in its confines as if in anticipation of their arrival, warding off the damp of the autumnal morning.
    Iain stopped short and spun on her, her reveries over the books dissolving like smoke caught on a wind.  “You need to tell me everything you know.  Now.”
    His eyes locked on hers, his jaw stiff as he spoke.  He was angry, but if he thought he could bully her, he’d soon find out just how wrong he was.
    “Look, I don’t mind sharing some information, but I can’t tell you everything.  This is bigger than all of us, and I can’t risk letting it fall into the wrong hands.  I’m here as a researcher, and I swear I’ll do right by your family, but I need your support.”
    “ I’m sorry, lass, but if ye want my support then ye need to trust me with what it is we’re looking for.  You’ve put my family in danger, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to fumble around in the dark not knowing who or what will be coming.  I want answers, Cat.”
    “ Look… James might be an ass, but he wouldn’t physically hurt anyone.” 
    “ Aye, this James seems the trustworthy sort from what ye’ve said of him.  And what of the others?  Can you be so sure of them?”  He ran a rough hand through his thick chestnut locks.
    Unfortunately, Iain was right, even if Cat was loath to admit it.  “Then help me find it before the others figure out what we’re up to.”
    He laughed while shaking his head.  “I’d be happy to, lass—if ye’d tell me what the hell it is I’m actually trying to find.  Tell me what it is we’re looking for and ye can have access to all ye need, and I’ll help in any way I can.  But it’s not going to happen if ye’re keeping secrets from me—especially not when my family’s involved.”
    She debated telling him she’d find a way without him , but there was no point to it.  Especially not when James was on her trail.  Iain had her cornered, and telling him the truth would be the only way to get him to cooperate. 
    “Fine.   We can work together.”  Annoyance still crept into her voice, and she put little effort into trying to disguise it.
    “Is it The Highlander’s Hope?”  When Cat cursed under her breath, he howled in excitement.  “I knew it.  I just knew it had to be.”
    He was grinning like the cat who’d stolen the cream, and she was irked to no end. “So now you know.  Happy?”
    “It’s a start .”  He walked over to a desk, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she was following.  “There’s one more order of business.  I need ye to sign this.”
    Cat picked up the papers and flipped through them, her eyes scanning the pages , her anger building with each word.  “Are you kidding?  You want me to sign a confidentiality agreement?  You must think awfully highly of yourself.”
    “What I do think is that the tabloids are happy to get their hands on anything at all, and will pay handsomely for it.  So you can either sign, or leave.  The choice is yours.”  
    “You’ re awfully good at ultimatums.” She glared at him, but knew there was no point to protesting, and she had no interest in the tabloids, it didn’t really matter.  She grabbed a pen from his desk and quickly signed the papers, handing them back to him, none too gently.  “I’m not here for gossip or to spy on you and your girlfriends.”
    “ Just a small precaution is all.”  He motioned towards a stack sitting on an end table. “These are the books I mentioned.  There are notes in some, and then there are also a few