Love Without Reason. Alison Fraser

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СКАЧАТЬ in search of a lift from the doctor, did she discover the two men—Dr Macnab and Cameron Adams—making each other’s acquaintance at a table in the far corner of the hall. She stopped in her tracks and was about to retreat altogether when the older man spotted her.

      ‘Ah, Riona,’ Dr Macnab hailed her, and she reluctantly approached the table. ‘I was just about to come and look for you. You’ll be wanting a lift?’

      ‘Aye, Doctor, if it’s not too much trouble,’ she said stiltedly, inhibited by the American’s presence.

      She didn’t have to look to know his eyes were boring into her. But she looked all the same and immediately regretted it.

      ‘I’ll give you a lift,’ the American said in a tone that suggested refusal wasn’t an option.

      Riona’s heart sank. She’d sooner walk the four miles in bare feet.

      It was Dr Macnab who answered warmly, ‘That’s good of you, Cameron,’ when Riona remained silent.

      ‘It’s on my way.’ Cameron Adams dismissed any kindness in the offer, then directed at Riona, ‘Are you ready?’

      What could she say? Remembering her first lift with him, she’d no wish to repeat the experience. But he was the new laird, while she was just one of his tenants.

      ‘It is good of you,’ she echoed the doctor, ‘but it’s not really your most direct route. If you go west from the village, it’s about five miles to the House. You have to go in a circle to pass my croft and it almost doubles the journey.’

      ‘Yeah, I know,’ was his only response, as he placed a hand at her elbow, and, with a last, ‘See you around, Doc,’ to the older man, began steering her towards the door.

      The hall was still busy with people saying goodbye and Riona felt every one of them was staring in their direction. By tomorrow it would be round the village—Riona Macleod had left the ceilidh with the new laird. She could imagine what the gossips might conclude from that.

      Cameron Adams smiled disarmingly at people they passed and raised a hand in farewell to Isobel Fraser, who was trapped in conversation with the local vet. He swept on towards the door, without noticing Isobel frantically signalling in return.

      ‘I think Isobel’s trying to catch your attention,’ Riona told him. ‘Maybe she needs a lift. I could go with the doctor...’

      ‘Uh-huh, forget it,’ he dismissed, marching her towards his BMW. ‘Isobel has her own transport, and, even if she didn’t, I don’t think she’d be short of a man to take her home... So be a good girl, stop arguing, and just get in,’ he added, as they reached his car and he opened the passenger door for her.

      Riona felt mutinous at his ‘good girl’ and wondered what he’d do if she took to her heels instead. She looked around for a bolt-hole.

      ‘I wouldn’t if I were you.’ He read her perfectly. ‘Unless, of course, you’d like to be dragged back, caveman style.’

      ‘You’d not dare!’ she retorted angrily.

      He smiled. ‘Try me.’

      Riona was tempted, almost certain he must be bluffing. It would be more embarrassing for him—the new laird seen accosting a local girl outside the village hall. That was assuming, of course, that Cameron Adams ever got embarrassed.

      He continued to smile down at her until Riona decided he would dare, and got into the car.

      He quickly climbed into the other side and switched on the engine. Then, before driving off, he turned to say, ‘Your safety-belt—put it on.’

      It was definitely an order, not a suggestion.

      Riona muttered rebelliously, ‘Why? Am I going to need it?’ remembering how fast he drove.

      He ignored the comment and repeated, ‘Put it on!’

      Riona, who had simply forgotten the belt, took exception, not to it, but to his tone. She decided she would do up the belt in her own sweet time.

      But it seemed Cameron Adams wasn’t prepared to wait that long, as he leaned over her to grasp the strap and, drawing it across her front, locked it into position. In doing so, the back of his hand brushed against her breast. While Riona felt almost panicked by the contact, he didn’t seem to notice, and calmly turned back to grip the wheel and set the car in motion.

      Riona seethed in silence. She had never met anyone so arrogant. Who did he think he was?

      She asked herself the question and answered it in the same breath. He was the laird—and what in heaven’s name was she doing arguing with him? Did she want to be thrown off her croft, after trying so hard to keep it going for the past two years?

      She’d lived there almost her whole life. Her parents, both music teachers, had died in a car accident when she was two, and her grandparents had taken her home to live with them. She was ten when her granny had died, and then it had just been her and her grandpa. Later she’d had the chance of a place at music college in Edinburgh, but she’d chosen to stay with him instead. He’d been in his mid-seventies by then, and growing frail. She’d nursed him through a series of debilitating strokes until a final one had brought release for him. She had not considered it release for herself. Six months on, she still missed the old man who’d brought her up and cared for her in his own tough, uncompromising way.

      ‘So where was Jo tonight?’ The American’s drawl brought her back to the present.

      ‘Jo?’ She didn’t understand.

      ‘You know—the boyfriend,’ he helped her out.

      That Jo, Riona groaned inwardly, recalling the lie she’d told.

      ‘Doesn’t he like dancing?’ the man pursued.

      ‘Eh—no,’ Riona could say with some vestige of truth. Collies didn’t tend to go in for dancing.

      ‘Two left feet, has he?’ the American drawled on. ‘Or should I say four?’

      Four? It was a second before Riona caught on. He knew!

      ‘Who told you?’

      ‘Dr Macnab... After some confusion, not to mention amusement, on the doctor’s side, I realised Jo was more into rounding up sheep than dancing.’

      ‘Oh,’ Riona muttered faintly.

      ‘Oh?’ he echoed this rather inadequate explanation.

      Remembering who he was, she felt obliged to add, ‘I suppose I should apologise.’

      ‘Not if it’s going to kill you,’ he said at her forced admission. ‘An explanation will do. Like why you let me believe you were shacked up with some guy.’

      ‘I didn’t!’ Riona protested, quickly forgetting who he was. ‘You asked if I lived alone. I mentioned Jo and your imagination filled in the rest.’

      ‘You could have told me differently,’ he pointed out.

      ‘Oh, СКАЧАТЬ