A Scot Like You (The MacLarens of Balmorie, 2) (2 page)

Either he was losing it—and that could very well be the case—or there was a
naked
woman in his barn.

Dev stood frozen, rooted to the spot, wrench in his hand, body pressed against the side of the tractor as he reached toward the motor.

There was a naked woman in his barn.

One who was clutching the door, muttering to herself about never going skinny-dipping again, and shifting from foot to foot with impatience. He tried to swallow but his mouth had gone dry. His gaze traveled over her trim ankles, slim calves and thighs, to an ass that could make the angels weep. Damn. He almost teared up in appreciation.

Long hair hung down her back in clumpy strands, and water dripped from the ends onto her lower back, wet streaks gliding over those amazing cheeks…

He fumbled the wrench.

Clangs echoed through the barn as the wrench dropped into the motor.

The woman spun around, quickly locating the source of the noise.

Dev straightened slowly, his eyes going wider. Christ it just kept getting better. The front was just as impressive as the back. He tried, he really tried to be a gentleman and not look. But he was momentarily dumbstruck. Blind-sided.

In a delayed reaction, the woman covered her breasts with her arm and hand, and used the other to shield lower.

His heart pounded. His eyes were going to pop out of his head. Did she have to put her hand
there
?

He wasn't sure if he ever saw anything sexier then this dripping wet goddess with her hands on herself.

And he was just standing there like some teenage virgin idiot as Hamish's truck rattled past the barn—there was no mistaking the sound of that old rust bucket. There wasn't a blanket or cloth in sight unless his work rags counted. Not knowing what else to do, and feeling like he was in some bizarre x-rated
Twilight Zone
episode, he grabbed the end of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.

"Here." He stepped forward and held it out to her. "You all right?"

She didn't seem afraid or panicked, just highly irritated and wary of her new predicament. She grabbed the shirt, and plastered it against her front. At least it covered the finer points. Just barely.

"Do I look all right to you?"

Wisely, Dev did not comment.

Her eyes lashes were spiky and dark from the water. He was pretty sure even dry, her hair would be black. She had smooth pale skin, dark lips, and blue eyes. He scrubbed a hand down his face, feeling the overgrown stubble on his jaw. He was dirty, his hands and arms streaked with grease and motor oil from working all day on the bloody tractor. The sudden image of his work worn hands on her clean skin made him take a step back.

Get a fucking grip, man
.

Her eyes swept over his bare chest. A frown pulled down the corner of her mouth and she fixed him with an arched look.

They stared at each other for a long moment.

The air in the barn became hard to breathe. Blood rushed through his body like a burning freight train. The awareness was so thick and heavy it left him dazed and speechless. It made him wonder if he'd smacked his head on the tractor, and was in a pornographic coma.

"You mind turning around?"

Dev jerked. He spun around, cursing himself. What the hell was wrong with him just standing there ogling her like that? He knew better. She'd just surprised him, knocked his good sense right out the bloody window.

"Thanks for the shirt."

Dev turned around to tell her anytime and apologize for the staring match, but she'd slipped out the door. By the time he flung it wide, she was already in the road and running away.

Chapter 2

Kate wanted nothing more than to put her encounter with the smoking hot Scot behind her. Talk about humiliating. But try as she might, she couldn't get the image of him out of her mind. Not when she'd gone to bed last night. Not when she woke this morning. And not now, when she was riding the bike Lucy had left for her to use.

The guy had such a wild look about him, his wavy hair a little on the long side, his jaw full of attractive scruff. He was tall and broad shouldered and built really, really well. She'd bet his abs were hard as oak planks. A stoic, bad-ass vibe surrounded him, a deep, quiet vibe. It was in his eyes too. She'd just bet that deepness meant he had a ton of baggage. Good thing she'd run as soon as she had. The last thing she needed was more baggage.

With her mind wandering, she stopped paying attention to where she was going and veered into grass on the side of the road. "Whoa—" The bike rattled and bounced, making her grip the handlebars tightly, as she steered back onto the dirt road. Once there, she slowed, heart pounding. No more thinking about the guy from the barn unless she wanted to crash and show up for lunch with dirt in her teeth—not the impression she wanted to make with Lucy's soon-to-be hubby.

As she rounded the curve and got her second look at Balmorie, nerves began taking hold. Talk about making impressions. The castle was so regal and old. Blue-blooded. Kate was anything but. She wondered if her loose linen skirt, V-neck T-shirt, and flip-flops were too casual.

After parking the bike by the massive entrance, she smoothed her skirt, righted her shirt, and tucked a few errant strands of long bangs behind her ear. Maybe she should have fixed her hair instead of doing her usual messy twist…

"Ah. Ye must be Kate," a red-haired man greeted, opening the door wide before she even had a chance to knock. He grinned at her through a red beard peppered with gray. There was an assessing twinkle in his bright blue eyes, too.

"I am." She shook his hand. His grip was firm and full of enthusiasm.

"Kate!" Lucy appeared, angling her way through the door, her arms outstretched. "You're really here. God, I've missed you so much." Lucy squeezed her hard and then stood back, both hands on Kate's shoulders.

Her cousin's wide grin and glassy eyes, made Kate feel warm and fuzzy inside. Lucy always gave the best hugs. "It's good to be here," she said, relieved, realizing how worried she'd been about losing Lucy. Worried that the once tight group of Lucy, Kate, and Riley was finally breaking apart, moving on. But one look at the love on Lucy's face and Kate knew that no matter how much distance was put between them, they'd still be as tight as ever.

"This is Hamish," Lucy introduced her to the old man.

"Pleasure," Kate said to him.

"And come meet Fran and Ian." Lucy pulled her into the castle, moving so quick and talking so fast that Kate didn't have as much time as she wanted to marvel at the hall. But the man striding toward them more than made up for it. Ian MacLaren was
just
as Lucy described—tall, built, dark good looks, and a magnetism to knock your socks off.

Ian shook her hand, the embrace warm and welcoming. He had a killer smile that charmed her completely. Yeah, Lucy was right. The guy pretty much oozed sex appeal. As introductions were made, Lucy stood slightly behind Ian's shoulder, wiggling her eyebrows and mouthing,
I know, right?

Kate had a hard time keeping a lid on her laughter.

"You've settled into the cottage?" Ian asked as they moved into the kitchen.

"Yes. It's perfect. The loch is really beautiful. Breathtaking, actually." Which she knew from personal experience. Breathtaking view, breathtaking temperature...

"I knew you'd love it," Lucy said. "It's picture perfect, isn't it? The stone, the fireplace, the views…"

"I think I recognize it from one of the photographs you sent to Gram."

Lucy perked up. "Mmm. I have news on that. But first, this is Fran." A woman approached the kitchen table with a tray of fruit and cheese.

"Lovely to meet you, Kate. We've all heard so much about you."

"Nice to meet you too. And whatever Lucy said I did, I didn't."

Fran laughed. "We did hear a story or two…" With a wink, Fran set the tray on the table. "Next time, you'll have to bring your grandmother and cousin Riley. I hear the four of you together is something to behold."

Kate could definitely attest to that. If by 'something' one meant chaos. "My trip has Gram thinking about taking one of her own soon. I know she'd love it here." Kate turned to Lucy. "She misses you. Packing up your stuff and shipping it over . . . she was in tears but at the same time so happy for you." It had been hard on Kate, too. The three of them had lived in that tiny apartment in New York for so long; Lucy staying in Scotland had been a big adjustment.

Sadness came into Lucy's wide brown eyes.

"She's so thrilled for you, Luc. You have no idea. To her, it's like you're living a fairy tale." Kate glanced around the massive kitchen with its stone walls and large fireplace. "She's not far off is she?"

Lucy's eyes were on Ian as he helped Hamish set the table. "No. I'd say she's spot on."

Any reserves Kate had about meeting Ian and the Grahams were wiped away. Lunch was fun and full of laughter and conversation. Ian and Lucy were so much in love it made her chest hurt at times, seeing the looks they shared, the way he leaned close to her in the chair, them sharing secret smiles…

"Dev's not coming at all then?" Fran asked Ian after glancing at the wall clock.

"Said he'd try to stop by. But you know how he gets when he's in project mode."

"He's working on getting one of the fields cut," Hamish clarified for Kate's sake. "The equipment is old. Keeps giving out on us. Makes everything take twice as long."

"Once we start turning a profit," Ian assured him, "we'll begin replacing things."

"How's that been going? The guest house and rentals?" Kate asked.

"All eight rooms in the main house are booked," he answered. "Most of the guests are out sightseeing today."

"Ian hired a local tour guide to take some of the work load off," Lucy said. "And two of the other cottages are let for the week as well. Ian and Dev are working on getting the others in shape."

"And once the farm is back in working order," Hamish added, "we'll start selling hay and cattle and sheep."

"There's one more brother, right?" Kate recalled Lucy had mentioned that Ian had two brothers.

"Aye, that'd be Jamie," Hamish answered. "Was here for a few weeks on leave. Won't see him again for another six months or so."

"James is the last one in the military," Lucy explained. "Devin and Ian are out now. And once James is done, he'll move to the estate."

"Are ye involved with anyone back home, lass?" Hamish asked, leaning back in his chair with speculation. He was so obvious, Kate couldn't help but smile. His accent was thick at times, making it hard to follow, but he had spunk and she liked that about him.

"No, no one special. And not in the market either, which is too bad because I hear from Lucy that the other MacLaren boys are a pretty good-looking pair."

Fran and Hamish laughed. Ian's brow lifted and Lucy shrugged. "What? It's true."

Ian rolled his eyes.

"You're miles above, babe," Lucy said, then paused. "Well, maybe not miles. Yards. No, feet." She was grinning at him.

"Light years," he clarified.

Kate thought it was the sweetest thing in the world, seeing her dreamer of a cousin find such an amazing man, in such an amazing place.

As they pitched in to clean up lunch, the door to the mudroom opened and closed. Kate paused, dirty dishes in her hands. In walked the hot Scot from the barn. In the flesh. As big and sexy as she remembered. Her stomach flipped and the dishes in her hands wobbled. She was glad the table put some distance between them.

As greetings were thrown around, he finally turned his eyes on her and froze.

Soon, everyone in the room stopped. Kate could feel them staring. Heat flooded her face. She scowled at him. He cocked his head and lifted a brow, a faint smirk on his face, telling her exactly what he was remembering from their last encounter.

"Good to see you again, lass," he said, his mouth twitching. "I'd like my shirt back when you get a chance."

Kate's eyes narrowed to fine points. She heard someone gasp and another let out a soft chuckle. Ian cleared his throat. "I see you've met my brother," he said.

"Not really."

The man in question stepped closer and reached across the table. "Devin MacLaren," he said with a daring glint in his eyes.

Oh, he was trouble all right. And the last thing she needed was trouble. Kate set the plates down and shook his hand. It was rough on the palms, calloused, and warm. And big. "Kate Walker. Lucy's cousin."

Devin straightened. "Ah. Should have made the connection."

"So you two…" Lucy fished.

"Ran into each other on the road yesterday evening," Kate supplied quickly before he could say anything. "No big deal."

"Well, sit yourself down, lad," Fran said. "I'll make you a plate."