Kilted Sin (Brethren of Stone 3)

Fiona made a dash for him and he scooped the girl up into his arms. “I just washed that dress,” Gemma admonished but she couldn’t quite keep her lips from turning up.

“Where have you been?” Fiona asked, winding her arms about Will’s neck.

He tweaked her nose as Ewan toddled over. Will scooped up the boy without making any effort. “I’ve been working to plant the fields. The good news is my brother lives verra close and can ship our crop to the distilleries. We just have to grow enough to make the quota.”

Fiona nodded her head even as she scrunched her brows together. “Quota?”

Gemma, drawn to the trio, moved to stand next to them. “Will’s trying to make money. You know about that, don’t you? It’s what we use to buy food and clothes.”

Fiona’s eyes widened and her chin bobbed up and down. “Oh that is important.” Then she leaned in

until her nose touched Will’s. “But we miss you when you’re gone.”

Will’s mouth parted but no words came out. He cleared his throat while gently setting the children down. “I’ve missed you too.”

Gemma skimmed her fingers down the girl’s cheek. “Go finish dusting the lower shelf,” she said. “I’ll be right there.”

Ewan followed Fiona going back to his makeshift drum.

“They don’t have to clean and neither do you.” Will pivoted to face her. “I heard you’ve also taken over the laundry.”

Gemma shrugged and her cheeks warmed. “I’ve never minded working hard and Mrs. Cleary could use the extra hands.”

“I appreciate the help.”

His voice was deep yet soft and it rippled along her skin, tightening her nipples. “And I truly appreciate the chance to work off my debt,” she said. “Thank ye fer not turning me in. what I did, it wasn’t right—”

“Enough,” he cut her off, his hoarse voice in contrast to how smooth it had just been. “I’m not exactly proud of forcing you here and I appreciate you making the best of a bad situation.”

Gemma looked up into his warm brown eyes. Her breath caught as their gazed locked and she found herself drifting closer. “Let’s stop apologizing. I can honestly say that I am glad to be here.”

One side of his mouth turned up. “I’m glad you’re here too.”

She wanted to touch him like she had the other day. To feel the heat of his skin under her hand. She clenched her fingers into tight fists to resist. It wouldn’t be appropriate.

“Any word on a family for them?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. The longer they stay. The harder it will be for them to go.” He clenched his jaw. “I want to do what’s best for them but—”

Gemma understood. Mostly. He was working his fingers to the bone and uncertain if he’d be successful. If he couldn’t care for himself and the people on his land how could he care for two more children who would require additional staff? Still, she could see they felt a connection to him already and if she wasn’t mistaken he cared for them as well.

It wasn’t her place to tell him that he should keep two children who weren’t his.

Who was she to tell anyone how to live his life? Stealing a horse and being forced to nanny children was the happiest she’d been in ages.

Chapter Six

Will had been avoiding them. Mostly Gemma because she started a riot in his body every time he was near her. The damn woman would have him on his knees in no time. The vixen he’d met the first day hadn’t resurfaced. Instead, she’d become this soft, caring beauty who touched him with sympathy and cared for the children in his home. This new version of Gemma was so much more dangerous. She was so tempting a man might forget that he didn’t have the means to care for a wife.

He turned over in bed, the sun hadn’t yet risen and he needed his rest.

He’d been skirting Fiona and Ewan too. They lit up every time he saw them and he could feel their attachment growing.

He hadn’t heard a word from the magistrate about a new family for them.

What would Stone do? Or Blair?

Find a home for them with one of his crofters? They seemed barely able to support themselves.