Highland Wolf (Highland Brides) by Lois Greiman Page A

the mystery. Roman sat in silent thought until suddenly he realized how much time had elapsed since she'd left the common room. The conniving little scamp! She'd gone out the back way without him. He'd bet his life on it.
    Roman hurried through the front door. Once outside, he scanned the darkness until he saw a figure flitting through the night.
    With a smug smile, he trotted down a side street, turned a corner, turned again, hurried on, and finally stopped to listen. For a moment no noise met his. ears. But a soft breeze blew from the south, finally carrying the sound of footsteps, light and quick as a vixen on the prowl.
    He waited a moment longer then stepped away from the building.
    "Betty," he said.
    "Sweet Mary!" she gasped, stumbling backward. "What the devil are you doing 'ere?"
    "Walking ye home? Ye agreed ta allow me, ye ken."
    "I 'ad no wish to wound your feelings with a refusal, Scotsman. But you're beginning to irritate me."
    "I told ye I would worry."
    "I'm a big girl, now. Ye needn't fret on my account."
    "But I do."
    "Then go fret somewhere else."
    He watched her carefully. In the light of the inn, her cap hid her features. Or did her cleavage draw the eye to such an extent that her face was hidden? Whatever the case, here in the dark, he found that he saw her with his imagination. And he imagined her naked—slim, supple, and in his arms.
    For a moment he forgot to breathe. Electricity sparked between them. "Betty." Her name was a breath on his lips.
    But suddenly she backed away, her eyes wide and liquid in the darkness.
    He didn't approach her, though holding back was difficult. "What be ye afraid of, lass?"
    "Afraid?" She laughed, but the sound was nervous. "You're thinking of someone else, surely. There's not a man I fear."
    "Then mayhap ye can protect me ," he said.
    She tilted her head and stared up into his face. "Somehow, I think ya can 'andle yourself, Scotsman."
    "Nay." He tightened one fist in sudden irritation. How was it that her presence distracted him from his quest? "I lost the necklace," he reminded them both.
    Shrugging, she stepped around him. "The Shadow is but a wild myth concocted to give hope ta them that's got none. I've learned nothin' ta make me think different, if that' s why you're 'ere."
    He fell in beside her. She was a good-sized woman. How did she move with such quiet grace?
    "Mayhap I'm here just ta be near ye," he said quietly.
    "Because you're attracted ta me ... brains?"
    He knew sarcasm when he heard it. "Mayhap," he said seriously.
    She glanced quickly up at him. For a moment, he saw something indiscernible in her eyes, but it disappeared quickly, and she laughed.
    "I know your kind, Scotsman. Have known a thousand like ya."
    "A thousand?" They'd reached her door. He leaned against the jamb, casually hiding the keyhole from her. "'Tis a fair number, when in truth..." He paused and lifted a hand to gently brush her cheek. "I've known none like ye."
    She drew a sharp breath between her teeth. But her tone was still casual. "Ya should get around more, Scotsman."
    "We could go inside and discuss me lack of experience."
    "Give it up, luv."
    "Why would I do that now, lass?" he asked, leaning forward.
    She scrunched back. "Because ya'll only be disappointed."
    "I doubt that," he said, backing her against the wall, and bracing one hand on each side of her body.
    "'Tis true," she said, but her voice had dropped to little more than a whisper.
    "Why?"
    "Because." She licked her lips. Gone was the saucy maid with the hearty laugh and quick wit. "I'm ... I'm spoken for."
    He raised a brow. "Yer wed?"
    Now she did laugh, though the sound was shaky. "My kind don't marry, Scottie. But I've got me a man. And 'e don't like competition."
    "Really?" He watched her eyes carefully. He had heard this same tale from two of the men he'd questioned. But many of the others had vowed to have slept with her, only to cast suspicion on their honesty by things said later in the conversation, just as the