Rose nearly tossed herself into the man’s arms. Which was highly inappropriate, considering that she hardly knew him. “Thank you.”
“You can’t live on bread alone,” the man grimaced. “Not even I am cold enough to watch three girls starve.”
“Your generosity is most appreciated but not necessary today. Bring them each a large bowl of stew, please.” Colin’s deep voice vibrated through her the words making her limp with relief. “In fact, set up a private dining room. We’ve much to discuss after they’ve eaten.”
The innkeeper rushed off to do as the large Scot bid.
Rose’s breath caught in her chest. He had the sort of imposing size a woman should either hide behind or run from. Was this man her savior or the villain Daisy feared?
***
Colin stared at the delicate beauty of the woman in front of him and cursed a string of violent curse words under his breath. What had his cousin gotten him into this time? Fiona was a plague upon him, he was certain of that.
Fiona had a penchant for saving things. It had started as children when he’d made him climb no less than three trees to save cats. He’d been scratched all to hell each and every time.
Then there had been the time as teens when she’d found a lose horse. Not being able to find it’s owner, she’d tasked him with the job. He’d nearly been hung as a horse thief. Once she’d married, and moved to England, he’d had a reprieve. But now, once again, Fiona was on a mission to save three somethings. Daughters of an earl, as he recalled. The question was, why for feck’s sake, did he keep saying yes?
But the answer lay in a pair of soft violet eyes that stared up at him filled to the brim with worry. He had a soft damn heart, even now after everything. Fiona knew that and extorted him with her knowledge.
He looked at the lass currently nibbling her lip as she held the loaf of bread in her hands. Every rescue mission Fiona assigned him too meant trouble for him. He was sure, Lady Rose was no exception. “Would you like to get your sisters, my lady?” he asked, pointing toward the stairs.
“Oh,” she blinked at him, a blush climbing into her cheeks. It was a lovely shade of pink, not unlike the flower she was named after. “Why yes. thank you.” Then she turned, and hurried up the stairs.
As soon as she’d disappeared, he looked at Fiona. “Why must you torture me so?”
Fiona huffed, “Don’t be so self involved. I’m not trying to torture you but save them.”
He straightened, crossing his arms and narrowing his gaze. “You say that but I always end up battered and beaten.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She gave a sniff. “And you can’t expect me to leave them here in this place eating nothing but a loaf of bread between the three of them.”
“No.” his shoulder’s sagged then. “I suppose I can’t.” Then he raked his fingers through his hair. He didn’t have the best luck when it came to pretty English misses and he preferred to stay far away from them as a general rule. “I just wish you could stage your rescues without my help.”
She sniffed. “What would be the fun in that?”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shook his head. “And Thomas? Why can’t he help them?”
Fiona’s lips pressed together as she looked up at the ceiling. “He likes the Morningstar sisters so he did give me a purse to help feed them but he is indisposed at the moment and can’t accompany them to Scotland.”
Colin narrowed his gaze. “You mean he’s gotten wise to your schemes and refuses to participate.”
“Schemes?” She gave an exaggerated harrumph. “I don’t scheme. I lend aid.”
“For which we are eternally grateful,” Rose said from just in front of him. He hadn’t heard her return with the noise from the inn but there she was, two blonde women standing just behind her. Well, at least she knew he was unwilling participant in this plan. If he could find any sort of loophole, he certainly would take it.
He skimmed his gaze down her length, his body tightening in the most unwelcome way. The situation was bad enough with attraction coloring it further.
“Your table is ready.” The inn keeper joined the group gesturing them forward. He brought them into a private room. Not much nicer than the common room they’d left but at least it lacked the colorful company of the sailors. Granted, he spent his life with those rough and tumble men but they were poor company for ladies. Another reason this plan was a terrible idea.
The each sat and a pot of stew was produced, steaming hot. The quality left much to be desired but no one would have guessed the way the ladies emptied their bowls. His heart began to soften again. Even as they ate, color flooded their cheeks. The inn keeper had left a dutch oven hanging over the fireplace and when the women were done, he stood and used a cloth to grabe the pot, ladling them each out another bowl.
“Thank you,” the smaller blonde sighed. “My stomach says no, it must have grown quite small but who knows when we’ll eat like this again.”
“Lily,” Rose admonished. “The thank you would have been enough.”
Lily waved her hand giving him an airy smile. “We can be more honest with each other, can’t we? Is it Captain MacFarlan?”
“It is,” he answered realizing he’d been so preoccupied with feeding them they had yet to introduce themselves. “And you are Lady Lily?”
“Somehow being a Lady seems inappropriate here. Perhaps for the rest of my life.” Lily gave a small shrug. “Being a lady doesn’t mean much when you haven’t eaten in days.”
“Lily,” the other blonde cut her off. “Enough already. I am Daisy and you know Rose.” Daisy leaned forward. “Can you take us to Scotland, Captain?”
He grimaced. “There isn’t any other options for you?”
Rose shook her head. “Our guardian won’t support us and we have no other family here.”
“Marriage?” he asked, his hand clenching under the table. For some reason it irritated to think of their guardian mistreating them. Being unkind to Rose. It was the easiest way for a woman to raise her circumstances and he didn’t really want to complete this job it seemed like a good solution to him.
All three women dropped their heads. “We tried that too,” Rose answered softly. “It was a disaster.”
That made his eyebrows lift up. What had happened to these women? He shook his head and then rubbed his face with his hands. He knew in this moment, he couldn’t leave them, not that he hadn’t known that from the beginning. But he’d have to stay away from them. He didn’t want to like these ladies. And besides, the less he knew the better.
Want to read more?
A Highlander to Have and to Hold
About the Author
Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of eighteen, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.
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Read Tammy Andresen’s other books:
Seeds of Love: Prequel to the Lily in Bloom series
Lily in Bloom
Midnight Magic
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Hugs!
Other Titles by Tammy
How to Reform a Rake
Don’t Tell a Duke You Love Him
Meddle in a Marquess
’s Affairs
Never Trust an Errant Earl
Never Kiss an Earl at Midnight
Make a Viscount Beg
Wicked Lords of London
Earl of Sussex
My Duke’s Seduction
My Duke’s Deception
My Earl’s Entrapment
My Duke’s Desire
My Wicked Earl
Brethren of Stone
The Duke’s Scottish Lass
Scottish Devil
Wicked Laird
Kilted Sin
Rogue Scot
The Fate of a Highland Rake
A Laird to Love
Christmastide with my Captain
My Enemy, My Earl
Heart of a Highlander
A Scot’s Surrender
A Laird’s Seduction
Taming the Duke’s Heart
Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart
Taming a Duke’s Wild Rose
Taming a Laird’s Wild Lady
Taming a Rake into a Lord
Taming a Savage Gentleman
Taming a Rogue Earl
Fairfield Fairy Tales
Stealing a Lady’s Heart
Hunting for a Lady’s Heart
Entrapping a Lord’s Love: Coming in February of 2018
American Historical Romance
Lily in Bloom
Midnight Magic
The Golden Rules of Love
Boxsets!!
Taming the Duke’s Heart Books 1-3
American Brides
A Laird to Love
Wicked Lords of London
A Lass to Love: Brides of Scotland Page 8
