A Lass to Love (Brides of Scotland #1) - Tammy Andresen Page 0,10

his hand and held it in both of hers. That same feeling of breathless desire and gentle calm filled his very soul. “It will heal without any help from me.”

“I’m not talking about my finger.” He drew in a long breath. She was going to make him say it. “Inside I bear wounds. Like we discussed last night. I need a gentle female to remind me that not every woman will hurt me.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Mr. Mayweather—”

“Call me, Tom.”

She nibbled on her lip. “Tom.” She was rubbing little circles on his hand, even as she meant to tell him no, she automatically soothed him. “I don’t think that’s wise. There is a pull between us and—”

“That’s why it will work.” He lowered his face so their cheeks touched as he whispered in her ear. “You’ll be receptive to my lessons and me to your healing.”

“But.” She shivered and it reverberated through him. He drew her closer. “I have to mind my reputation. I—”

“Will be ruined if you don’t get Exmouth to the altar. Which is what I intend to help you do.”

She hesitated and victory sang in his blood. Then she stiffened. “What sort of lessons do ye intend to give?”

“Well,” he said close to her ear, her heather scent wrapping about him again. “He’ll naturally want you. You’ll have to learn how to draw him in. Make him desperate for you so that he’ll be rushing to fulfill the vows.”

She gasped and her bosom pushed against his chest. His cock jumped. She leaned back, eyes wide. “Ye can teach me that?”

“Of course.” He lifted his hand to run the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip even as his palm cupped her cheek. “You naturally have many of the skills already. We’re just going to hone them. Make sure you draw him long enough to get him to the altar.”

“What then?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Her plump lip was so soft and inviting.

“Well.” She drew back a bit and he missed her softness pressed against his harder flesh. “Will it be enough to convince him to return to Scotland? Or keep up in England?”

He pressed his lips together. The answer was likely no. He knew men like Exmouth and they rarely kept their attention on one woman for long. “That isn’t the point, I don’t think. As far as I understood it.”

She looked out over the water, her eyes distant and sad, the corners pulled down even as her brow furrowed. “I suppose it isn’t. Still. I’m not sure any of my options are good. It’s like I’m trying to salvage the rest of my life into something…tolerable.”

He slid his fingers from her cheek into the thick silky strands of her hair. They made a man yearn. “I don’t have any proof for you, but somehow I feel you will end up with so much better than that.”

She looked at him then, her green eyes sparkling even as they begged him for answers. Begged him for help. “I hope ye’re right, but with each passing day, I grow more fearful of the future. I should never have come on this trip.”

Chapter Six

Fiona regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. It wasn’t like her to be so pessimistic and it wasn’t his position to answer that thought anyhow.

“Do you think staying home would have been better?” Tom asked.

She shook her head as his large hand slid through her hair. His hands were firm and strong and she had the feeling they could bolster her through this storm of emotions. “No. Likely not.” She gave him her best smile. “Apologies. That is not yer problem.”

He quirked a brow. “Well, I suppose after what I proposed, it is my problem. If I’m to help you, you have to decide what you want first.”

Her smile turned from false to genuine. She felt it in the softening of her cheeks and the relaxing of her neck. “Deciding what I want would be best. I suppose that is one of the difficulties in not knowing yer fiancé. I have no idea if I like or hate him or am just completely indifferent.”

He leaned down, his nose nearly touching hers. “Either way, I can help you.”

She rested her hands on his chest. “Ye’re certain?”

“I am,” he answered.

“Fiona?” Colin called. “Where’d ye go?”

Tom pulled back and spun her about so she was at his side again as he stepped out from behind the sail. “She’s here.”

Colin gave them a long look before he