Deception of a Highlander by Madeline Martin

Author:Madeline Martin [Martin, Madeline]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781626816329
Google: 33uwCAAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00R6VQHRG
Barnesnoble: B00R6VQHRG
Goodreads: 24767182
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

• • •

That evening at supper, Mariel positioned herself beside Colin and in the direct line of Kieran. By the end of the meal, Colin’s eyes were bleary, and his speech garbled with drink. It had taken a considerable amount of whisky and persuasion to get him to such a state. He leaned the side of his head against his fist with an arm propped against the table and gave her a crooked smile. Doubtless many a woman had fallen for that charming grin.

But Mariel was not interested in love or flirtation. Her prize sat at the head of the table, silent and brooding—and completely oblivious of her presence.

“Ye’re beautiful, Mariel,” Colin slurred.

She smiled in response to the compliment. Considerable care had been taken with her appearance. A simple violet gown of silk had been chosen for the way it hugged her body and complimented her smooth skin. Her hair was left unbound and cascaded down her back in glossy waves. The way Kieran liked it.

“And you are a handsome man. So strong, intelligent,” she purred, “important.” She waited for her words to take effect through his whisky infused haze. “I bet you know everything there is to know about Skye…even things you shouldn’t.” A well-placed giggle took the stark questioning from her words. Men were more apt to disclose information when they assumed a woman was harmless and silly.

His eyebrow cocked arrogantly. “That I do. I help Kieran with all of his private business. There’s no one who knows more, save Kieran himself.”

Her heart flinched at Colin’s obvious pride. She swirled the remnants of wine in her cup, but did not drink it. Everything soured in her stomach, churned into bitter disgust. She hated this questioning, the use of people’s trust. She wanted to run away from the hall and not stop until she was somewhere dark and cold. Somewhere her skin could prickle and ice the way her insides did.

But she could not. Instead she smiled at Colin and pressed further. “Then you are the perfect person to help me understand things here. Does the entire clan live here in the castle?”

“Ach, no! There are many more people living throughout the island, just no so easy to find.”

That was exactly what she had assumed. “I bet you know where to find each and every one of them, don’t you?” She leaned closer, her leg brushing his beneath the table.

His hooded gaze dipped to the low neckline of her dress. “We should go somewhere more private, aye? There are more important matters I’d like to…discuss.”

“If we prolong it, you will enjoy it more.” The caress of her lips against his hair added intimacy to her whispered words. The drink would see him to dark oblivion before he ever had a chance to touch her.

Her gaze flicked back to where Kieran sat at the head of the table and her heart sank. He was locked in deep conversation with Alec, his face turned away from her.

Jealousy, it appeared, did not work on him after all.

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