Valentines in the Highlands--Heart of the Highland Wolf

by

Terry Spear

"She's a romance author, Ian," Cearnach warned, his next eldest brother usually always cheerful, but now he scowled. "The lass will think you don't love her."

Ian waved a hand dismissing him as he tried to study the financial reports his next elder brother sent him. Everything was still a mess unless Duncan managed to get hold of that swindler Silverman in the Grand Cayman Islands and wring their money out of him. "Julia writes about romance, aye, but it doesn't mean she believes in all that stuff--chocolate hearts and roses and cards better suited to some English dandy who smells more fragrant than a woman."

Cearnach smiled.

Ian sat up taller at his desk. "'Tis a man who keeps her warm at night when the cold seeps through the castle walls that makes her happy."

"Maybe true," Cearnach said slowly, glancing out the window. "But after Heather received roses, a box of chocolates, and a large ornate Valentine's card with hearts and roses covering it, I doubt your mate will be happy to learn of it and that you gave Julia nothing."

Ian came out of his chair so fast, Cearnach whirled around to see the matter.

"Who sent Heather these things?" Ian ground out. Wasn't it enough that some American had been paid to lure her out of the castle and cause all kinds of havoc?

"An anynomous caller. Who in their right mind would send anything of the sort to our cousin, naming himself, knowing how you'd skewer him if you found out?" Cearnach smiled. "She is having such fun, trying to figure out who might have sent them."

"He'd better not show up here, whoever he is, if he doesn't speak to me first and ask permission to see her."

Cearnach sighed. "How does Julia manage living with such an archaic laird? But mark my words, Ian, if you don't get her something for Valentine's, she will think you don't care."

Ian shook his head. "You're wrong about the lass. She knows I love her."

"Fine." Cearnach walked to the door and opened it. "Come in."

A man carrying a box of chocolates with a card attached and one dozen roses entered Ian's office.

"Cearnach, I couldn't give these to--"

Cearnach quickly raised his hand to stop his tirade. "They're from your bonny lass. 'Tis a shame you didn't think of it first."

Ian at once felt two centimeters tall. But hadn't he shown her how to ride a horse, even how to weild a sword? Taken her to every castle she'd wanted to visit, even? Promised to take her to the next Celtic fair so she could write her next Highland romance. He gave her anything she wanted. At least she only had but to ask.

He scrubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin. If Duncan didn't get that money back, they'd be in the poor house once again, and risk losing the castle all over again. The thought of begging for someone else to film a movie here, or turn the place into a bed and breakfast made the haggis in his belly do sumersaults.

He sat back down at the desk, feeling defeated. "Now that she's done this for me, I can't very well do the same for her."

Cearnach shook his head. "Can you think of anything she might like that she doesn't have? Or something she'd like to do?"

If they didn't have such money problems, or the worry about Duncan in the Grand Caymen Islands and how serious the situation was becoming there, he wondered if Julia would like for him to take her to an island paradise of her own.

He shook his head. It couldn't be done by Valentine's Day in any case.

Cearnach gave him a sobering look. "Well, if I were you, I'd come up with something. Fast."

:)
Terry
"Giving new meaning to the term alpha male."
www.terryspear.com