The Highlander's Accidental Marriage (Marriage Mart Mayhem) by Callie Hutton Page B

about to fetch my wife’s dinner. ’Twill save ye a trip up and down the stairs.”
    Before Sarah had completely recovered herself, Braeden placed her satchel on the floor and left the room.
    That man is dangerous. Very, very dangerous.

    F eeling a bit more in control of himself, Braeden followed the woman down the stairs. The noise in the common room had ceased, but with all the gentry having retired to their rooms, the local townspeople were arriving for a night of visiting and drinking. What he needed more than anything was a swim in a very cold loch or a dousing in a trough.
    Since only he, and not Sarah, kenned he had every right to make love to his accidental wife, it was best if he stayed away from her. The lass was obviously fatigued, so tomorrow after she’d refreshed herself with a good night’s sleep would be soon enough to tell her about what she’d done.
    The kitchen prepared a tray for Sarah that would help to restore the lass. He had them add a pot of tea, and then returned to their room. When he arrived, she had finished undressing and was in the bed, the covers pulled up and tucked under her chin. He grinned at her obvious message. And was happy about it.
    Maybe.
    “I have yer dinner. And a large pot of tea.”
    “Where is your dinner?”
    “I want ye to eat in peace and get some much needed rest. I will take my dinner downstairs and expect ye to be fed and asleep when I return.” He didn’t add his main purpose was to throw cold water on his raging lust.
    “Where will you sleep?”
    Alongside ye so I can wrap my arms around ye in yer sleep and make love to ye first thing in the morning. “I will ask the innkeeper for extra blankets and curl up on the floor.”
    “Thank you. You are an honorable man, and I truly appreciate the respect you show me.”
    Ach, if ye kenned my thoughts ye would order me to sleep in the stables with the rest of the animals.
    “Good night, lass.” He closed the door and headed downstairs.
    Once he had his dinner in front of him, his thoughts drifted to the problem the lass had presented them with by announcing in public they were married. Scotland’s loose marriage law is what made midnight trips to Gretna Green so popular. He had no doubt, since she had spent a few Seasons in London, that Sarah was aware of that.
    He pushed away his empty plate and considered how this affected him. He liked Sarah a great deal and respected the woman she was. He kenned with the strength of his convictions that she would make a more than pleasing wife. The intensity of their hunger for each other promised long nights of passion.
    But what of his work? The letter that could very well already be waiting for him would be the culmination of all he’d worked toward. Was he prepared to give that up?
    No.
    Then there was Sarah herself and her edict that she had no desire, nor intention, to ever marry. She wanted to be the doting aunt to her sisters’ and brother’s bairns. Unnatural for a woman of Sarah’s passion and caring. There had to be a story behind that intent.
    Depending on how reliable the inn’s horses for hire were, they only had one more night to spend together before they arrived at the MacBride home. He smiled at how well Sarah would take the news that they were married because of her slipup. Knowing her as well as he did at this point, he expected quite a battle. The lass had a great deal of fire in her. Fire he wanted to see directed at him in their bed.
    Ach , what a situation I am in. A slow smile spread across his face.

Chapter Nine
    T he length and difficulties of the journey were taking their toll on Sarah. She was barely able to drag herself from bed when Braeden stood over her fully dressed and wide awake. “Come now, lass, the stable is readying our horses.”
    She covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. “Didn’t we just fall asleep?”
    “Nay,” he grinned. “I came upstairs about ten last evening, and ye were slumbering away.”
    “What time is it now?”