The hot cocoa had warmed his insides, and her nearness was nearly making it uncomfortably hot. “Thanks for lettin’ me stay. I didnae know if ye would want me around.”
Sarah jerked up. “What? I always want you around. I enjoy spending time with you.”
“But with the way we left things, I was unsure.” He put his arm around her shoulders and set the half-empty cup on the side table next to him. “I’ve loved bein’ here. It’s so different from the farm, but in a lot of ways, it’s the same. It’s been a nice change of pace. I’m wanted, but I dinnae feel…”
“Trapped?”
That wasn’t quite it. “Maybe nae trapped, but I didnae feel appreciated. Angus gets to go do his actin’. Rory helped before Alana died, but he was always itchin’ to get done so he could go be with her. Then when she died, he ran to Edinburgh to grieve. I didnae fault him, but nae one ever even asked if it was what I wanted. They just expected me to do it.” The words were pouring out of him. Things he didn’t even know he felt.
She touched his chest. “Is the farm what you want?”
His heart sped up at her touch, and if she couldn’t hear it pounding, there was no way she couldn’t feel it. “Aye, with all my heart, but it was more the assumption that bothered me. The idea that I was just the hired hand that nae one thought about.” He felt ashamed as he continued. “I shouldna be sayin’ all that. My mum and pop are good people. They love me and so do my brothers. I should be grateful for what I have.”
Sarah twisted in the seat until she faced him with her legs crossed in front of her. His leg tingled where hers touched it, and his breath caught .
“You have a right to feel the way you want to feel. I think your family is wonderful. I loved being in Rosegail Bridge.” She finished off her cocoa, and he took the cup, setting it next to his.
“My family loved ye. My mum was smitten with ye. Said ye were one of the sweetest women she’d ever met. Always willin’ to help. Always smilin’.” Now he wasn’t so sure his mum and pop weren’t in on sending him to America.
Her cheeks turned rosy pink, and she waved off the compliment. “I got to stay in Scotland, and for almost pennies. I felt like I needed to do something.”
“Ye are a beautiful woman; ye know that? I’m nae just talkin’ surface. I’m talkin’ all the way deep. Ye have a soul that makes ye shine. This radiance pours out of ye, and ye have an effect on people.” Taran couldn’t stop himself from running his fingers up her jawline and into her hair.
Charged air wrapped around them, and he fought to catch his breath. He sat up, and she leaned forward. “I’m goin’ to kiss ye, but I willna if ye tell me—”
Before the last word was out, she touched her lips to his. Soft, delicate, and sweet from the cocoa. Her arms circled his neck, and he pulled her onto his lap. It was probably a mistake. He might even regret it in the morning, but for now, he let himself get lost in the taste of her.
Her fingers traveled up his neck and tangled in his hair. Her lips teased and caressed his, igniting a fire in him. He deepened the kiss, and she molded her body to his in response. The feel of her against him was incredible.
She was wreaking havoc on his senses, and he wondered if she could feel the same thing he was feeling. That this was right. They fit, and there was something more than just friendship between them. He tightened his hold on her and kissed her until she pulled away .
Panting, she pressed her forehead to his. “I’m not sure we should have done that.”
“Maybe nae,” he whispered.
A deep groan came from her throat, and she held his face as her lips found his again, kissing him soft and slow. His brain was mush, and his insides burned like a wildfire was raging through them. His heart dipped and dived as she kissed him. The thrill of her lips on his was better than a roller coaster.
Sarah broke the kiss again but stayed so close that their breath mingled as they fought to breathe. “Would you hold me tonight? I just want to be held. By you.”
Taran snatched the blanket off the back of the couch, and she snuggled into him. He spread it over them and pulled her close. When he looked down, she was looking up with a vulnerability that made his heart want nothing more than to keep his arms around her forever. “I’ll hold ye as long as ye want.”
“What if I don’t want you to ever let go?”
“Then I guess I’ll be here a while.” He smiled and kissed her forehead.
She took a few deep breaths, and the next time he looked at her, she was sleeping peacefully. He wasn’t sure when he’d be able to sleep again. He felt electrified. He may as well have been skydiving or bronco riding.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t regret kissing him in the morning. He wouldn’t. For hours, his thoughts ran the gambit from worry to elation. Eventually, exhaustion won out, and he drifted to sleep .
* * *
Sarah took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She’d slept better than she had in months. Deep, peaceful, wonderful sleep. It had to be Taran. Just having him around was doing things to her that no one else ever had. He was comfort, security, and everything wonderful all rolled into one .
She opened her eyes, and it hit her. They’d kissed last night, and then she’d asked him to hold her.
When she looked up, she found his head leaned back on the cushion and his eyes closed, breathing evenly. She shifted, and his arms slid around her tighter without him even waking up.
What a colossal mess she’d made of things. She’d kissed him. Twice. And not just a little but a lot, and it was fantastic. That first kiss was fireworks, but last night had been what you get when you roast marshmallows. A slow, languid burn that starts in your toes, works its way up your entire body, and sets your hair on fire. It was also the kind that turned the same marshmallow black if it was held to the flame too long.
He hugged her to him like a stretch, relaxed, and then looked at her. “Hi.”
“Hi.” It sounded mousey. She wasn’t afraid of him, but she was afraid she’d made a blunder. Kissing him was great, but she didn’t want to make things difficult. She just couldn’t stop herself. His lips had been right there, all soft and kissable. Just thinking about it was making her itch to do it again.
“Ye sleep okay?”
Okay? More like the sleep of a thousand nights in a million down comforters. “Yeah. I don’t think I’ve felt this good in a while. Thank you.”
He smoothed her hair back and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. “Anytime.”
“We should probably get going,” she said. Even though moving was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Aye, I’ve got a barn to work on.” He smiled.
She sat up and swung her legs to the floor. “I’ll make coffee after I get a shower.”
“Sounds good. “
There was nothing awkward or weird between them. It was just a feeling of familiarity. Like this was how things were supposed to be. Maybe kissing him wasn’t the huge mistake she thought it would be.
Then he leaned forward and gave her a light peck on the lips. “I’ll see ye after my shower.” He stood and pulled her up with him, hugging her and kissing the top of her head before letting her go. He crossed the living room and shot her a look over his shoulder and a wink before disappearing into the hall.
She wilted onto the couch. If that continued, she wasn’t sure her heart could handle it. Her knees for sure couldn’t.
Chapter 20
“Taran!” Freddy greeted him Monday morning with a smile so wide it sent his heart soaring. He’d missed the little spitfire. It was a dull place without her around.
He smiled and bent down on one knee. “Are ye feelin’ better?”
“Yeah. Did you miss me?” Her dark brown eyes twinkled.
That was an understatement. He’d more than missed her. He wasn’t sure how she’d wiggled herself into his heart so fast, but she had. “Aye. What have they got ye doin’ today?”
“Well, I’m supposed to be mucking stalls, but I’d re
ally like to help you,” she said, rocking back and forth on her feet.
Over Freddy’s shoulder, he saw Sarah approaching them. His pulse jumped, and his stomached flipped. Her effect on him was getting out of hand. “Let’s ask the boss.”
Freddy spun around and turned her doe-eyes on Sarah. “Miss Sarah, can I please help Taran? Please?” She stuck out her bottom lip.
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “What about the stalls? Who’s going to do those?”
“Well, one of the other volunteers could do that.” Freddy pointed to a group working in the pasture.
“But they’re already working on something.” She caught Taran’s gaze, and his breath caught as she smiled.
Freddy hooked her arms around Taran’s bicep. “But I like him.”
“He is pretty likable,” she said to Freddy while she looked at him. He couldn’t stop himself from grinning in response. “All right.” Sarah tapped her on the nose. “You can help him.”
The little girl squealed and grabbed Sarah around the waist. “You’re the best.”
Sarah giggled and then gave him a pointed look. “Make sure he drinks enough water. He’s not used to this Florida heat.”
“I’ll make sure he drinks plenty of water. You don’t have to worry.” Freddy smiled up at Sarah .
Sarah nodded. “Good. We can’t let our favorite guy get dehydrated.”
Favorite guy? He caught her gaze and held it a second. There was something in her eyes he couldn’t put a finger on. It was just concern, he told himself. She cared about him. That was all.
“I’ll see you two later, okay?”
“Bye,” Freddy said and waved as Sarah walked away.
Taran stood. “Ye ready to work? I’ve got plenty to do.”
“Yep, let’s go.”
He took his time showing Freddy how to replace rotten boards on the barn wall. She was a quick study. It shouldn’t have surprised him. It took just a few times, and she was pulling off the boards that needed to be replaced and rehanging the new pieces of wood. He’d cut and she’d hammer. Having someone to work with made the work go by fast too. In truth, it made him miss his brothers.
“Are you okay? Do you need to drink some water?” asked Freddy.
He nodded. “Aye, I’m nae all that thirsty yet, but I probably do need to drink some water. I wouldna want to get into trouble.”
“Miss Sarah really cares about you. I do too, but I think her care is the grown-up kind.” She took the board he’d just cut and placed it over the hole created by the one she’d taken off. This little girl wasn’t just precocious. She was intuitive. “I think she’s just scared because of her dad leaving and stuff.” The first nail went in, and she positioned the next one.
Taran didn’t get that from the way Sarah spoke of her dad. “What makes ye say that?”
Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth, causing the board to swing sideways.
He chuckled. “It’s okay. Ye can tell me.”
Freddy took a deep breath, appearing to consider whether she should tell him. “Okay, but you have to promise not to say it was me.”
“Ye have my promise.”
“Well, one day I was walking into the barn, and I heard Sarah talking to a girl that goes to my school. Her dad had just left, and she was saying it was her fault and that she was afraid of running her mom off too. That she was afraid of making new friends because she didn’t want to be left again.” Freddy positioned the nail and hammered it in before continuing. “Anyway, I heard Miss Sarah tell her that she hurt like that too when her dad left, but that she shouldn’t be afraid to let people in. That not everyone would leave her just because her dad did.”
A lot of things fell into place. It wasn’t that Sarah didn’t want a relationship. She didn’t want to be left. He had been set on returning to Scotland, and from her perspective, she was being proactive in keeping herself from getting hurt. It made perfect sense.
Taran cut another board and piled it with the other two he’d already cut. “Did Miss Sarah say anythin’ else?”
Freddy finished hanging the board and twisted the hammer in her hand. “I don’t know if I should say. I mean, it’s girl stuff, and we’re supposed to stick together.”
He was falling in love with this little girl. She was something else. Loyal, intelligent, helpful, caring. Whatever her father was doing, he was doing it right. “I can respect that.”
She looked relieved. “Really? You won’t be mad if I don’t tell?”
“Naw, sweetheart. Ye keep yer girl secrets. If Miss Sarah wants to tell me, she will.”
The bright smile she gave him was worth letting it go .
After that, it was all work for them until it was time for Freddy to go home. They were pretty proud of themselves, too. Working together, they’d finished the rest of what Taran had started the day before.
It felt good to finish. Two more sides, and the barn would be done. With Freddy’s help, it wouldn’t take as long either. He stashed the tools and headed for the house, desperate for a shower and a chance for some downtime.
Chapter 21
Sarah tapped her chin with her finger as she looked at the dresses in her closet. Nothing caught her eye, and if it didn’t catch her eye, what were the chances Taran would like it? Puffing a piece of hair out of her face, she leaned her shoulder against the doorframe. “Why am I even doing this? It’s bound to end badly.”
Taran had popped into the arena office and convinced her they needed to take a break from the sanctuary. He’d been craving seafood and wanted to go somewhere on the ocean.
Outwardly, she’d reluctantly agreed. Inwardly, she’d done a cheerleader high kick and a backflip. She’d wanted to spend time with him for a while. The awkwardness of waking up in his arms had reared its ugly head in the days that followed, prompting a blush whenever her hand accidentally touched his or after bumping into him, and she hated it. Every time he got near her, she turned into a clumsy freak.
Then he’d smile and wink at her like he knew what he was doing to her. Jerk. Okay, not jerk, but not nice for sure. Completely adorable. Sexy. Sweet…Sarah spun on her heels, crossed the room, and collapsed on her bed.
Taran MacLachlan was making her crazy. Not a minute went by that she wasn’t either seeing him, thinking of him, or dreaming about him. Just a look from his direction was sending tingles down her spine and making her whole body feel as if it was made of goo.
Now she was going out to dinner with him, and like an idiot, she’d suggested a restaurant in Fort Walton Beach. An hour-long car ride with him sitting next to her. Her heart was already racing, and she knew he’d smell fantastic. It would be a Jeep full of Scottish delight.
Her senses would be on overdrive the entire night. What had she been thinking? Duh. She’d been thinking a night out with Taran sounded great. Her mouth had opened, and, wham, she’d backed herself into a corner she couldn’t escape.
Maybe she could pretend she’d come down with the flu. No, not the flu because then he’d want to take care of her. She’d need something contagious. If only the bubonic plague could strike, she’d be in the clear.
She laid her arm over her eyes and groaned. Why did things have to be so…she didn’t know the word. Why did her feelings have to be so all over the place? One minute she was keeping him at a respectable distance, and the next, she was breathing him in and kissing his perfect lips. She was giving herself whiplash, so no telling what it was doing to him.
He was so charming, sweet, and funny. Every minute she spent with him gave her goosebumps. She couldn’t wait to see his face in the morning, and sitting with him in the evenings was even better. He made her feel special and safe, especially when he wrapped his farm-built muscular arms around her .
With a huff, she pushed herself up and glared at her closet. This night had the potential to be great or go down in flames. All of it would depend on her keeping her wits and not letting Taran’s charms make her goofy.
Excitemen
t mixed with dread as she stood. As happy as she was to have Taran all to herself, she was equally terrified. One misstep, and she’d be nursing a broken heart.
She closed her eyes and counted to ten. He was going back home. That’s what she needed to keep telling herself. He couldn’t stay. He was doing her a favor, and they were friends. That’s all. Now she just needed to remember that when all she wanted to do was grab him and kiss him until she couldn’t see straight.
* * *
The restaurant Sarah picked was an hour away in Fort Walton Beach right on the ocean. It was what most considered a shanty of a place with weathered wood and old half-worn signs, but nothing about the food was old.
Their food had been excellent. Perfectly cooked and mouthwatering. After dinner, they’d decided to take a walk on the beach. With his shoes in his hand, he walked next to her near the edge of the water. It would lap over his feet and hit his ankles. More than anything, he wished he’d brought his trunks. He wouldn’t have minded another swim.
Salty air swirled around them as the waves crashed against the sand. It was a balmy night, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for a stroll. What he wanted to do was hold her hand, but he knew the moment he’d try, she’d pull away. Why was he trying anyway? She’d made it clear she didn’t want to be in a relationship.
Sarah poked him. “What are you thinking about?”
He jerked his head up. “What?”
“I’ve asked you what you were thinking about three times.”
“Oh, nothin’.”
She pulled him to a stop and faced him. “It didn’t look like nothing.”
“Naw, I was just enjoyin’ the walk.” He didn’t want to tell her what he was thinking about. It didn’t matter anyway. The day they went to the courthouse, she’d made it clear what she expected of him. Even though she’d kissed him, nothing but awkwardness had come of it.
How could she not feel the chemistry between them? When she’d kissed him, stars had exploded behind his eyes. Had it not been the same for her? He couldn’t understand how she could kiss him like that and then pretend nothing happened.
Mending The Billionaire Brother (MacLachlan Brothers Romance Book 3) Page 12
