“And a good morning to you, too.” He laughed, knowing better than to take offense. Whatever relationship they did have, it defied definition and convention. “How’s breakfast sound?”
With her grunt of agreement, he threw on something comfortable and headed out to find the dog, that was, no doubt, desperate to go out. Despite the troubles looming over his head, Iain found himself in a damned good mood.
He ground some coffee beans and got a pot of coffee going, the deep rich scent filling the air as it started to brew. After the night they’d had, there was a good chance Cat would be hungry once she got around to waking up. With a loud rumble, his stomach reminded him that she wasn’t the only one who’d expended a fair bit of energy.
Iain was half way through frying some black pudding, rashers and eggs, when Cat wandered into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, leaning her head against his back.
“What are you doing up? I thought you’d sleep until noon—or at the very least until I woke you up with breakfast in bed.” Damn if it wasn’t hard to concentrate on the task at hand, when his body’s response to having her close was instantaneous.
“I could smell the coffee all the way up on the second floor. Impossible to sleep through it.”
Iain could hear the smile in her voice. “Do me a favor and drop some toast?”
“Sure.” She went up on her toes and nipped at his ear, the absence of her touch already missed as she moved over to the toaster. “Seems like you do a lot of cooking.”
“Aye. It’s just me and my Da now, so I primarily take care of it.” He flipped the eggs for just a second, and then transferred the food to the plates he’d heated in the Aga. “My mother used to do most of the cooking.”
“Your dad mentioned her.” She looked over at him, worried. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine.”
“It’s been a few years, and it gets easier with time.” He changed the subject, not wanting to think about how his mother would have adored her. “Angus will be here in the next hour or so—earlier if he catches wind of food.”
Iain got a good look at her, and what he saw made his heart catch. By the gods she was gorgeous with the remnants of sleep clinging to her. Wearing on oversized sweatshirt with a scoop neck cut out of it, it hung precariously over a bare shoulder. She’d paired it with thermals that showed off shapely legs and rag wool socks. She looked casually delicious, especially with her dark curls misbehaving as they escaped the braid trying to tame them.
“I like Angus.” She put a few buttered slices of toast on each plate and then carried them to the table.
“Most women do. How he’s managed to stay single while at the same time having women fawn all over him is beyond me.” Despite the night they’d had, he looked over at her to see if she too had fallen victim to his friend’s charms. What he saw gave him hope.
“He seems awfully sweet.” She gave him a smile and a shrug. “But I think I’m glad you’re the one who nearly ran me over. It must have been your grand scheme from the very start, ensuring that I fell… for your charms.”
It had sounded like she was going to say something different. And why didn’t she? Didn’t she know how he felt about her? Yet he had to laugh at himself, when he’d yet to admit to himself what she meant to him.
So he took that step, even if it was in the silence of his own head.
He loved her. Utterly and completely.
Chapter Seventeen
Cat followed behind Angus with Iain taking the rear, the trail too narrow to accommodate them all at once. The solitude of their surroundings and the fresh air were exactly what she needed to clear her head and ground herself.
She had no problem with the occasional casual fling—not that she got much opportunity with her nose constantly buried in a book—but she’d let this go far beyond casual. Even with her pulling back after Iain’s confession about needing to use the Hope as collateral, she’d been unable to remain angry with him, still craving his touch and his company. It was hard for her to ignore the way she felt about him, even if she should be keeping him at arm’s length.
She’d just have to hold her ground and not give in. After all, she’d done such an amazing job of it up until now. Sarcasm aside, she knew he could tear her heart to pieces if this didn’t work out, and the odds were against them. He lived and worked in the highlands, and led a glamorous life with parties and the famous, whereas she was in Cambridge and hadn’t worn a pair of heels since her brother’s wedding.