MacLarens of Balmorie 05 - Once Upon A Time In Scotland by Kam McKellar Page B
Authors: Kam McKellar
Tags: Highlanders
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dripped off the end of her nose as she struggled with the kickstand.
Her T-shirt stuck to her skin and all she could hear was the pounding of the rain. The wind sent chills racing along her skin. When she finally got the stand up and faced the hill, wiping the continuous water from her eyes, she found the hill had turned into a giant water slide. She'd have to stick to the tall grass on the side of the road or she'd never make it up. Or she could take cover in the ruined castle and wait out the storm. It was tempting, but then who knew how long the rain would last and she'd likely freeze while waiting.
As she pushed the bike over the wet clumps of grass, slowly making her way to the base of the hill, headlights from the opposite direction flickered through the rain. And just in time, too, because as she hurried to flag the driver down, thunder rumbled far in the distance. Wiping her face again and peeling the wet strands of hair off her face, she recognized the familiar truck.
Nerves rushed over her and she cursed softly.
She wasn't ready to face him.
The truck slowed to a crawl, the sound of its wipers reaching her over the rain. The cold was forgotten, overtaken by apprehension as she pushed the bike forward. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Liam hurried out, ducking against the downpour. The man had no raincoat, his clothes becoming soaked in an instant.
As he reached for the bike, Abbie handed it over without a word. Once the bike was in the back of the truck, Liam snagged her hand and hurried to the passenger side, helping her in.
The rain was louder in the truck, hitting the roof hard and echoing in the small space as the wipers continued their sweep back and forth. Liam got in and immediately turned up the heat. She hadn't realized she was hugging herself and shaking. “Thanks.”
His nod was brief, his attention on the hill. She couldn't tell if he was frosty toward her or if he was simply focused on getting them out of the rain. Probably both. After all, he'd taken a risk, made an incredibly romantic gesture with the ribbon, and she hadn't been able to return the sentiment.
Abbie clicked her seatbelt as Liam put the truck in four wheel drive and eased them toward the hill. They made it half way up before the tires started spinning and the truck began sliding to one side.
“ Shite ,” Liam muttered, putting his arm over the back of the seat and reversing carefully down the hill. Once they were on level ground, he let the truck idle and stared at hill with a deep frown.
“Sorry.” She felt miserable. For hurting him. For now.
He finally met her gaze, his lips twisting into a shadowed smile. “Not your fault. I wouldn't have made it up anyway.” With a sigh, he dragged a hand through his wet hair. His lashes were spiky, his eyes vivid, and his shirt was plastered against his body.
Abbie swallowed. Liam MacLaren made wet look really, really good.
“So what now? Is there another way around?”
“No. And if we go back the direction I came, it'd take us back to Malcolm's and the way to his place is steeper than this.”
Abbie had no idea who Malcolm was, but she definitely didn't want to play slip and slide on another hill. Waiting it out in the truck seemed like the only option. “Maybe it'll pass soon,” she said, hopefully.
“It won't. Weather is going to get much worse. It'll go on 'til morning.” Liam's sigh was heavy. He lifted his T-shirt to wipe the rain from his face. Abbie caught a flash of skin and looked away.
“Well,” he said after he was done, “we can stay in the truck all night or walk back to your cottage. It's the closest thing around.”
Abbie was willing to brave the rain and thunder for the comforts of home. Her cottage wasn't far away and she was already soaked anyway. “I vote for my place.”
He seemed surprised by her decision. “Home it is.” He reversed the truck off the road and onto the grass. “We should make it before the brunt of the
Her T-shirt stuck to her skin and all she could hear was the pounding of the rain. The wind sent chills racing along her skin. When she finally got the stand up and faced the hill, wiping the continuous water from her eyes, she found the hill had turned into a giant water slide. She'd have to stick to the tall grass on the side of the road or she'd never make it up. Or she could take cover in the ruined castle and wait out the storm. It was tempting, but then who knew how long the rain would last and she'd likely freeze while waiting.
As she pushed the bike over the wet clumps of grass, slowly making her way to the base of the hill, headlights from the opposite direction flickered through the rain. And just in time, too, because as she hurried to flag the driver down, thunder rumbled far in the distance. Wiping her face again and peeling the wet strands of hair off her face, she recognized the familiar truck.
Nerves rushed over her and she cursed softly.
She wasn't ready to face him.
The truck slowed to a crawl, the sound of its wipers reaching her over the rain. The cold was forgotten, overtaken by apprehension as she pushed the bike forward. As soon as the vehicle stopped, Liam hurried out, ducking against the downpour. The man had no raincoat, his clothes becoming soaked in an instant.
As he reached for the bike, Abbie handed it over without a word. Once the bike was in the back of the truck, Liam snagged her hand and hurried to the passenger side, helping her in.
The rain was louder in the truck, hitting the roof hard and echoing in the small space as the wipers continued their sweep back and forth. Liam got in and immediately turned up the heat. She hadn't realized she was hugging herself and shaking. “Thanks.”
His nod was brief, his attention on the hill. She couldn't tell if he was frosty toward her or if he was simply focused on getting them out of the rain. Probably both. After all, he'd taken a risk, made an incredibly romantic gesture with the ribbon, and she hadn't been able to return the sentiment.
Abbie clicked her seatbelt as Liam put the truck in four wheel drive and eased them toward the hill. They made it half way up before the tires started spinning and the truck began sliding to one side.
“ Shite ,” Liam muttered, putting his arm over the back of the seat and reversing carefully down the hill. Once they were on level ground, he let the truck idle and stared at hill with a deep frown.
“Sorry.” She felt miserable. For hurting him. For now.
He finally met her gaze, his lips twisting into a shadowed smile. “Not your fault. I wouldn't have made it up anyway.” With a sigh, he dragged a hand through his wet hair. His lashes were spiky, his eyes vivid, and his shirt was plastered against his body.
Abbie swallowed. Liam MacLaren made wet look really, really good.
“So what now? Is there another way around?”
“No. And if we go back the direction I came, it'd take us back to Malcolm's and the way to his place is steeper than this.”
Abbie had no idea who Malcolm was, but she definitely didn't want to play slip and slide on another hill. Waiting it out in the truck seemed like the only option. “Maybe it'll pass soon,” she said, hopefully.
“It won't. Weather is going to get much worse. It'll go on 'til morning.” Liam's sigh was heavy. He lifted his T-shirt to wipe the rain from his face. Abbie caught a flash of skin and looked away.
“Well,” he said after he was done, “we can stay in the truck all night or walk back to your cottage. It's the closest thing around.”
Abbie was willing to brave the rain and thunder for the comforts of home. Her cottage wasn't far away and she was already soaked anyway. “I vote for my place.”
He seemed surprised by her decision. “Home it is.” He reversed the truck off the road and onto the grass. “We should make it before the brunt of the
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