Highland Fling (18 page)

 When he reached the lift and took a quick glance over his shoulder, he could see through the glass panels of his office that she was leaning back provocatively against his desk, legs slightly apart and those incredible breasts of hers, standing out like an oasis to a parched man in a desert.

The lift bell pinged and he stepped through the opening doors feeling he’d had a lucky escape and also, feeling a small twinge of sympathy for her fiancé to be. Kim, he’d realised, was one of those women who would never be satisfied with her lot, no matter how good it might be.

Jane called Iain to tell him Lizzie was going to London and he insisted on taking them to the airport.

‘There’s something I need to get in Inverness so I’ll drop you and then pick you up a wee bit later if that’s okay. You can have coffee with Lizzie whilst she waits for her flight.’

‘If you don’t mind, that would be great. We’ve both had a few glasses of wine and whilst I don’t mind driving home across the fields after a drink, I won’t drive on public roads and I’d hate Lizzie to have to get a taxi.’

‘Auch I wouldnae hear of it woman. What time’s her flight?’

‘Six.’                                 

‘Perfect. Then I’ll come straight back to yours, if that’s still okay?’

Jane smiled even though Iain couldn’t see it over the phone. He seemed to be taking a while to accept that she wanted him as much as he wanted her, no matter how many times she’d told him last night, that she had loved him for almost three years, since shortly after they’d met, in fact.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s okay Iain,’ she said in her sexiest voice, ‘I’d say it’s an absolute necessity.’ She heard him suck in his breath on the other end of the line. ‘And Iain,’ she purred, ‘have something to eat in Inverness, the only thing your mouth will be touching tonight ... is my naked body.’

She was sure he dropped his mobile phone; in any event, the line went dead.

Iain pulled up at Jane’s house at six thirty. Lizzie’s flight had been on time so they’d left her just after five – Iain had got back from Inverness in time to wave her through the departure gate with Jane – and the traffic from Inverness had not been too heavy.

They’d stopped to pick up Alastair, his basket and a few of his favourite toys from Laurellei Farm and after several kisses in the kitchen and the hall and leaning against the Land Rover, they had eventually made it to Jane’s still fully clothed, if a little dishevelled.

Inside, Jane settled Alastair whilst Iain lit the fire, bringing in extra logs to put beside it so that he wouldn’t have to stop what he was doing and go and get some more. He also brought in a shopping bag from the boot that Jane hadn’t noticed earlier and his overnight bag.

‘What’s in there?’ Jane was curious to see what he’d gone to Inverness shopping for.

He grinned. ‘I have a wee surprise for you.’

She shimmied towards him, ‘Now Iain,’ she said provocatively, ‘we both know it’s not wee.’

His hazel eyes lit up but he held her off with one hand. ‘Auch. You’re sex mad woman. Can you no think of anything else?’ He smiled. ‘Not that I’m complaining mind. Now close your eyes and you dunnae open them till I tell you.’

Jane was intrigued but she did as she was told. Five minutes later, he spoke again and his voice was warm and filled with love.

‘You can open them now, sweetheart.’

Jane was stunned. In front of the fire was a brand new luxurious tartan blanket of the softest wool, several plump cushions, also new, a bottle of champagne and a hamper containing strawberries, truffles, mini cakes and pastries – and in his hand he held a jar of chocolate body paint.

Her eyes shot to his face. ‘Well, a man’s got to eat,’ he said as Jane threw herself in his arms and kissed every inch of his rugged face.

Several hours later, they were still wrapped in each other’s arms – naked under the tartan blanket, watching the fire crackle and flare.

‘Tell me again that you love me,’ Jane said, ‘I’ll never tire of hearing it.’

Iain kissed her on her forehead. ‘You might after fifty years –  but I love you Jane Munroe.’

Jane pushed herself up on one arm and ran a finger across his muscular chest. Her eyes focused intently on what she was doing. ‘That’s the second time you’ve said that,’ she said softly.

Iain tilted his head to try to see her face but her head was bowed and she didn’t look up. His voice sounded strained. ‘Auch woman. I’ve said it a damn sight more than that. What’s wrong?’

‘I meant the fifty years bit,’ she said hesitantly. ‘Earlier, you said you want to make love to me for the rest of your life.’

Iain didn’t answer but his arm tightened around her.

Now she did look up and her eyes sparkled a little nervously in the glow from the fire. ‘Do ... do you mean it?’

He looked away from her to the fire and when he spoke his voice cracked with emotion. ‘I was married once, but when Alice died not long after Fraser was born, I vowed I wouldnae wed again –’

Jane felt deflated. ‘I understand,’ she interrupted him hurriedly. ‘Forget I said anything.’ She buried her head in his chest and screwed up her eyes. It was too early to think of such things anyway, she thought. Why had she been so stupid?

Iain took her gently by the arms and moved her away from him. He stood up, without saying a word, walked over to where he’d thrown his trousers and bent down to pick them up.

Panic raced through her. She had ruined everything. Lizzie was right. Why did she keep throwing herself at Iain Hamilton. She’d made him feel cornered and now he was going to leave. She felt her heart slowly shattering, like the icicles outside dropping from the roof of the croft and smashing to the ground below.

‘I’m sorry, Iain!’ she almost shrieked. ‘I’m an idiot! Please don’t go!’ she scrambled to her feet and ran to him, standing naked before him, her eyes pleading, tears forming at the sides.

Iain’s expression went from flustered to horrified in two seconds flat.

‘Good God what are you talking about?’ He brushed a stray tear from her cheek and cupped her face in his hands. ‘Sweetheart!’ his voice was soft and soothing. ‘You dunnae understand a thing, you crazy woman!’ he used the words lovingly. ‘If you had let me finish instead of interrupting me.’

He kissed her on the tip of her nose.

‘I’m sorry I –’

‘Auch! For heaven’s sake woman,’ he said and smiled down at her. ‘Will you let me finish? Aye! I had vowed never to wed again – until I met you. For the last three years I’ve been like a man possessed. Wanting you, loving you, being too scared to tell you or ask you out because I was sure you couldnae be interested in a man like me.’

‘But –’

Iain put his finger on her lips. ‘Hush,’ he said. He brushed his lips against hers, ‘On Valentine’s Night I couldnae believe it when you kissed me and when you ... well ... there’s no other word for it ... seduced me!’ He laughed lovingly. ‘I felt like the luckiest man alive. Then Fraser called out and I went in to see him and when I came back, you’d gone. I thought ... well I thought you regretted it so I didnae call you or come to see you – but I told you most of this yesterday.’

Jane nodded but stayed silent.

‘I told you what Fraser said today but I didnae tell you everything he said. Don’t look so worried sweetheart, it’s all good. Apart from saying you were perfect for me – which you are by the way – he also said, and I’ll try to get it exactly as he said it, “I don’t know why you don’t just marry her. You’ve been crazy about the woman for the past three years and you’re not getting any younger. If she loves you, and any fool can see she does, stop wasting time and marry her before she changes her mind.” I think that was almost word perfect. Auch no! He also said, “It would be good to have a step mother but maybe you shouldn’t tell her that bit” – but I have.’

Jane’s mouth fell open but no words would come out.

Iain held up his trousers, reached into the pocket and pulled out a small box covered in blue velvet. He got down on one knee, leant forward and planted a kiss on Jane’s naked stomach.

‘So Jane Munroe, I know we’ve only been dating for less than twenty four hours but I’ve loved you since almost I first laid eyes on you and I’ll love you for the rest of my days ... and nights,’ he grinned and winked up at her. ‘Will you do me the greatest honour a man can ask and be my wife? If you need time to think that’s fine and –’

‘Hush man!’ Jane said, putting her finger on his lips as he had on hers. A huge smile spread across her mouth and tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. She tossed her copper-coloured hair from her face. ‘I think it’s rather humiliating to discover that Fraser is the most sensible one of the three of us. I adore you Iain Hamilton and I’d be honoured to be your wife.’

Iain got to his feet and swept her up in his arms to kiss her but she held him gently away. ‘Aren’t you forgetting something?’ she said, waggling the fingers of her left hand in the air.

He smiled, pulled the ring from its box and placed it on her third finger. ‘Now can I kiss you?’

Jane shook her head her eyes filling with tears. ‘Not until I tell you that I would also be very happy to be Fraser’s step mother. He really is a very bright young man.’

‘I’m sure he’ll be pleased,’ Iain said. ‘Now I’m gonnae kiss you whether you like it or not.’

‘Oh I like it. I like it very much indeed,’ Jane said grabbing Iain’s hands before he had a chance to put his arms around her, and leading him back towards the fire and the tartan blanket, ‘and you’ll be doing a lot more than kissing me.’

Iain’s mouth came down on hers and nothing else needed to be said.

Chapter Eleven

‘Thanks for this Max.’ Lizzie leant back against the elegantly covered restaurant seat and took another sip from her glass of vintage port.

‘My pleasure,’ he said, grinning, ‘you always did love a glass of port.’

Lizzie shook her head and pursed her lips, in mock rebuke. ‘You know I didn’t just mean the port, Max. When you suggested we come out for dinner I really didn’t want to, but, well, it’s done me the world of good. This used to be my favourite restaurant.’

‘I know,’ he said, his eyes twinkling, ‘that’s why I chose it.’

Max reached out a perfectly manicured hand across the table and took Lizzie’s left hand in his.

Lizzie knew she should have pulled away but she didn’t. She waited for the usual rush of emotion and was surprised when it didn’t come. For the first time since she’d known him, Max’s touch had no effect on her.

‘Lizzie,’ his eyes, now serious, Max searched her face, ‘I was kind of hoping that you were thinking of coming back to me but ... I think you’ve come down to tell me something entirely different, something I know I’m not going to want to hear.’ He rubbed his thumb over the pale lines on her third finger, where her wedding and engagement rings used to be. ‘You’ve taken them off ...’ His voice trailed off but his green eyes met hers and held them.

‘Not completely,’ she said, lifting her right hand. ‘I wanted to ... but I couldn’t.’

‘So ... is there still some hope for me ... for us?’ His fingers tightened around hers.

A small crease formed between her soft blue eyes. She gave a little shake of her head and sighed. ‘I don’t think so Max. I’ve tried to put it behind me, to forgive you and move on, but every time I think I have, it comes back to bite me. It’s like some poisonous snake hiding in the grass in a summer meadow.’

Max flinched, ‘Wow. That paints the picture perfectly, I guess. Look Lizzie, I know I was a fool and I know I was totally to blame but I’ve told you before and I swear to you now, if you’ll just give me another chance – give us another chance, I will never, ever do anything like that again. I promise.’

Lizzie could feel the tears pricking at the sides of her eyes and blinked them away. ‘I do believe you mean that Max, really I do. But you see, the thing is I just wouldn’t trust you again and it would always be there, between us. Every time you looked at another woman –no. don’t say you wouldn’t, I know you too well for that – I’d start to wonder and that’s no way to live.’

‘But ... but surely, there’s no harm in just looking? Are you saying you don’t look at other men and think they’re attractive?’

‘No, of course I’m not and no, there isn’t any harm in looking but you did more than look Max and that’s the problem. Maybe, if it had just been one night, oh, I don’t know, after a drink or a dance or something and you’d acted out of drunkenness or ... or lust even, then perhaps I could forgive you and move on but it wasn’t one night was it Max? It was almost six months and that ... that I just can’t forgive.’

Max fell back against the seat but still held Lizzie’s hand by his fingertips. ‘I still don’t know why I did that Lizzie and that’s the truth. Things were just crazy. We were both caught up in our careers and had moved into the house in Blackheath. We ... we were talking about starting a family, you remember –’

‘I remember,’ Lizzie said, her eyes dropping to focus on the left-over crumbs of stilton cheese on her plate.

‘Well ..., it’s not an excuse and don’t think for one minute I’m suggesting that you were in any way to blame but ... well, I think it all terrified me a little, you know, the thought of parenthood and –’

‘Oh come on Max! You said you wanted it too. We discussed it.’

‘I know we did and I did want it ... I still do Lizzie but, well I think in the whole scheme of things, I saw myself sitting in front of the fire with grandchildren on my knee and that freaked me out.’

Lizzie’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You saw that as a bad thing? Us growing old together with a family?’

‘No! ...Well, maybe a little ... then ... oh I don’t know. All I know is, I felt my youth slipping away from me. I had just turned thirty and I was seeing myself with wrinkles and a pipe or something.’

‘You don’t smoke Max,’ Lizzie said unable to hide the hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Max tutted. ‘You know what I mean Lizzie. It’s a pretty scary image for a guy who’s only thirty I can tell you. We all freak out about it.’

‘So you’re saying that this is a natural phenomenon, all men, when they reach their thirtieth birthday see this, freak out, rebel against the inevitable and have an affair with their secretary! Really, you’re saying that? Men have no choice in the matter? I rather thought it was just your dick telling you to have some fun and not get caught!’ Lizzie yanked her hand from his.