ALLY SEARCHED THE rooms of the inn until she stumbled upon Heath in the kitchen. As she stepped into the cavernous space, she looked around in surprise. He’d pushed the sleeves of his sweater above the elbows and was busy stirring something on the stove. “What in the world are you doing?”
“Cooking.”
“I can see that. But why?”
“Duncan told me their cook left with the rest of the staff two weeks ago.”
“Two weeks ago?”
“Apparently they were no longer able to pay the help, so they closed their doors to guests and sent the employees home. From the looks of Duncan, I think he wishes he’d done the same.”
That had Ally chuckling.
“So I decided to take matters into my own hands. Since I’m stuck here until a car and driver arrive, I thought we’d celebrate the conclusion of your deal.”
“A bit premature, I’m afraid.” Ally studied the room. Despite the clutter of pots and pans, there was a trace of faded elegance. Ornate plaster walls and scarred wooden floors bore the patina of age. Ancient tapestries fluttered from beams high overhead. A table had been set for two in front of a cozy fire.
“What’s happened?” Heath walked closer and caught her hand.
At his touch she was forced to absorb the most amazing rush of fire and ice snaking along her spine. Though she thought about removing her hand, she found she didn’t want to.
She stared down at their joined hands. “Sir Malcolm told me that my firm isn’t the only one interested. He’s considering another offer as well. I had to phone my boss with the unhappy news that we aren’t home free.”
“How did he take it?”
She shrugged. “How do you think? He’s not happy, of course. Because it’s New Year’s Day and he’s still at the hospital, scrambling to get all the partners together for a conference call to determine how to proceed. They may counter with more money, or they may step aside. For now, I’ve been told to stay here until I hear from them.”
“Relax, Allison. This isn’t the end of the world.” Heath’s smile grew wider. “Think of it this way. You won’t have to get back on a plane tonight. And now you’ve been given the opportunity to see something of Scotland.”
She struggled to ignore the flutter of unsettling feelings deep inside. “I doubt I can see much in what’s left of this day.”
“You never know.” He glanced up as a timer sounded. “Ah, lunch.”
When he turned away Ally clasped her hands together, wondering at the effect this man was having on her nerves. Each time he touched her she had to steel herself against giving in to the desire to sigh like a love-struck teen.
With an economy of movement Heath began setting things on a serving cart, which he wheeled up to their table. He then uncovered the silver trays on it to reveal thin slices of cheese and perfectly browned biscuits, as well as a little pot of jam and cups of steaming tea.
She gave him a look of surprise. “You fixed all this?” When he nodded, Ally gave a shake of her head. “How in the world did you manage?”
He shot her a roguish grin. “Cooking relaxes me.”
“Is that what you do for a living?”
“I suppose you think we should all be high-powered wheelers and dealers.” He arched a brow. “Do I detect a note of disapproval?”
“Of course not. Especially not right now, when the mere smell of that food is reminding me just how hungry I am.”
He held her chair and took a seat across from her, then served both their plates and watched as she bit into a biscuit.
“This is wonderful, Heath. So. Does cooking pay the bills?”
His smile was slow and lazy. “Not exactly. That’s why I also have to fill endless ledgers with endless columns of figures.”
“An accountant? Now that I can understand. My life is a continuous flow of paperwork.” She helped herself to jam.
“So I’ve noticed. What do you do for relaxation?”
She shrugged. “I’ll let you know when it happens.” While he refilled his plate she glanced around and lowered her voice. “Where’s Duncan?”
“Probably down in the village frightening little children.”
She put a hand over her mouth to hide the giggles. “He does look pretty glum.” She gave a mock shudder. “Not that I blame him. It probably comes from spending time in this place.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Heath gave her an easy smile. “I find it rather charming.”
“You’re joking.”
He saw the way she narrowed her gaze on his shabby sweater, the rough stubble of beard that darkened his chin. His grin widened. “You can save your pity, Allison. I realize I look quite at home in this sad little place, but then, I’m not looking my best.”
“You look fine.” At his smug smile she couldn’t help adding, “For a man who took a nasty spill on the slopes and is only now coming out of a drug-induced haze.”
“That’s more like it. Stick to honesty, Allison. Despite whatever coaching you’ve been given by your boss, you don’t have the knack for lying.”
She gave an embarrassed laugh. “David says it’s one of my shortcomings.”
“It’s not a flaw. I find your honesty quite endearing.”
Ally tucked into her food with a hunger that surprised her. She looked over at him with new respect. “Have I told you what a good cook you are?”
“Thank you. It’s nice to know I haven’t lost my touch.”
She glanced around the faded old kitchen. “I think I’ve been a little hard on this place. There’s a nice feeling here.”
He nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.” He gave her a sly wink. “Even if it is deserted, and more than a bit shabby.”
They shared a laugh.
When at last they sat back sipping the hot tea, Ally said casually, “By the way, Sir Malcolm offered you a room. I told him to bill it to my company.”
Heath’s head came up sharply. “You what?”
Seeing his disapproving look, she was quick to add, “I told my boss about your kindness in driving me here, and he agreed that it was only right that you shouldn’t have to pick up your expenses. Of course, he’s feeling so mellow about the birth of his healthy, beautiful baby girl that he would have agreed to anything right now.” She decided to keep to herself the fact that David had told her that the cost of the extra room would come out of her wages.
“There’s no need for that, Allison.”
“I insist.” Now it was Ally’s turn to place a hand lightly over his. This time she blamed the rush of heat on the log blazing on the hearth. “It’s the least I can do to repay you. After all, if it weren’t for me, you’d already be home.”
His quick, disarming smile did strange things to her heart. “But it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as spending time at the beautiful, charming Hamilton Hall. At your company’s expense.”
“You did say you were eager for a shower and shave. It’s just what you need to feel fresh before you head home.”
He looked down at her hand, resting lightly on his, then up into her eyes. “That efficient businesswoman you show to the world really is a disguise. My first impression of you was right. You’re an angel of mercy, aren’t you?”
There was that flush again. She hadn’t blushed like this in years. But there was just something about the way he looked at her. Or rather through her, in a way that was most disconcerting. “I’m just being practical.”
“Of course you are.” That rogue’s smile of his was growing wider by the minute.
She picked up a spoon and began to tap it nervously on the linen-clad table. “How is your shoulder feeling?”
Heath reached across the table and took the spoon from her hand. When she looked up in surprise he merely took her hand in his and smiled. “I like the way you worry over me, Allison.”
“I’m not worrying over you.” Seeing the way he was studying her, she flushed. “All right. I suppose I am. A little. After all, you’ve been on medication and you’ve gone without sleep. And now you’ve missed your car and driver. I’d worry about anyone after all that.” She withdrew her hand and stared into her tea, then picked up the cup and drained it. When she looked up again she was all business. “This was a wonderful beginning. Now I think that after a shower I might be ready to face what’s left of the day.” She glanced at the dirty dishes and began rummaging around for a dishtowel. “Since you cooked, I’ll clean up.”
He winked as he began filling the sink with hot soapy water. “We’ll clean up together. I’ll wash. You dry.”
“You should be resting. You never answered me. How does your shoulder feel?”
He gave a quick roll of his shoulders and smiled. “I feel like a new man. In fact, as soon as I stepped inside Hamilton Hall, I noticed that the pain had faded. Probably because of that last pill I took on the plane.”
Half an hour later Ally hung the damp towel to dry and trailed Heath out of the kitchen. They found Duncan at the front desk. He informed them that a car had been located, but it was now on a run to the airport and wouldn’t be available for several hours. While Ally picked up their room keys, Heath walked outside and retrieved their bags from the front stoop, where the driver had hastily deposited them before driving off in a rush.
Minutes later they were following Duncan along the hallway toward their rooms.
The old man opened the first door and stood aside. “Sir Malcolm suggested that the gentleman might take this one.”
Ally could see why. The room was decidedly masculine, with a massive fireplace along one wall and a huge bed that dominated the center. Off to one side was a wardrobe, and just beyond she could see a tiled bath. Though the furnishings were ancient, and faded to muddy brown, there was a feeling of solid comfort about them.
With nothing more than a glance around, Heath tossed his backpack and duffel on the bed, then followed Ally and Duncan to the room next door.
“Sir Malcolm recommended this one for the lady.”
When Duncan stood aside, Ally stepped into the room.
“Oh.” The word came out on a sigh.
She’d expected it to be like the one they’d just seen. But this room was completely different, with an airy feminine feel to it. The fireplace was gold-veined white marble, and the canopied bed was covered in faded white satin. The draperies had been drawn to reveal French doors that looked out over a neglected garden. Just outside her door was a marble bench strewn with falling leaves from a gnarled chestnut tree.
Like the other rooms they’d seen in Hamilton Hall, it was old and dusty, and would have been improved by a thorough scrubbing.
“Thank you, Duncan. This is just fine.” Ally accepted the keys from his hand before he walked away.
Heath strolled across the room and stood with his hands behind his back. “A pity it isn’t summer so you could open the doors and really enjoy the view.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s a much prettier sight than the one I had from my apartment window in New York just before I left.”
Heath thought of the slushy streets and piles of snow that had already turned the color of coal dust. “You’re right. New York wasn’t a pretty sight. Speaking of which—” He ran a hand over the stubble at his chin. “I must be quite a sight myself. Time for that shower. I wish I had a change of clothes as well, but I had them shipped home.”
Ally nodded. “I never thought I’d be here long enough to change.”
When he was gone Ally hurried into the bathroom and looked around in surprise. Like the bedroom, it was done in white and gold, the marble shower and tub piled with faded gold towels bearing the monogram of the Hamilton family. Despite the dust and neglect, it was easy to see what it must once have looked like.
She felt a momentary twinge at the thought of Sir Malcolm allowing this legacy to fall into the hands of strangers. Still, Harkness and Crewel had the resources to restore it to its former glory. That ought to give the old man a measure of comfort in his retirement years.
She put all thoughts of business out of her mind as she stripped off her clothes. But instead of turning on the shower taps as she’d planned, she decided to fill the tub and treat herself to a long, luxurious bath, something she hadn’t had time for in weeks.
Heath stepped out of the shower and draped a towel around his hips before reaching for his cell phone. After listening to his voice-mail messages, he tossed the phone aside and crossed the room to stare morosely out the window.
He’d been in the strangest mood since his fall on the slopes. First there’d been that sense of urgency to return to Scotland. And now that he was back on his home turf, the urgency had been replaced with a kind of lethargy. He didn’t care if he ever completed the journey to his home.
Why this abrupt change of heart?
The answer came instantly. Allison Kerr. From the moment he’d seen her, he’d felt the most compelling urge to know her better. Not that such a thing should surprise him. She certainly wasn’t the first pretty face to snag his interest. But there was something more than a mild flirtation going on here. It had him just a bit concerned. Each time she did something uncommonly kind or sweet, he found himself dealing with feelings that made him extremely uncomfortable.
He sank down on the edge of the bed, deep in thought. He’d always considered himself a practical man. Hadn’t it been bred deep into his bones? He winced at the thought. And yet, ever since that drug-induced dream at the hospital, he’d become aware of another side to his nature. One he hadn’t thought about, and certainly hadn’t acknowledged, in years.
Maybe it was just his body’s way of telling him to slow down. After all, he’d been on a treadmill of hard work and even harder play for years now, and he saw no end in sight.
Then again, this might be the result of an overactive imagination. Or a case of simple lust. Allison was certainly different from the kind of woman that usually attracted him. But that kiss had been a revelation. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so staggered by nothing more than a brush of mouth on mouth.
Such a sweet mouth.
Intrigued, he reached for his clothes and dressed hurriedly. As long as he was here, he may as well see how all this played out. Soon enough he’d have to leave this fantasy behind and return to reality. Until then, he would just relax and enjoy the ride with the fascinating Allison Kerr.
With her hair curling damply around her face from the bath, Ally found herself irresistibly drawn to the garden. Pulling on a warm jacket, she stepped outside and was surprised to find Heath standing in a patch of thin winter sunlight.
“Well.” He turned to give her a long, assessing appraisal. “Don’t you look fresh.”
“I might say the same.” She couldn’t hide her surprise. “You look . . . different.”
“It’s the beard.” He grinned. “Or I should say the lack of it.”
“No. It isn’t that.” She shook her head, trying to figure out why the sight of him should have caused such a reaction. All hot and cold in the space of a single moment.
Could a shower and shave change a man so completely?
His clothes were the same he’d been wearing since she first saw him. Denims with a tear at the knee, probably from his fall on the slopes. A dark green sweater with traces of blood at the shoulder. But now, instead of looking pale and pained, he seemed energized.
He had a wide brow, across which a lock of dark hair tumbled, causing him to sweep it aside with the back of his hand. His eyes were a deep, dark blue, the color of the sky at midnight. His nose was perfectly chiseled, his mouth gently curved with a smile. Though not handsome in the classic sense, he had a distinct air of authority about him that hadn’t been evident when she’d first met him. He seemed to be a man completely comfortable in his own skin. But then, she argued, why not? He was back in his own country.
“How does your shoulder feel?”
He idly rubbed it. “Odd. Not even a twinge. Why don’t we take a stroll around the hills?”
Ally couldn’t hide her surprise. “I thought you’d be eager to get home.”
“So did I. But now that I’m here, I want to show you some of the sights. If the car arrives, the driver can wait. Do you have time?”
“I have nothing but time right now.” She touched the pocket of her slacks. “I have my cell phone, so I won’t miss any calls from the firm.”
“What did we do without our modern conveniences? I left my number with Duncan, so he can phone me the minute the car and driver arrive.” He placed a hand beneath her elbow and walked with her along an overgrown path in the garden. When they came to a rusty gate he opened it and waited for her to step through, then closed it behind them and fell into step beside her.
“Just beyond this hill is a lovely clear loch that has always been one of my favorites.”
“Why?” She turned to him with a smile.
“I suppose because I sensed a kindness in Sir Malcolm that I didn’t find in most adults. The first time he found me fishing in his loch, instead of sending me away, he joined me.”
“Why do you call it his loch?”
“It sits on his family’s property. That makes it his.”
Ally made a mental note to convey this information to her boss. It just might justify an increase in their offer, if such a thing were needed.
“Didn’t you have any other adults who would take you fishing?”
He shook his head. “My mother was . . . gone. And my father had no time for such activities.” He fell silent a moment before saying, “Sir Malcolm told me stories about a fire-breathing creature that guarded the loch. As big as a ship it was, with a long snakelike tail and claws that could snag a man with but a single swipe of its mighty foreleg.” He paused. “Odd. I haven’t thought about that in years.”
Ally couldn’t help laughing at the seriousness of his tone. “How did such legends spring up? Your land seems to have more than its share.”
“That’s true.” Heath shrugged. “Perhaps because we’re such a fanciful people. We love our monsters and mysterious creatures. Our spells and enchantments. And there’ve been just enough reports of them throughout the ages to keep the stories alive for centuries.”
She swiveled her head to study him. “Don’t tell me you believe them.”
“All right, I won’t tell you.” He caught her hand, easily linking his fingers with hers. “But I’m afraid it’s so. All true Scots-men believe.”
There it was again. That strange reaction to his touch. He’d done nothing more than take her hand, but her head was swimming as though she’d been caught in some passionate embrace. She decided that a lecture to herself was in order. Had she learned nothing from the episode with Tedious Ted? Still, she didn’t see the harm in a little flirting. “I think you’re just having fun with me, Heath.”
“You could be right.” He stared down at their joined hands. “Is it working?”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Fair enough. Look.” As they crested a ridge he pointed to the lake far below, where sunlight was burning off the last of the mist that danced in little clouds just above the water. “Sir Malcolm had a name for those tufts of fog. He called them fairy smoke.”
“Oh.” She went very still. “It’s beautiful.”
“You should see it in summer, with the heather growing along the ridge.” His tone softened. “And in the spring, when the sheep are turned out to pasture and cover the hillsides, eager for tender young grass. And in the fall, when the rains come and the streams overflow their banks and roar down from the Highlands as they rush to join the river.”
For a moment she could see it. All of it, just as he’d described.
She turned to him with a teasing smile. “Are you sure you aren’t employed by the government to entice tourists to come here?”
“Is it that bad?”
“Worse. You should hear your voice, Heath, when you speak about this place. You could be describing heaven.”
He gave her a slow, assessing look that had her heart leaping to her throat. “Maybe I am.” Without warning he cupped a hand to the back of her head and drew her close. “Speaking of heaven, I’ve been wanting to do this again.”
The kiss wasn’t nearly as tentative this time. As soon as his mouth covered hers she had to reach out and clutch at his waist for fear of falling. There hadn’t been time to prepare herself for the quick, jittery jolt to her system. Her pulse was throbbing at her temples. She took in a shaky breath. Had the earth tilted just a bit? She waited until the sky stopped revolving ever so slowly.
He rested his hands lightly on her shoulders as he lifted his head and stared down into her eyes. “I’m not sure even heaven could compare with that.”
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, he caught her hand and continued toward the lake.
Though Ally managed to keep up with his long strides, her breath was coming hard and fast, as though she’d been running for miles. In her whole life, she’d never known a simple kiss to affect her like this. She wasn’t at all certain she liked these feelings. Especially coming on the heels of the scene with Ted.
Time to slow down, she cautioned herself, and remember that she was here on business, not pleasure. She had to admit though, that kissing Heath Stewart had just given the word “pleasure” a whole new meaning.