Rocky Mountain Wild (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 6) by Lee Savino Page B

thrill ran through her, but she swallowed around the lump in her throat. Things were changing too quickly, and she didn’t understand.
    “But what will you say to my family to keep them from coming? They have a claim to me. My grandfather chooses all husbands for the women in his clan.”
    “Aye, and I’ll tell you someday what sort of backwoods rabble I think your family is.”
    Phoebe blinked at him in shock.
    “First things first. I’m going to stand up for you, and protect you. So I best make it official.”
    “Official?”
    “Yes.” He cradled her face in both hands. “Marry me, Phoebe.”
    “What?”
    His grey eyes held hers. “Marry me and I can give you all you need and more. We’ll tell your family you have no need for a husband, because you have me.”
    His big hand took hers and squeezed it, pressing it against his heart.
    She felt swallowed up in something huge, unknown but wonderful.
    “You would do that? Marry me?”
    “And keep you. You’ll never get harm or threats from me, only the best care. What you deserve.” To her surprise, he kissed her hand, before returning it to his chest. His heartbeat under her hand was an anchor to her spinning thoughts. Her employer, Mr. MacDonnell, whom she secretly thought of as her Calum, was asking for her hand.
    He would marry her just to protect her. Phoebe blinked back tears at his kindness. Her big-hearted Scottish master. At the same time, it hurt to know the only reason he would step in was to protect her. It was an extreme way to keep on a good housekeeper, even if she did make good biscuits.
    “What do you say Phoebe? Will you be my wife?”
    “I… don’t know.”
    “Are you afraid?”
    “Maybe.”
    “I won’t let anything happen to you. You already share my land and my hearth. Now I can care for you the way I truly want.”
    She nodded slightly. He was kind to her, and joining to him wouldn’t be unpleasant. Even if it was a mission of mercy on his part. She would always adore him, and serve him with all her might, out of love, and gratitude for what he’d saved her from.
    “All right,” she whispered. “I will marry you.”
    A smile dawned on his rugged features. “Good.”
    She thought for a moment he would kiss her, but he only drew her into a little hug.
    “You’re going to be all right, Phoebe,” he whispered.
    She let herself cuddle him for a moment, then rose to her feet. “I’d best get dinner.”
    “Aye,” he said, watching her in his quiet, intense way. She felt blood rush to her cheeks; and scolded herself that she would be so affected. She was still servant, he was still master, and she better keep to her place, even if he gave her the protection of his name.
    “Phoebe.” Calum lifted the bag of gold. “I want you to have it. A bride price, if you will.”
    “I couldn’t.” She shook her head, feeling close to tears again. “You’d be more right to whip me for stealing.”
    “Whip ye?” His grey eyes lit. “I’d not risk damaging your pretty skin. Give ye a taste of the tawse, perhaps, if you were really bad.”
    “It was bad, though,” she whispered. “I feel horrible. I don’t know how you can trust me.”
    He regarded her. “You think I’ll let this come between us?”
    “I don’t know,” she said miserably. “But I fear it.”
    “Tell you what.” He set aside the gold. “I’ll give you a proper spanking as punishment, and then the matter’s closed. As your husband, I expect I’ll have to take you in hand now and again, you may as well know the way of it.” He held out his hand. “Now come over my lap for your spanking.”
    She hesitated, then forced her feet to walk the rest of the way to him. He helped her over his great thighs; she felt a little unbalanced until he steadied her with a hand on her back.
    “Now,” he said in a brisk voice, as if they were talking normally, not with one party draped over his legs. “Tell why you’re getting punished.”
    “I stole from