To Desire a Highlander Read Online Free PDF

admired in any other man. He was also better groomed. His black hair gleamed as it blew across his shoulders, his beard was still full, but neatly trimmed. No longer looking like a haven for lice, fleas, and the remains of his dinner. It galled her to admit, but he’d turned dashing in a devilish way. His stare stayed on her, his dark eyes fierce. Raw male prowess rolled off him, his boldness heating her skin as their gazes locked.
    Gillian kept her expression cool, intent on remembering who he was.
    She didn’t want to find him attractive.
    She’d been so sure a few costly trinkets would dissuadehim, buying her freedom. Now, a gut feeling told her he’d throw back his head and laugh at her offer. That he’d claim her and her treasure.
    Come what might, she’d press for the advantage, using skill, wit, and wiles, to bargain with him. She just hoped she could do so in the proud, self-possessed manner she’d intended. The well-thought-out plan she’d laid for him.
    Trouble was she’d expected the Donell of old.
    Now…
    Already, her heart thudded against her ribs, hammering almost as loudly as the clang of his ship’s gong, the thunder of its lightning-quick oars, and the hiss of the waves along the hull.
    Proving he must be half-crazed as well as much changed, Donell didn’t order his rowers to keep back-watering the sweeps as the longship sped closer. Far from it, he signaled his men to give one last great pull on the oars, a bold maneuver that sent the ship shooting up onto the landing beach in a spray of foam and pebbles.
    Gillian tried not to be impressed.
    Her brothers fell back, calling encouragement, belting a few whoops, cheering as one.
    His gaze still on her, Donell leapt from the prow before the ship juddered to a halt.
    “Ho, there!” He looked away from her to wave at her brothers, then he made for her father. His stride was long and purposeful. “What honor do I—”
    “Donell MacDonell, I greet you!” Mungo met him halfway, grinning ridiculously. “The pleasure is ours! My sons and I welcome you with all the hospitality of Clan MacGuire. My daughter is most pleased.” He thrust out an arm, indicating Gillian. “She awaits you gladly.”
    “Indeed, I do.” Gillian nodded once, not saying that her eagerness was only to make him a deal he couldn’t resist. That all she anticipated was bidding him farewell, watching him and his wee isle disappear beneath the horizon as she sailed away on the tide.
    The image strengthened her.
    So she remained where she stood, refusing to rush forward with her brothers, who formed a half-circle around him and her father.
    To her relief, and inexplicable irritation, Donell didn’t encourage her to join them.
    Instead, he greeted Mungo like a friend, returning the older man’s grin with a broad smile of his own.
    “Mungo MacGuire!” Donell threw an arm around her father’s shoulders, embraced him as if they’d been the closest of allies. When he finally released him and stepped back, he was still smiling. “I am well pleased to see you, and your family.” He turned to Gillian’s brothers, moving along the line of them, clapping a few on the shoulder, giving one or two a friendly punch to the arm.
    “Sakes! We thought you’d sailed off the world’s edge.” Blackie, Gillian’s most dashing brother, spoke what she wished had happened. Named for his dark good looks, so unlike her other brothers, Blackie welcomed Donell with a grin as wide as Mungo’s. “We set sail as soon as word of your return to Laddie’s Isle reached us.
    “Where were you?” Blackie glanced round at his brothers, looking again to Donell when they all nodded, showing equal curiosity.
    “Ever sailing these Isles, I was.” Donell glanced at the horizon, his face sobering. “A storm damaged my ship and carried us into Manx waters, where we weren’tgreeted kindly.” He shrugged a big shoulder. “The good folk of Man accused us of spying and tossed us in a pit. I only just