To Tempt a Scotsman (Somerhart 1)

"I'd imagine so. Well, I can assure you I've never sinned with a married woman."

Collin choked, shook his head. "No?"

"What? How could I even—? I mean, how could a woman—?" She blushed fiercely, pink even in the moon­light. "Never mind. I don't want to know."

"Are you sure?" As her shock grew to mortification, Collin laughed aloud. "I'm teasing, Alex. You are scan­dalous enough without adding women to the plot."

"I didn't know they could be added," she muttered.

"They can't. Forget I mentioned it. Really."

"Hm."

"Have you been well?"

"I have. And you? Any word about St. Claire?"

"No. I'm not even sure he's still in France. He fled out a back window when we found his apartment."

"You went yourself?"

"Yes, for what good it did. The man's as slippery as an eel. I expect you'll never hear from him again. I'm sure he knows you turned the information over to me."

The path curved again, heading back to the well-lit patio. Collin watched her walk, memorized her neck, her bare arms, the tumble of wild hair.

"Is there some way I can help with your hair?"

"My hair?" Her fingers reached to inspect. "Oh." Her freckled nose wrinkled. "Oh."

"Beyond repair?"

"I think so."

"Shall I sneak you out the back then, and take you home?"

She sighed, huffed really. "I had hoped to dance with you."

Collin was shaking his head before she'd finished the sentence. "I don't dance." She opened her mouth to argue, but he rushed on. "I'm a bastard. I lived in a two room cot­tage until I was twelve. I don't dance. I don't know how."

"I could teach you."

"Perhaps you could, but not tonight."

"No, I suppose not. . . But you will let me teach you?" She'd brightened again, looking so young he felt perverted.

"We will negotiate the terms of my surrender at your cottage."

"Ooo, I like that. I shall have to draw up a list."

Her happy leer made him chuckle, then laugh aloud. There were so few people who made him laugh, but he couldn't avoid it with Alexandra. She threw off humor like sparks. Her eyes glittered and gleamed, pleased with his laugh. Finally giving himself over to the inevitable, Collin leaned down, aimed straight for her nose, and placed a chaste kiss on his very favorite freckle.

"Write a long list. If I'm going to hell, I want to be sure I earn my place."

"My philosophy exactly . . . in case you hadn't noticed."

His laugh boomed through the garden and echoed off the stone walls of the house.

Jeannie Kirkland had learned patience from her saint of a mother and it paid off in spades tonight. She waited and waited, not taking her eyes from the patio doors. Waited until she was sure he had snuck out the back gate. Finally, nearly an hour after he'd disappeared with Alexandra Huntington, Collin Blackburn slipped back into the ball.