The Sweetest Hours (Harlequin Superromance) (17 page)

He took out his own phone and snapped another photo of her. This was for himself. Lowering his head, he turned the camera off. A fat raindrop landed on the screen. Another one hit his head.

“I’ll get the umbrella,” he said, handing Kristin her camera. “Wait here, under the trees.”

By the time he got to the road, the rain was falling at a steady clip. The moor misted and fogged pretty quickly.

“I’m coming!” she called. “I don’t mind the rain!”

He looked back and saw her running toward him as fast as she could, laughing.

What was it about her? She always lightened his mood. The woman was just what he needed in his life.

Together they raced to the car. Inside, he opened the glove box and pulled out the minibottle of whisky he’d brought from the B&B. He unscrewed the top and held it to her.

“You first,” she said, smiling.

“To castles in Scotland.” He tipped the bottle to his mouth and took a taste. It burned a warm trail down his throat. Wiping his lips with the back of his hand, he passed it to her.

With her eyes on his, she accepted the bottle. She leaned her head on the headrest. “To castles in Scotland,” she whispered.

Her eyes never leaving his and, without wiping the bottle first, she put her mouth where his had just been and drank deeply.

He couldn’t stop watching her.

She took the bottle away, wiping her mouth. Her eyes were bright and shining. And her lips...

Her mouth parted, and her gaze lowered to his lips.

“Malcolm...” Her voice was low and husky and struck just the right chord in him.

He lowered his head to kiss her at the same time that she moved toward him.

She kissed him so sweetly.

* * *

H
E
TASTED
OF
the whisky. The stubble on his cheek from not shaving this morning brushed her cheek, but Kristin would have it no other way. If she’d learned anything from her experience castle-hunting with him, it was to trust herself and do things on her terms. Kissing him just...felt right.

She made a little noise in her throat and leaned back on the seat again, just gazing into his brilliant blue eyes and his handsome face. He leaned his head against the seat back, too, gazing at her and saying nothing.

Apparently she was starved from not being kissed by him, ever since he’d left Vermont. Until now, she hadn’t realized.

This time was different from Burns Night, though. This time she’d gone out on a limb with him, and he with her, just a little bit more. Baby steps, the way she needed it. Maybe the way they both needed it.

She tilted her head toward him for another kiss. “More...” she whispered to him. “Please. Just like the first time.”

He understood. He didn’t reach to touch her with his hands.

The warmth of his large body, close enough for her to be aware of his chest rising and falling, but not making contact with her—not at all—made her feel safe. He was sensual but controlled.

He kissed her again. Slowly, drinking her in. Both their heads leaning against the seat back, only their mouths touching.

The drum of the rain on the roof intensified her heartbeat. The scent of their wet, woolen clothes and the humidity in the air of their private hideaway increased her tenderness toward him.

The fact that Malcolm had stayed with her through all the highs and the lows of this crazy drive to find her castle just made her want him more.

She placed her palm flat on his chest, her fingertips brushing that sexy indent below his Adam’s apple and down over his hot skin, to the edge of his shirt. Breaking all her own rules...

His head dropped back. “I have an idea,” he said gruffly.

No. No ideas.
“Kissing you just feels good,” she said. “Can’t we keep it at that?”

CHAPTER TEN

O
H
, K
RISTY
.
M
ALCOLM
reached up and caressed the edge of her smooth cheek with the back of his knuckle.

“I’m just...not looking to be part of a relationship right now,” Kristin said, shivering involuntarily.

He stilled. Withdrew his hand from her. There
was
something there. He hadn’t imagined it.

“We still have to discuss Born in Vermont, Malcolm,” she said.

“I know. It’s just about ten o’clock.” And he’d promised to bring her back to Edinburgh, too. Somehow, though, his priorities had shifted. He wasn’t keen on letting her go just yet.

“Why don’t you take more time, another day or two here?” Maybe then he could figure her out more fully. “You’re in Scotland now. From the day I met you, you were in love with this place. You wanted me to talk to you like this.” He gave her his best brogue, really rolled those
r
’s. “To talk to you, love, in that Sean Connery voice.”

“I’ll make a recording and bring it home with me,” she said, laughing.

“Ah, but it’s not the same. Can a recording kiss you?”

“In my imagination, when I want it to. And when I don’t want it to, it won’t.”

So, that was her secret. “I thought you were adventurous,” he said.

She held up her camera. “I am. Look what I just did.”

“Yes, and did you know that there are real, fully functioning castles that you haven’t seen yet? And...have you seen a Scotsman dance the Highland Fling? Or been to a real Scottish pub and...eaten...haggis in Scotland? Plus, we have islands and firths and the Loch Ness monster....”

Now he was getting silly. “And golf and whisky tours and Burns readings.”

Stupid and hokey, but it was working. Her lips were parted, and the spark was in her eyes.

Kristin laughed and shook her head. “
Why
are you tempting me? Do you think that will make Born in Vermont go away?”

“No.” It was because when he kissed her, he wanted to keep going, to make love to her, even in this tiny, creaky, ridiculous little car. With the rain drumming on the roof and the smell of the wool from her damp shawl against his nose, the scent of that amazing shampoo she used in her hair.

Man, he would never get Aura out of his life.

“When I met you, you stayed so close to home, working in that closed-in factory, and you didn’t seem happy about it, to tell the truth, but there you stayed anyway. And here, just now...” He glanced toward the castle ruins. “Running through the fields, you seemed happy. You were free.”

“You’re psychoanalyzing me again.”

“Yes,” Malcolm said. “And I’ll stop now, because I hate it when people talk about me as if they know me, too.”

Curious, she glanced at him. “Well...” She was wavering. “Where would I stay? If I did decide to extend my time, that is?”

He was thinking on the fly. None of this was planned out—which was a completely new way of living for him. He usually plotted his life ten steps ahead. But with Kristin’s presence, everything had changed. He felt refreshed.

“In my flat in Edinburgh.” He held up his hand before she could protest. “The flat next to mine is empty at the moment, and since I know the landlord, I could ask him—”

The shrill ringing of a phone sounded. His phone, with a very distinctive ringtone. Malcolm stilled.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“My uncle.” He reached over and shut off the phone.

“You should take his call.”

“No,” he said. “I’m talking to you.”

“It might be about Born in Vermont.”

He stared at her. “Why would you think that?”

“Because he seemed very interested in what I had to say about it.”

“You...had an extended conversation with him about Born in Vermont?”

“Of course. Why else would he have told me to work with
Malcolm.
” She peered at him. “You see, I can psychoanalyze you, too. Did you know that your whole expression changed at his ringtone? You became fierce-looking. How do you work with him, anyway? What kind of arrangement do you two have?”

“Okay. I’ll have to look into this on Monday,” he suddenly realized, groaning. “We don’t know who owns the rights to Born in Vermont, us or Jay. That’s the first thing my uncle is going to want to know. If it is us, are we leaving money on the table? If not, do we want to buy the rights from Jay? These are the things my uncle will be concerned about.”

She bit her lip, as if debating whether to tell him something.

“Kristy?” he asked. “What is it? Is there something you’re not saying?”

Finally, she sighed. “Hear me out for a minute, okay? Did Jay Astley get a large sum of money from Sage in the Aura buyout?”

“Ah...he sold his brands to us,” Malcolm said. “And he’s a consultant on our payroll, so he’s been well compensated. I can’t tell you details, but...why do you ask?”

“Because here’s my problem, Malcolm. No matter who owns the formulations, I need to figure out something to do with the old Aura building so that we can keep people employed. You said you’re putting it up for sale. Well, I originally came to Edinburgh because I wanted to talk with John Sage about that. Like I told you, Laura was working on a new product line she called Born in Vermont, something she felt was outside the branding of Aura. The hallmark is that everything about that product needs to be made in Vermont, because of the way it’s branded. So, if it turns out that Sage owns it but isn’t interested in the line, then I’ll need you to offer it back to Jay.” She looked at him hopefully.

First of all, Jay Astley was so much in debt, he wouldn’t have the capital to buy much of anything from anyone. But he couldn’t tell Kristin that. “Have you talked with him about your ideas?” he asked.

“Well, yes, but he thinks you own it. So my plan now is to explain Born in Vermont to Sage. That’s why I came to Scotland in the first place.”

“I see,” he said.

“For the past twenty-four hours I’ve been playing by your rules, Malcolm. I’ve been very good—you have to admit.” She smiled at him. “And since I’ve found my castle, I’m feeling even more empowered. I’m up for taking a few days beyond Monday to stay with you, but only if that stay includes working on the Born in Vermont proposal.”

She shrugged. “And, if you ascertain that you don’t own the brand...then I can go home and tell Jay that he has the rights to it. Besides, you promised not to pack up the plant equipment until I got home, and I can’t imagine you’d go back on your word now.”

She had him there. Between a rock and a hard place.

Malcolm crossed his arms, thinking it over. Listening to the rain patter on the roof.

There was still no way he could recommend that his family invest in Born in Vermont. But, if she stayed a few more days, then at least he’d have the opportunity to spend more time with her.

“Tell me more about this Edinburgh flat of yours,” she prodded.

“You’d be staying with me, essentially,” he said.

She nodded slowly. “I’m just having a hard time seeing you in a flat.” She cocked her head and laughed, showing her dimples. “I expected something totally different for you.”

“Like what?” he asked, curious.

“Well, you’re so hyped up on security...” She tapped a finger to her lips. “I pictured you in a stone fortress of a Highland castle, very remote, with twenty-four-hour armed guards and security for the laird.”

“You just described my family’s home in Inverness,” he said, shaking his head. Leave it to her and her romantic imagination.

Her eyes bugged out. “Your family lives in a castle in Inverness? Seriously?”

He grinned at her. “Glad to finally impress you.”

“It’s always been my dream to stay in a real castle in Scotland.” A giddy smile spread over her face. “It’s not a ruin, is it, Malcolm?”

“No, it’s real. It’s livable.”

“Could I possibly stay there instead?” she begged. “I’ll keep this little car nearby—” she patted the glove compartment “—and stay, just as a guest, at least until we go to your office on Monday to meet with your uncle.”

“But my family lives there.”

“So? You met my family. It’s only fair.”

“But...” His mouth moved, but he couldn’t find the words. Emotion, dread and fear invaded him. “I’m very protective of them. I don’t just...let...” He let his voice trail off.

“Don’t you
ever
bring friends home?” she asked gently.

“No. Of course not. My sister lives there,” he blurted.

She tilted her head to him.

Great.
“My sister is an artist,” he explained. She was reclusive, but that was none of Kristin’s business. “She paints landscapes. She just needs...peace and quiet.”

Kristin’s eyes widened further. She seemed even more interested than before.

“You don’t want to stay there,” he said hurriedly. “Trust me.”

“Actually, I do want to. Very much. You intrigue me, Malcolm.” She smiled at him. “And if I’m to assist you with making your recommendation to your uncle, and entice you with the Born in Vermont products, then what better way to do so than to get to know you better? The real you.” She wrapped her tartan shawl around her shoulders and smiled at him harder.

The unfortunate part was, Malcolm could totally understand what she wanted, because he understood her. In addition to deciding to bewitch him over Born in Vermont—which would not happen—she also wanted to stay in his authentic Highland castle and use her treacherous death-trap car to zoom around the countryside, visiting the Culloden battlefield and driving along the lochs and seeking Loch Nessie—doing the things that tourists flocked to his home country to see.

“Yes,” she mused, “I feel much more empowered, and I think this is what I prefer to do until Monday.” She nodded. “In any event, Malcolm, here are our choices—I stay in your family’s castle, or, you drop me off in Edinburgh and meet me in your office on Monday morning, like your uncle said.”

He felt his teeth clenching. The helplessness rising in him.

But then an idea occurred to him. If Kristin stayed with him even a few days longer than Monday, then he could take her to the Byrne Glennie plant, just so she could see, firsthand, the possibilities for her future if she decided to stay and work with him.

Yes, she had already turned him down, but that was because she hadn’t seen the facilities for herself. This time, he would drag her kicking and screaming if he had to.

“Is that a yes on the castle?” She smiled at him.

He noticed that the rain had stopped. There was a bittersweet feeling to him. He really did want her with him, for just a while longer.

But at what cost?

To bring her home to his family was to bring her awfully close to him. Closer than he’d ever let anyone. So close that there would be no turning back.

Isn’t that what he’d wanted, though? What better way to understand Kristin than to show her the truth of his world.

“Okay, we’ll give it a try, but just for a day or two,” he agreed reluctantly.

She gifted him with a smile. “One more question. Could you also teach me to drive this left-handed stick-shift? It’s a safety issue,” she said, wide-eyed. “You never know when I might need the skill.”

“Aye. Right,” he said sarcastically.

Because Kristin would do what Kristin would do. And he would rather be the man who showed her how to do it than be the man who left it for another to do the job.

No matter how much it hurt, because the other option would hurt worse.

* * *

T
HEY
DROVE
THREE
hours to get to the MacDowall castle, over winding single-lane roads that skirted the edge of a loch with deep blue water.

The castle itself was approached by a long driveway. Gray stone walls and a turret stood in the middle of a green spongy field atop a hill with a long view of a valley.

It looked like a fairy tale to Kristin. And at the entrance to the drive there was even a guardhouse with a security person working inside. Kristin had been joking when she’d suggested it to Malcolm. But it was true.

She wrapped the soft cashmere McGunnert shawl around her and gazed at the serious Highlander sitting beside her, one hand guiding the steering wheel, the other settled on his lap.

Everything was going her way, at last. For the first time in a long time, Kristin felt hope. If she put her mind to it and believed in herself, then she could accomplish miracles. Already she’d achieved more than she’d dreamed she could.

She had traveled to Edinburgh. She had met with Mr. Sage. Together with Malcolm, she had found her grandmother’s castle, and now, with him again, they would find a solution to keeping the factory open by implementing Born in Vermont.

Yes, there was something about first seeking out and then finding that castle—when nobody had believed in her—that gave her renewed confidence in herself. Kristin hadn’t felt this free and capable since, well, she had left college and gone to New York.

She needed to keep this feeling going. The only complication was Malcolm. She had kissed him again, and there was no going back and erasing that from either of their minds.

She wriggled in her seat, sighing. She had enjoyed it immensely, though. That man just knew how to kiss her. He also understood that she didn’t want a hookup or a relationship, so there was freedom there. He even knew she was leaving in a few days and had agreed to that.

The situation was perfectly safe, really. She didn’t need to worry about getting in too deep with him.

She didn’t
want
to get too deep. Through trial and error, she’d learned that about herself. As much as she might fantasize about finding a soul mate in her weaker moments, it just didn’t seem to be in the stars for her.

What she needed to do was to focus on meeting his family and searching out and discovering anything that might help her strengthen her quest to convince Malcolm that Born in Vermont should be part of his company.

There had to be some way to help him relax his constant vigilance of the bottom line—it just couldn’t be through a romantic interest in her, because that was the one commitment she could never give him. He lived in Scotland, and she lived in Vermont.