Wake Me with a Kiss by Samantha Holt

Author:Samantha Holt [Holt, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Hamish rubbed a hand across his freshly shaven chin. He felt about as vulnerable as a newborn bairn without the stubble. He took a tour around the dining room and admired the fresh flowers and the elegant table settings. Who could believe that a year ago, when he was sleeping in a tent to the sound of cannon fire, that he would end up here, dining with the good folk of Baleith.

And Rose.

He smiled. Helping her aunt had been a stroke of luck. Not for Mrs. Merriweather perhaps but for himself. It had made it impossible for her to refuse his invitation, meaning he could have more time with Rose. If he could prove himself tonight, perhaps she would give him permission to court her.

That was his intention, to be certain. Rose was clever, sweet, and funny. He wanted—nay, needed—to get to know her better.

A few more kisses would not hurt either.

Not tonight, though. Tonight he was intent on proving he was far more than a highland barbarian. The other families could hang, he couldn’t care less what they thought of him, but he grudgingly admitted the show would not hurt his cause of settling into the area. He had discovered much of his cousin’s business dealings had been with local families of wealth, so he would have to continue to nurture those relationships as best as he could.

He glanced down at his formal attire. He would not be abandoning his kilt, however, regardless of how others saw him. There was only so much a highlander would do for approval.

“How do I look?”

He pivoted to see Marianne in the doorway. By some miracle, he’d avoided her the past few days, though there had been the recent incident where she had conjured up some nightmare as an excuse to slip into his room in her nightgown. Needless to say, she had been swiftly escorted out.

In dark green silk and capped sleeves, she did look beautiful. However, her beauty could hardly mask the scheming glint in her eyes. He took a step forward, his jaw tight.

“Did I no’ say ye wouldnae be attending tonight?”

The pulse fluttered in her neck. “I dinnae recall.”

“How do ye think it would look for me to have ye attend?”

“Are ye ashamed of me?”

“Aye, ashamed my cousin ever took ye for a mistress.”

Eyes wide, she staggered back slightly as though about to fall into a faint. He ignored the movement. He had been patient for long enough. Now she intended to invade the dinner party that was to secure his chance with Rose and introduce him to the rest of the local families? He would not stand for it. As soon as he had made his intentions toward Rose clear, he would be marching down to Edinburgh and speaking with his lawyers. As much as he wanted to respect his cousin’s wishes—if he even had any toward Marianne—he could not abide her under his roof any longer.

“I have housed and fed ye for some time now, Marianne. It is past time for ye to leave.

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