Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
“Aye?” My doubts dissipated with relief. “You want to go to this shindig, then?”
She gave me a sad smile. “As much as I would love to see what’s happened to the old castle … I don’t have a dress for that kind of thing.”
If it were up to me, she’d have a million dresses, but my Roe had an independent streak a mile wide, and I didn’t want to bruise her pride by telling her I’d take care of the dress. It would have to be done in a way she didn’t feel bad about it. I’d figure it out.
For now, I murmured against her lips, “Well, there’s nothing stopping me from showing you around the castle if you’re curious about it.”
She kissed me softly. “Really? Because I’d like to see it.”
“We can arrange that, but first …” I lifted her in my arms as I stood, and her squeal of fright made me laugh as I marched toward the staircase.
“Again?” she asked breathlessly, her cheeks flushed.
“You made me feel very insecure, my love,” I teased. “I need some reassurance.”
“And thus does your cock?” she asked wryly.
Said appendage hardened. “I love it when you talk fancy and dirty all in one sentence.”
Her laughter filled the stairwell and my fast-beating heart. Too many emotions ran through my blood, raw and wild. By the time we got to the bedroom, I threw her on the bed and didn’t even give her time to fully undress before I thrust inside her hot, tight body and poured every thought and every feeling into her with mine.
MONROE
* * *
I had some work I needed to set up for class starting back in January, so when Brodan announced he’d promised to visit Lachlan to help him with details for the Hogmanay party, I didn’t question it. Instead, as much as I loved our wee bubble, I took the opportunity to work on my schedule and create homework sheets the kids could complete online. Being organized for work just put me in a better mood, and Brodan and I had plans to ring in the new year tonight. I’d rather do so with nothing else on my mind.
It was a shock, then, when Brodan showed up with two garment bags later that afternoon.
I gaped up at him from my laptop when he draped them over the couch and said, “I’ll be back,” before he disappeared out of the cottage and then returned a minute later with two shoeboxes.
“What on earth …?” I asked, closing my computer to stand up.
Brodan reached for a garment bag, unzipped it, and revealed a kilt and jacket.
“Okay?”
He grinned mischievously, and I couldn’t help but smile back as he unzipped the next garment bag and revealed a stunning, dark green dress. “For you,” he said. “For tonight. We’re going to the party.”
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I murmured. Butterflies fluttered like crazy in my stomach as I walked into Ardnoch Castle for the first time in eighteen years. And on Brodan Adair’s arm, no less. Wearing four-inch heels I hoped I wouldn’t break my ankle in.
Brodan looked incredible in his kilt of Sutherland tartan in dark green, red, black, and white. He wore a dark gray jacket and waistcoat over a white shirt. Kilts were made for Scots like Brodan.
And despite not having a makeup artist or hairdresser to style my hair, I think I’d scrubbed up pretty well too. How Brodan had found me a dress and shoes on such short notice that fitted me to perfection was one of the man’s many mysteries. He delighted in not telling me how he’d done it either, laughing when I became mulishly curious about it. He loved to torment me. The dress was something I might never have chosen for myself, but I had to admit, I felt pretty in it. There was an old Hollywood edge to the satin tea-length dress, with its layered, full skirt, cinched waist, and dramatically cut strapless sweetheart neckline. My boobs were pushed up impressively, and nestled just above my cleavage was the gold necklace Brodan bought me for Christmas. It was the only jewelry I wore.
To go with the old Hollywood theme, I’d given my hair some height and then pinned it into a side ponytail of soft waves. The shoes were strappy green sandals to match the dress.
I’d wanted to balk at Brodan buying me a dress, but he was so excited about taking me to the Hogmanay party, I accepted the gift. My gut reaction was to deny him his generosity because of how Steven had used his against me in our relationship. However, Brodan wasn’t Steven, and I had to trust that his generosity came from a good place.
I had to trust that I knew who Brodan was.
“Wow.” I gawked as we entered the main reception.