Return of the Scot (Scots of Honor #1) - Eliza Knight Page 0,65

weighed nothing at all, and then climbed the ladder with it, all while Jaime watched.

His strong legs carried him up the ladder, the muscles of his arse bunching in his breeches, and she had to look away, as the sight of him made all sorts of naughty thoughts tumble about in her lunatic brain.

“Are ye all right?” Emilia asked.

“Perfectly.” But Jaime’s voice was high and tight, giving away she was exactly the opposite of perfect. “Let’s get back to work.”

Emilia tried to hide her grin and pointed to one of the smaller crates. The two of them maneuvered it up the ladder and handed it on to the men.

“I’m impressed,” Lorne said softly, winking at her as she came back down the ladder. “No’ only do ye have a lot of strength, but ye did no’ fall in the process.”

“Ye’re a jackarse.” She grinned at his surprised expression. “When on a ship, talk like a sailor.” This time, she winked at him, grabbed the closest, small crate, and climbed back up.

He maneuvered behind her, another barrel balanced in his grasp and delivered it to a man who beckoned on the deck. They worked side by side for hours, passing glances, and at one moment, he accidentally slid against her—though she was fairly certain it was on purpose. His chest skimming against her arm made her entire body tingle, and the fact that he gave her a roguish grin showed her he knew exactly what he was doing. Another touch like that, and she was going to drag him deeper into the ship where they’d be covered in darkness, press him up against the ship’s wall and…

Jaime cleared her throat and put herself back to work, hoping the physical exhaustion would help banish the carnal thoughts from her mind.

With the four strapping noblemen adding to the help, they emptied the ship’s cargo by mid-afternoon rather than evening as she’d estimated they’d be completed.

With plenty of daylight still left, the crew boarded the transferred ship and worked to set sail.

Emilia and Jaime stood on the dock with Lorne and his companions, staring with satisfaction at the ships. Her arms were on fire, her back ached, and her legs felt heavier than the crates and barrels they’d moved. A hot bath sounded like heaven about then.

“Well done, Miss Andrewson,” Lorne said. “Though I’m certain ye need no compliments from me.”

Jaime smiled at him, grateful. “We were able to get everything done much quicker than anticipated. I do verra much appreciate the added assistance. And in fact, I should like to invite the four of ye to a ball I’ll be hosting upon the ship soon.”

Emilia let out a little gasp but outwardly did not show any other signs of surprise or excitement.

“I’ve no’ yet had the invitations made. But I think it will be a lovely boon to our clients and any potential merchants who wish to use us for their wares.”

“I canna speak for my friends here, but can tell ye I would be delighted,” Lorne said.

“I would as well,” and “same here” was heard from the other men.

Good, she had several people on the invitation list already then. She just needed to plan the fete. After she got Shanna and Gordie back, of course.

Tired and covered in sweat that had started to dry and further stiffened her already stiff working gown, Jaime decided it was time to call it a day. “I bid ye farewell.”

“Or we could get some ice cream,” Lorne suggested.

“What?” She stared at him, surprised by the invitation for something so…not him and because she was thoroughly disgusting at the moment.

“There’s a delectable place between here and your flat.”

“I am no’ at all suitable for such an outing in my present condition.” Jaime smiled to soften her rejection. “But I do thank ye for the invitation.”

“Tomorrow, then?”

“Perhaps.” Two rejections in a matter of minutes would have his friends talking.

“I’ll pick ye up at noon.”

“Have ye no’ got anything better to do than follow me about, Your Grace?” she teased.

Lorne’s companions chuckled at that, and one of them shook their head.

“Ye wound me,” Lorne said.

“Ye lie.”

His grin widened. “I’ll see ye tomorrow.” And with that, he disappeared with his friends down the dock toward a waiting carriage.

“Ye’ve got it bad,” Malcolm said with a horrified expression on his face. “I thought ye did when I watched the two of ye box, but this?” Malcolm shook his head.

“Box? Do tell.” Alec leaned forward in the already cramped carriage. “Did she