Laird of the Highlands: International Billionaires IX: The Scots (35 page)

T
hanks for reading
Laird of the Highlands
.
I hope you enjoyed it!

I would appreciate a review
if you have the time. You can
click here
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Lend the book.
This book is lendable, so please share it with a friend.

Check out the rest of the series.
There are two other stories within the Scots trilogy of the International Billionaires series. You can check out
Lion of Caledonia
and
Lord of the Isles
.

L
ion of Caledonia

A caged man looking for escape. A woman in disguise searching for a precious jewel. Two lovers destined to destroy each other or tear apart the bonds of the past.

L
ord
of the Isles

A beast. A beauty. And an unexpected baby.

T
he male perusal
made Jessica uncomfortable as it always did. “It’s stupid that we’re both dressed up. After all, it’s just us two.”

“If you’d like to get more comfortable, I’m fine with that.” His smile came back, teeth flashing. “I can lend you a T-shirt and boxers.”

The idea of her in his shirt and boxers, legs bare and no bra, caused the inevitable blush to run up her neck. That made her even more flustered. “I think I should go.”

At her words, he dashed up the stairs and grabbed her hand. His long fingers laced through hers in a way that was becoming increasingly familiar and he pulled her right into his orbit. “I don’t think so,” he said with a husky chuckle. “Not when I finally have you here.”

He was too much. Too charming and beautiful and male. Her distrust about this whole situation washed back. Pinning him with a pointed look, she said, “Nick.”

“You sound so serious,” he murmured. “Why so serious?”

“Because whatever is happening here is serious, I can tell.”

“Can you?” He shifted closer, bringing his spicy scent with him. “Why do you say that?”

His accent, the slight
j
before the
you
, the curl of it seemed to circle around her as well as his body. “This isn’t real.”

“What’s not real? Your hand is real in mine.”

She tried to pull away, but he clung.

“And you are real, right here beside me,” he continued. “And I am real, right by you.”

The
j
again, before the
you
. It shivered through her once more, making her want to come closer and yet, at the same time, she wanted to run.

Before she could bolt, he ran his hand along the silk of her waist and nestled her into his arms. “Jessie,” he whispered.

More than anything, more than all her illusions and wishes, she wanted this to be real. This man who wanted to hold her because she was Jessie not Jessica McDowell. This emotion of being connected to another human being for more than money or family or duty. This dream she hadn’t even realized she held deep inside.

To be loved. Truly loved by a man.

It couldn’t be, though.

Her heart might dream, but her brain was too logical to let her off the hook.

Sign up for my new release email list at
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Devil's Demand
is released!

D
ouble finalist
and winner of the Golden Heart, one of Romance Writer's of America's highest awards, Caro LaFever writes timeless romantic tales as well as nonfiction advice for writers. Her book,
Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes
has been a go-to resource for writers for more than a decade. Her romantic novels have won or been a finalist in such prestigious contests as the Golden Pen, the Orange Rose, and the Emily. She lives in the Rocky Mtns.

• @caro_lafever
  
• CaroLaFever
  

I
appreciate
every bit of advice and commentary that I've received from numerous critique group buddies, workshops, classes, and beta readers. After years of honing my craft, I still find new and important nuggets of wisdom every time I put my writing out there for review.

Thanks to my developmental editor, Allie Burton, who is truly my conscience and calls me on my idiot imaginings. Thanks to Sue Viders, who always catches when a character has moved across the room, but I haven't mentioned it. And thanks to Tanya Saari, my proofreader, who diligently goes with me into the correct way to spell numerous foreign foods and phrases.

Finally, thanks to my family, who taught me to love books and appreciate a story well-told.

C
opyright
© 2016 by Caro LaFever

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Book cover: Kim Killion

Interior design: Caro LaFever