Excerpt from Heart of the Highland Wolf
Since Ian wasn't able to share any more rounds in the hottest hero contest, here's what readers would have seen had he been able to share!
The Setup:
I'm not happy that Americans are invading my castle to film a movie, but because of financial difficulties, I have agreed to it. I also set strict guidelines for the American film crew to follow. One female red wolf isn't abiding by my rules. And that more than intrigues me.
Excerpt:
To learn if the redhead was the red wolf who had trespassed in his woods, Ian had told Duncan to bring her to his solar. His people would be talking about this for eons, though—allowing a bonny lass into his solar, an outsider, someone with this film production.
He had to learn whether she was the wolf or not and, in any event, to ensure she understood his rules. No trespassing in or around the castle and his lands. And no shape-shifting, either.
But in truth, the woman was already garnering his men's attention, and he wouldn't have it. They were welcome to trysts with human females anywhere in the world they wanted, but not here and certainly not with any of the members of the film crew. It would be too easy for a woman such as Julia, with her looks and her wiles, to wiggle her way into the castle by soliciting a secret tryst with one of his men.
Cearnach entered his solar, but Ian waved him away. "Not now. I've other business to attend to at the moment."
"Would it have to do with the bonny redhead Duncan is escorting to the keep this very minute?"
"It does, and I don't need an audience."
Cearnach raised a brow. "Are you certain? She looks to be a handful."
"Cearnach."
Cearnach folded his arms, leaned against the door frame, smiled, and watched down the hallway. "Flynn's floating around. He catches sight of her, and no telling what's going to happen. I can just imagine one bonny lass screaming her head off and running out of here like the devil is after her."
"Maybe that would be the solution."
Cearnach frowned. "What's the trouble with the lass?"
How could Ian explain what his gut instinct told him to be the truth? That he hadn't met a woman like her ever, one who turned his head and kept him riveted?
One who intrigued him with a sultry smile and a challenge in her green eyes. That although she might even be from the enemy's camp, he wanted her. But something more bothered him about her. He couldn't pinpoint just what. Maybe the secrets she wished to discuss with her friend, who didn't want her talking about them on the walk up to the castle. The smell of gunpowder near the road where their vehicle had catapulted off it. The way her friend seemed scared of him in the pub, but although Julia's eyes had widened and darkened at the sight of him, she still defied him with a confident glower. And the name of Jones. It wasn't hers. He knew it from the way Maria had looked at Julia with such a shocked expression before she'd quickly hidden her reaction. Something made him want to get closer, to inspect Julia inside and out.
When Ian didn't answer Cearnach, he turned his attention from the hallway and looked at his older brother, one dark brow cocked. "Duncan said you were intrigued with one of the women you hunted in the woods. Now it seems what he said was true. I thought he was exaggerating a wee bit."
"Cearnach." Ian let his breath out, not about to bow to him over the issue of the woman.
A slow grin formed on Cearnach's face as he pulled away from the door frame and peered down the hallway.
"From what I could see of the lass in the inner bailey, she's well worth a second look."
"She's not for the taking." Ian leaned back against his leather chair.
"If she's human…" Cearnach shrugged.
"You're not hearing what I have to say."
"I'm hearing you, Ian." But Cearnach's gaze remained focused on the hallway, and Ian didn't think his brother was taking him seriously.
But if he told his brother he was serious about this, it would indicate he'd already lost the battle.
Footfalls approached, a man's and a woman's. Even though Ian had already dismissed his brother, Cearnach didn't make any move to leave until after he greeted the woman. So much for Ian being pack leader and laird over his clan. But he didn't want to make a bigger issue of it, not in front of the lassie.
Cearnach's face brightened, and he looked so damned wolfish that he was sure to send the woman running back down the hall. Forget Flynn and his ghostly appearances.
"Lass," Cearnach said, bowing low in greeting as if she were a queen. "I'm Cearnach MacNeill, the laird's next eldest brother. And if you ever need my assistance, be sure to ask. Anything, anything at all." He smiled again, the look dazzling, and Ian wanted to rid him of the grin.
Ian remained seated at his desk, waiting for Julia—if that was even her name—to enter the room, if Cearnach would but leave. Ian couldn't even see her since she couldn't approach the doorway yet—not with Cearnach blocking it.
When his brother continued to be an obstacle, Ian cleared his throat, but about that time the woman said, "Pleased to meet you…" She paused. "Mister MacNeill."
"Too many MacNeills around here. Call me Cearnach."
"Thanks, Cearnach. I'm Julia."
Ian realized he was hanging on her words, listening to her soft cadence and waiting for her surname to see if she said it was Jones again.
When she didn't say anything further, Cearnach's brows moved up almost imperceptibly, and Ian knew he was waiting for the same thing. Either the woman didn't know any better and wasn't all that familiar with proper greetings, or she did, and she didn't want to give the false name again.
"Cearnach," Ian said, trying to hide the exasperation in his voice, but the amused look his brother gave him proved he hadn't succeeded.
Cearnach gave Ian a grand bow, which he never did to such a ridiculous extent, and said to the woman, "Laird MacNeill will see you now."
*****
If you were Julia, would you have gone against the laird's rulings??? You know, you reap what you sow.....hmmm-hmm!
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
