After breakfast everyone
assembled in the large living room. Tav
accepted Nessa’s offer to help clear the
dishes to keep her close to him for a while,
shooing his brothers and the old men away.
It felt right to share this chore.
Each time she passed him a
dish and their hands touched, Tav was hard
put not to grab her and kiss her. But he
knew better. Knew she would likely slap him
or throw a dish at his head. The thought of
an angry Nessa tossing cups and saucers at
him made him grin.
"What’s funny, then?" She
interrupted his reverie, pushing a plate
into his hands, her eyes dancing with
amusement. It was as though she knew he was
thinking about her.
"Oh, I was just thinking," he
evaded. When she didn’t move away, her eyes
full of curiosity, he sighed. Think fast,
Tav. You can’t tell her the truth.
"Hmm, I could see that." Her
smile widened, her gaze holding his,
refusing to let him off the hook.
"Okay," he said. No playing
games here. You’ll scare her off, but
honesty is the best policy with this woman.
"If you must know, I was thinking that if I
kissed you, you’d likely throw something at
me or worse."
"Really?" She laughed
lightly, stepping closer. "What makes you
think that, Mactavish Macdonald?" Snaked one
delicate hand up his arm to his shoulder.
Her playful ways were about
to drive Tav over the edge. Not thinking
about it, he gathered her in with his left
arm and drew her against him. Looking down
at her, he realized how petite she was, the
top of her head barely reaching his
shoulder. He’d have to bend his head or draw
her up on her toes to get to her lips.
She saved him the decision by
removing the plate from his hand and setting
it on the counter. Then she lifted on her
tiptoes, drawing his right hand around her
back before clasping her fingers loosely
behind his neck. "Well, Mactavish? Are you
going to kiss me or stare at me?"
"Both," he whispered. Tasting
her bottom lip, he savored the essence of
Nessa, then opened his mouth over hers at
her gentle encouragement. It was heaven and
hell to hold her like this. Parlan had been
right. Nessa was a sweet armful—a very
sweet armful.
Tav knew his control was
slipping when he backed her roughly against
the wall, devouring her mouth with her eager
consent. Her feminine curves molded against
his body as though they belonged. As her
soft moan of surrender filled his ears, Tav
moved his hips against hers, gratified when
she responded in kind.
"You two inventin’ a new way
to wash dishes?" Graham chuckled as Tav
jerked away from Nessa, stepping in front of
her in a protective gesture.
"Grandda, you know better
than to sneak up on people like that." Tav’s
blood was boiling, and not just from kissing
the woman whose length was pressed against
his back. He could feel her soft breasts
pushed against him, one hand clasping his,
drawing his arm behind him. He leveled an
aggrieved look on his grandfather. "And your
comments aren’t funny. You’ve embarrassed
our guest."
"Funny?" Graham lifted his
craggy eyebrows in mock surprise. "I can
assure you it won’t be funny when Archie
finds out how you’re treating his
granddaughter." Graham tilted his head, the
better to see Nessa hiding behind his
grandson. "Young woman, I believe your
grandda is looking for you. We’re supposed
to have a business meeting, remember?"
"Well, he can wait, Mister
Macdonald." Nessa laughed lightly. "I’m no
young girl for him to order about. Tell
Archie I’ll be along as soon as we’ve
cleared the kitchen."
"That could take some time,
from the looks of things," Graham retorted
solemnly, belying the twinkle in his eyes.
"I’ll just go along and let Archie know
you’re in here spoonin’."
"Grandda!" Tav stepped away
from Nessa, eyeing his grandfather crossly.
"You keep your comments to yourself. Nessa
and I were just…"
"Just what?" Graham snorted
then followed up with a loud guffaw. "I may
be old but I ain’t blind, so you don’t need
to explain anything to me, boy."
When Graham wheeled his chair
and left the kitchen, Tav turned back to
Nessa. "I’m sorry for that. He gets a little
carried away."
"Sorry? For kissing me?"
Nessa stepped around him, moving back to the
dishwasher. Tav noted her graceful movements
as she finished stacking the dishes in the
machine.
"No. Never sorry for that,"
he answered, running a hand through his
hair. "Are you?"
"Of course," she said
lightly. "I’m always sorry when a handsome
man kisses me—mostly at my instigation—then
doesn’t finish the job."
Tav swallowed hard, thinking
fast. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss
her again…lord knew he wanted much more than
that. Which was the problem, actually. He
was so aroused now that he needed to put
distance between them before he disgraced
himself by ravaging her right here on the
kitchen floor.
"How about a rain check?" He
finally managed in a strangled voice. "The
next time I kiss you, I want us to have some
privacy."
"Hmmm, I guess you’re right."
She turned a wicked smile on him and Tav was
lost—one more time. "Let’s go have that
meeting before the elders have fits."
