It Happened One Bite (17 page)

“Luckily, that little scamp of a lad was able to drag her from her doldrums.”

“Bloody wonderful for her.”

Matthew smirked, which was beyond annoying. “So she made a mistake,” the earl began. “Who hasn’t in their life?”

“Even after Sarah tried to
kill
her, Blaire believed her word over mine.”

“Something I’m certain she regrets. And you, my dear friend, risked your own life to save your pretty witch this very morning.”

Which was exactly his point. “And yet she
still
believed Sarah.”

Matthew shrugged as though that detail meant nothing. “And you’re letting Sarah win at her game.”

“I’m doing nothing of the sort.”

“You keep forgetting I know how you feel about Miss Lindsay.”

Something James would rather forget at the moment. Blast Matthew for dredging it all back up. “I don’t believe I actually invited you into my chambers.”

The Earl of Blodswell laughed. “No, you wished me to the devil, a bit less delicately.” He sat on the edge of James’ bed. “Tell me you’re not really going to let some error in judgment stand in the way of your happiness.”

“She has no faith in me, Matt.”

“Sarah manipulated her.”

“I thought we had a bond, something…magical.”

Matthew sighed. “Your eyes were closed when we returned this morning, James. So you didn’t see the relief and joy that radiated from Miss Lindsay when she spotted you. It was the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Even after listening to Sarah’s poisonous tongue, even believing the worst about you, she
still
couldn’t keep herself from running into your arms.”

He hadn’t thought about it in those terms. Still, he wasn’t ready to concede. “So you’re saying she’s daft?”

Matthew cuffed him on the head. “No, I’m saying
you
are if you give up on Blaire Lindsay.”

He’d always hated it when Matthew was right. And James knew from the depth of his soul that his friend was right this time as well. “Where is she?”

“Participating in the strangest bit of play with her brothers.”

If his curiosity hadn’t already been piqued, that vague statement would have done it. James pushed up on his elbows and frowned at his oldest friend in the world. “All right. You win.”

Matthew winked at him. “Oh, no, my boy. In
this,
I think you are the winner.”

James followed Matthew down to the castle’s main floor and directly to the great hall. Once he got there, he couldn’t quite believe the sight that awaited him. The newly refurbished hall was sparkling clean, the drapes replaced and new rugs lined the floors. It looked exactly like what one might find in any Highland castle, except for one thing. In the middle of the room, Captain Lindsay and Blaire were tangled together, a mass of arms and legs, wrestling for position. Matthew winced from beside him when the captain took an elbow to his midsection and bent double.

“Ye doona fight fair, Blaire,” the captain groaned.

“No one said I have ta fight fair,” she laughed as she released him from her grasp. Blaire stood up quickly as though she sensed James’ presence. “James!” The sound seemed torn from her. “I-I mean, Lord Kettering,” she corrected. Her cheeks colored prettily when she realized all the men’s eyes were on her.

James couldn’t drag his gaze away from her. The wounds of the morning were still fresh in his memory, but seeing the emotion in her eyes made it impossible for him to remain angry at her. Who knew he was such a fool?

Captain Lindsay stood and then dropped into a crouch, circling her as he waited for her to ready herself for his next approach. “Stop making eyes at the baron, Blaire, and prepare ta be flattened.”

“Ye wish,” Blaire scoffed, but she took up her fighting stance.

“Do they do this often?” Matthew asked quietly. His eyebrows were raised in awe, and James could tell Blaire had Matthew’s admiration. She wasn’t the average lady, his witch, not in the least. He couldn’t be happier about that fact.

“Apparently they do this
very
often,” Alec MacQuarrie chimed in from his seat on the settee. He shook his head and grinned, and then rubbed his hands together. “Brannock suggested I even take a turn next.”

“Ye’ll never best me, Alec,” Blaire taunted with a grunt as she twisted free from Captain Lindsay’s grasp, her moves quick and efficient. But a little piece of James’ heart clenched at the familiarity between the two. MacQuarrie could find his own damn witch.

“Does he ever win?” Matthew gestured to the captain as he went to stand behind Brannock’s chair.

“Only when she lets him.” The lad giggled loudly.

She was a formidable lass, but a worthy opponent might make her stronger and better. James smiled to himself as he imagined the training they could engage in together.

“She doesna
let
me do anythin’,” the captain grunted, quite obviously paying attention to his surroundings. A smart man he was.

“Keep tellin’ yerself that, Aiden,” his witch taunted. James tried to bite back a grin, while Matthew laughed aloud at her audacity. “From what I heard, ye ate an entire platter of Heather Fyfe’s treacle biscuits. They’ve made ye more sluggish than normal.”

That spurred the captain forward. He made his move, grabbing one of her legs quickly and pulling hard enough that she landed on her back with a whoosh of air escaping her lips. James stepped toward her, his need to protect her so great that it was nearly inexhaustible.

But Matthew brought him back to his senses. “Great bit of
sport
, isn’t it, James?”

Aiden Lindsay grinned down at his sister. “Did ye let me do that?” he taunted from his position above her. He had her fairly well pinned to the floor. And she was none too happy about it. Something told James she could make him move but withheld her power to save his pride. Captain Lindsay called out, “Bran, come and tickle her while I have her down.”

James leaned casually in the doorway. This must be something they did a lot, because Brannock jumped into the fray with enthusiasm. James couldn’t fight the laugh that escaped his throat at their antics, or at Blaire’s pleading for them to stop. She was ticklish. He’d have to remember that.

“Enough!” Blaire finally cried out over her own laughter. “Let me up.”

The captain stood and held his hand out to her, which she took without hesitation.

When she rose, she brushed at her skirts and pulled the loose combs from her hair, which were now refusing to do their jobs. Her sable tresses spilled over her shoulders.

“Beautiful,” James breathed.

“Pardon?” Captain Lindsay turned in his direction, his breathing still labored. Blaire looked no worse for the battle. She wasn’t even breathing hard.

“A
dutiful
brother, I said.” James shrugged. It took all his strength to pull his gaze from Blaire.

“Is it my turn?” Alec MacQuarrie said from the settee.

The devil it was. That man would put his hands on Blaire over James’ dead body, though that probably wasn’t the best turn of phrase. James took a step toward him.

“Actually, Mr. MacQuarrie,” Matthew said as he stepped into James’ path, “Miss Lindsay looks a bit winded right now, and I was hoping we might discuss your studies on the Third Crusade at greater length.” Always the heroic knight, saving people from themselves or from James’ temper.

“You mean Sir Matthew Halkett?” the Scot asked, his brow rising with interest.

“The first Earl of Blodswell, yes.” Matthew gestured toward the open doorway. “You mentioned him when we first met. And I’ve heard the family legends, of course, but I’d love to hear your take on the tale.

And see how accurately his heroics were portrayed in this day and age. Incorrigible narcissist. James suppressed a smile at his maker. It was best not to encourage the man, even though he was helping James at the moment.

“A knight?” Brannock Lindsay gushed. “Oh, can I hear, too, Mr. MacQuarrie?”

Alec MacQuarrie glanced around the room and shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”

“Oh, then let’s retire to the library,” Matthew suggested. “Always the best place to hear old legends, don’t you agree?”

“I do love a good library,” MacQuarrie agreed.

“Oh, then you’ll love Briarcraig’s,” Matthew gushed. “There’s a complete treasure trove of old tomes in there. I don’t think they’ve been touched for ages.”

The captain grumbled something under his breath about blasted libraries, but James couldn’t make out the exact words.

“Let’s take a look, shall we?” MacQuarrie suggested “My curiosity has been piqued.”

Matthew directed Brannock and Captain Lindsay over the threshold and clapped his hand companionably on Alec MacQuarrie’s back as they strode from the room. “I truly can’t wait to hear your version, Mr. MacQuarrie.”

An amused grin played on Blaire’s pretty lips. “He likes ta hear tales about himself?”

“It’s a weakness.” James smiled back.

She stepped toward him, reaching out her slender arm. “I am so sorry about this mornin’.”

James held up his hand to stop her. “I’m the one who’s sorry.” He moved a lock of hair from her forehead to look down at her. “I’m sorry about everything that happened with Sarah, but please believe that I’ve never lied to you.”

She bit her lip, and he hoped beyond reason she believed him. How could he prove his honor?

“I have told you more truths, Blaire, than I have ever told anyone,” he admitted. But it was true. He had.

Something James didn’t understand danced across Blaire’s face, and her grey eyes twinkled. “I believe ye.”

Though he didn’t need to breathe, James sighed with relief. “You do?”

She nodded. “Did ye want ta try yer luck with me?”

James thought he already had. And was the luckiest man alive. “Try my luck?”

“In the ring, so ta speak,” she clarified. “Like with Aiden.”

A challenge? God, he loved her fire.

“You shouldn’t allow them to win. They’ll never appreciate all your strength if you do.”

“How did ye ken I let him win?”

“You have more talent for fighting in your little finger than he does in his whole body.” It was a rare compliment, one he’d never paid to a lady. But something told him she liked it more than fancy earbobs or men who tried to steal kisses. She beamed under his praise like a beacon on a stormy night.

Still grinning, she shrugged. “They enjoy it. And they ken how ticklish I am. It’s fun for them.”

He’d taken note of that fact as well. “Ticklish, indeed?” he asked. That was one thing he’d have to find out for himself. “I
did
see a hole in your defense, however.”

“Ye did no’!” she gasped, as outraged as a
normal
chit would be if he said her gown was a ghastly color.

“When he went to grab your leg, you could have pushed his head down and taken an advantage.”

“Care ta show me?” she taunted. He adored the glint in her eye. And was so happy she believed in him that at the moment, he’d do anything she wanted.

“You can’t win against me, Blaire,” he said quietly. “It’s not possible. I’m too strong, and I was trained by the very
humble
Sir Matthew Halkett, knight of legend and lore.”

“Aye, I ken. But show me what ye were talkin’ about.” She grinned at him. “Unless ye’re afraid, of course.” She spun away from him, her skirts swirling around her ankles.

James tossed his jacket across the room where it landed on the settee. “Just remember you asked for this.”

She laughed in response.

He could listen to the sound all day, but he’d rather get his hands on her, and she had given him the perfect excuse to do so. “Get ready, Blaire,” he warned quickly.

Suddenly serious, she dropped into the same crouch she’d taken with the captain. Then he showed her the move and how she could defend herself.

“No’ bad,” she admitted. “One more time?” She made a come-hither motion with her hands. “This time, ye come at me.”

James dropped to a sparring stance and circled her, his hands ready to grab her quickly as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Finally, she blinked a second too long and he lunged for her. A moment later, he had her rolled beneath him, the backs of her hands pressed to the floor.

“You’ll have to try it with your brothers,” he suggested. “You can’t win with me. You should have listened when I told you the first time.” He chuckled at the way she pressed her lips together.

“A wee bit cocky, are ye?” she asked. She didn’t even struggle beneath him. She simply lay there and blinked her pretty grey eyes at him, her long lashes sweeping her cheeks like delicate fans. James instantly hardened.

“More than a wee bit cocky, Blaire,” he assured her. Much more.

Blaire rocked her hips beneath him, which made him groan aloud. “Get off me,” she commanded quietly. But there was no conviction in her voice.

“If I thought that was what you really wanted, I would be happy to oblige, Blaire. But I don’t think it is,” he whispered back to her, just before he let his lips graze her own, which were parted in surprise.

Never a man to pass up an opportunity, James immediately deepened the kiss, coaxing her with his tongue to respond. And respond she did. She warmed up hotter than fire on a cold winter night. What she lacked in experience, she made up for in enthusiasm.

The lass was fire and he would surely be burned, as would she, if he allowed their little game to continue. But he couldn’t, for some reason, pull away from her.

Blaire shifted marginally beneath him, giving him enough room to slide one knee between her thighs, which immediately parted for him.

James kissed his way down her jaw line and then hovered over the side of her neck, watching her pulse beat frantically beneath the fragile skin of her neck. His lips touched her throat gently. He could kiss her softly there without taking from her, without sinking his teeth into her neck, couldn’t he?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant for him to find out. Blaire shifted beneath him, and he immediately caught her move. The little vixen was moving to knee him in the groin. “Oh, no, you don’t want to do that,” he whispered beside her ear. But he appreciated her spirit. Even then, she was plotting to escape his hold.