Mad for the Plaid (30 page)

But only for a second.

“There! I heard it again.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared into the woods.

D'yoval suddenly raised his head, his ears flicking forward as he stared into the woods in the same direction as Ailsa.

Nik frowned.
Bozhy moj
,
someone
is
coming.

As if in answer, a twig snapped in the distance.

Ailsa scooped up her shirt and yanked it over her head, and then reached beside the cave and found her pistol.

Still hard with lust, Nik swallowed a bitter curse, and came to stand beside her. “My rifle?”

She jerked her head toward the cave. “Beside the opening.”

He ducked into the cave and returned with his weapon. He checked that his weapon was loaded, and then stood beside Ailsa, listening intently.

Silence met them, the only sound their still-rapid breathing.

“No birds are chirping,” she whispered.

He nodded, his attention finally on something other than the woman beside him.

The silence lengthened and grew. Finally, Nik lowered his weapon. “An animal, perhaps. Or a—”

The shrubs rustled and a man appeared, the sunlight glinting on the barrel of his pistol.

“Rurik!” Relief swept Nik. “I was beginning to wonder where you were.” He'd started toward Rurik but Ailsa stepped in front of him, her gaze locked on the guard.

“If you wish to speak with him, then put doon your weapon,” she told his guard.

Nik chuckled. “
Krasavitsa
, it is Rurik. He comes to escort us to Greer's camp.”

She didn't look the least convinced. “Then why has he drawn his pistol?”

“Because he . . .” Nik turned to Rurik. “Why
do
you have your pistol drawn?”

The guard's thick black brows rose, but the pistol remained where it was, level and pointing at Nik's chest.

Nik's smile faded. “Rurik, what is this?”

Rurik's gaze flickered to the woods, an almost regretful look entering his gaze before he lowered the pistol and tucked it into his waistband. “The brigands.”

Nik looked around, instantly on alert. “Did you see sign of them on your way here?”

“
Da
. It's good you're armed. But what happened to you? You've a bandage.”

“A minor wound, nothing more. Lady Ailsa says it's only a—”

“
Ailsa!
” The yell echoed loudly.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.

“
Ailsa, where are you?
”

“Gregor?” Ailsa called out.

“You brought the whelp with you?” Nik asked Rurik.

“Not by choice.” The broad-shouldered guard shook his head ruefully. “You can hear that man a mile away—he crashes through the bushes like a drunk deer. That was why I had my pistol drawn. With him thrashing through the woods the way he does, I was certain the thieves would find us all.”

Ailsa said, “But you're nae traveling with him. You came from one direction; he's approaching from another.”

The guard's gaze flickered to Ailsa. “Your cousin has been most annoying since you disappeared. Talking, talking, demanding we
do
something, but having no idea what. It was decided I should be the one to find you and escort you to where Greer and the others wait, but your cousin decided to strike out on his own.”

“He can be verrah insistent.”

The brush moved and then Gregor appeared, leading his horse, his pistol at the ready just as Rurik's had been. On seeing Ailsa, his eyes lit. “Good God, cousin, where have you been?” He replaced his weapon in its holder and tied his horse to a shrub. “Never disappear on me again! I've been so worried, I can't even—” Gregor had walked toward them, but now he stopped, his gaze going over Ailsa's loose hair, her untucked shirt. He turned to Nik, his eyes widening at the bare chest that met his gaze. “Bloody hell! What's going on here?”

Ailsa sighed. “Can you nae see the bandages, Gregor?”

“Oh. That. I didn't— And I should have— I'm sorry. That must be why— And then Ailsa helped— There's lace on that bandage, so I'll assume it's—”

“Gregor, please.” Ailsa, holding back a quiver of a smile, held up a hand. “Enough!”

Rurik crossed his arms over his chest. “You see what I mean,
nyet
?”

Gregor's face was so red it appeared he might burst into flames. “I hope you weren't— Not that it would be any of my business if you did, but—”

“Careful, Gregor!” Ailsa sent him a warning look as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “As you noted already, he's been injured. The bandage is too thick for him to wear his shirt over it.”

Gregor brightened. “Ah! Good, then!”

“I'm glad you're so pleased,” Nik said tersely.

Rurik came to stand with Nik, his brows lowered. “I found where D'yoval slid off the trail. It's a wonder your arm isn't all you injured.”

“I didn't hurt my arm from the fall. I was shot.”

Gregor, who'd been walking toward them, came to an abrupt halt. “
What?
”

“You heard what I said.”

“I know, but . . . I
knew
something had happened. You ran into the brigands after the storm, didn't you? And with only one horse between you. I was worried sick about you, and with reason.”

“You should nae have been,” Ailsa answered. “Nik
was shot during the storm. Someone fired under cover of the thunder, for I never heard it and I was looking right at him when it happened.”

“Bloody hell.” Gregor looked contrite as he turned to Nik. “Are you able to travel?”

Nik gave a dismissive wave. “Perfectly able. We would have already joined you, but your cousin was worried my wound might reopen.”

“Ah. She's been babying you, has she? She does that.”

Ailsa scowled at her cousin. “Only when 'tis warranted. I take it you found Greer, and all is well?”

“Aye. He's waiting with the others at the inn in Ullapool.” Gregor gave the guard a hard look. “Hello, Rurik. Surprised to see me?”

“
Nyet
. I've heard you these last two miles, if not more.”

Gregor's mouth thinned. “You should have waited for me.”

“There was no need.” Rurik grinned, his teeth gleaming in his bearded face. “I thought it best to find our lost members quickly. Traveling with you might be noisy, but it is not quick.”

“I wouldn't have slowed you—”

“You would have. We both know it.” Rurik turned to Nik. “We must reach the main road before nightfall. We can travel much quicker then.”

“Let us go, then,” Nik said. But inwardly, he sighed in disappointment. Ten minutes ago, he'd thought the world fit into the palm of his hand—or at least a delicious bit of it.

Ailsa frowned. “But your shoulder—”

“—is fine.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “It is well enough, as you have seen.”

Her face pinkened, but she gave a short nod, and then went to collect their things.

Nik was surprised at the wistfulness that pressed upon him as he watched her disappear into the cave. This had been their little oasis away from their quest, and he would miss it.

Stifling a sigh, he went to saddle D'yoval.

Chapter 19

Ailsa took a sip of her whisky. The smoky gold flavor slid over her tongue and warmed her throat. She smiled and stretched her booted feet toward the fireplace. The inn in Ullapool was small but comfortable. She was sitting in an overstuffed chair in the common room, a toasty fire at her toes, a glass of good whisky in her hand—and she sighed with pleasure.

After Rurik and Gregor had appeared, she and Nik had followed them out of the forest to the main road. With only three horses among them, Nik had insisted she ride before him. Her cousin had protested, but Nik had put an end to it by pointing out D'yoval's superior strength. It had been pleasant, riding tucked against Nik's broad chest, his heart in beat with her own.

Primed by their kisses, she was constantly aware of him—of his strong arms where they wrapped about her, of the ripple of his muscles when he guided the horse around a deep puddle in the road, of his powerful thighs where they rested against the back of hers.

Though they made excellent time once they reached the road, it grew dark quickly, and they had to camp
one last night in the woods. There'd been a brief argument between Rurik and Gregor about who would stand guard, settled when Nik flatly ordered Rurik to let Gregor do his part.

Gregor had been elated, although he'd faced this morning bleary-eyed and sleepy. She thought he was as grateful as she was when, shortly after noon, they'd finally reached the inn where the others waited.

She'd never been so glad to see an inn, even though it marked the final stage of their journey. It was odd, but she both longed to be away from Nik and dreaded it. There would be no further opportunity for them to engage in their flirtation, as once the captives were recovered and they returned to Castle Leod, their adventure would be over.

Finished.

That was better for them both, and she knew it. But the realization left her feeling wistful and . . . not sad, for she'd tasted only a bit of the passion he offered, but . . . lonely. Yes, that was it. Lonely. And for the first time, she found herself wondering if Castle Leod was indeed her final destiny, or just a stop along the path.

So it was that her final ride in Nik's arms had been dampened by her conflicting thoughts. The only good thing that had come from the long morning's ride was that Rurik and Gregor seemed to have healed the breech between them, for they'd spent the better part of the ride engaged in a low-toned earnest conversation.

That had left her free to talk with Nik, though they'd said very little. Instead, she'd soaked in the feel of him, the nearness, refusing to think about how it would soon
be over. She wasn't sure whether it was her imagination, but once or twice she thought she felt him press a kiss to the top of her head.

She sighed now as she crossed her legs at the ankles, enjoying the warmth of the fire as it soaked into the bottoms of her boots.
I need to focus on the ransom exchange and nothing else.
That
is where my thoughts should be.

“It's good to be indoors, isn't it?” Gregor stood in the doorway, his riding gloves in one hand, watching her.

“It seems shamelessly luxurious.”

“The inn?”

“The whisky. 'Tis heavenly.” She gestured to a nearby bench. “Would you like a wee dram?”

“I don't mind if I do.” He left the doorway and crossed the room to slide onto the bench, dropping his gloves on the table. “Thank you for sharing with me.”

“Why would I nae?”

“Because it will appear on
your
bill of lading.” He gave a rueful smile as he picked up a glass from the small tray at her elbow. “I'm woefully short of coin.”

“As ever.” She smiled at him fondly, sliding the bottle toward him. “Have however much you wish. I owe you more than a few glasses of whisky for riding to my rescue.” Although she wished he and Rurik had been a little slower in finding her and Nik. She was just getting to know him, and what she'd found out had surprised and intrigued her.

And then there were those kisses.

She fought a shiver, well aware that her thoughts were in such turmoil because she and Nik had left their explorations at such an unfulfilling point. Several times
during their ride here, she'd had to fight the desire to turn in the saddle and draw his mouth to hers and demand that he finish what they'd started.

Nik must have thought the same, for when they'd finally arrived at the inn, he'd dismounted and then reached up to assist her. As his hands had closed around her waist, he'd stayed in place and looked at her as if he would like to drag her all the way to the ground and take her there, as if there were no other people in the world but the two of them.