Dark Side of the Laird (Highland Bound) Read Online Free Page A

is a greenhouse?” There were so many things about her world I’d yet to understand. Sounded like a fantasy, unreal and weak. They’d not dealt with the hardships we had that made us strong.
    Emma smiled up at me, brushed an errant strand of hair from my forehead. “A greenhouse is a tiny house that is built for plants. It has a clear ceiling so the sun can reach the plants, but it ’s insulated to keep it warm.”
    “Clear ceiling?”
    She nodded. “Glass or plastic—a synthetic material.”
    “Huh.” I wanted to build one. Right away.
    “And, there are places where the weather is different than here. You have spring, summer, fall and winter, where your weather gradually changes from warm to cold and back again. There are places in the world where it is warm all the time, and places where it is cold all the time.”
    “Where are these places?” Emma’s view of the world was amazing and I wanted to see it, to experience it the way she told me.
    “It is warm all the time in the south, and on tropical islands. Cold all the time in the north, kind of like the tips of your mountains always have a bit of ice.”
    I grunted my acknowledgement, trying to let all of her information sink in. “’Haps ye should show cook how to build a greenhouse. I would love to eat fresh fruit in winter.”
    Emma frowned, wrinkling up her pert little nose. I leaned down, kissed the tip of it.
    “I could try, but truth be told, I don’t know much about greenhouses, or designing a building.”
    “I’ll send for a master builder.”
    She shrugged. “I guess it couldn’t hurt to try.”
    “And then ye’d have a nice project to work on.”
    Her interest suddenly flared into irritation. I could see the sudden shift in her eyes before she pushed it aside.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    “You’re trying to give me hobbies. Keep me busy. Why?” She sounded suspicious.
    “I am not trying to divert ye, lass. Ye mentioned yourself that ye enjoyed gardening. I’m but giving ye a way to do it every day, if ye like.”
    Still , she frowned. She looked so adorable. Marred brow, flushed red cheeks, pouty lips and her red hair wild from where I’d threaded my fingers into it while we made love.
    “I promise there is nothin g untoward about my suggestion,” I said, leaning forward and nuzzling her neck. She smelled delicious, and my cock responded, lifting and nudging her thigh.
    Emma sighed, shifting her thigh back and forth, making me hot for her all over again. “All right,” she murmured.
    I trailed a finger down her arm, swirling in the crook of her elbow. “A lady of the castle often has projects that make the castle a better place. My mother loved to sew tapestries. Her mother before that made cushions and blankets. Many of those items still grace the chambers of Gealach today. But ye, what will ye do?”
    She raised an impertinent brow. “I’m not mistress of the castle.”
    “Not, yet. But ye will be.” I pressed my palms to her c heeks and kissed her thoroughly, pulling back only with regret. “Now, I must be off. Ewan is most likely waiting in my solar for me.”
    “I’ll go and see Cook,” Emma said, her voice showing a bit more enthusiasm than before.
    I gripped her by the hand and we stepped to her chamber door, glancing up and down the corridor before exiting. “All clear,” I murmured.
    Sadly, we had to look before leaving any room in hopes of catching spies and would-be attackers.
    “Not really,” Emma said.
    I turned to see that she watched Isabella making her way toward us from the opposite end of the corridor.
    Coldness settled around my heart. Every bit of warmth and happiness I’d found inside the room with Emma was leached from me in the moment I met Lady Isabella’s eyes. She was a ruthless woman. Calculating, and from the triumphant look on her face, she was confident she’d already won.
    I gritted my teeth. “Damn.”

Chapter Three
     

     
    Emma
     
    M y heart leapt into my throat, choking