Read Kiwi Bride Series: Highland Kiss for Free Online

was meant to be. She and Brian first met only six
months before, when he came down to New Zealand for a holiday. Of
all the things he needed to do, the most important was to get a
dental check-up.
    “ It’s been over six months
since my last dental appointment,” he explained. Ruby always
admired guys who had good dental hygiene, and after treating him,
she confirmed that he was such a man, since his teeth were perfect.
After that, he asked her out a couple of times before they
exchanged contact details. When she mentioned visiting the UK six
months later, he came to her rescue.
    “ Are you
thirsty?”
    Ruby glanced at the
rearview mirror and saw the driver’s dark sunglasses staring at
her.
    “ How much longer will it
be?” she asked, already losing track of time.
    “ Are you
thirsty?”
    He was very good at
ignoring her questions. “Yes, I’m thirsty.”
    A few minutes later, he drove into a sleepy village. As the
car slowed down, Ruby got excited. She pushed the automatic button
to turn down the window and popped her head out to look around.
There were historic cottages like the ones in Miss Marple and Hercule
Poirot, the TV mystery
series, which she and her three best friends really loved. It was
like a dream for her to actually be here and see them for
real.
    He parked the car near
what looked like a convenience store and got out. She stepped out
to stretch her aching legs; and when he disappeared into the shop,
she took a short stroll to the small park.
    She loved the peaceful scenery, the gentle breeze, and the
historic village. She loved everything about the place. She
breathed in the fresh, sweet air and stretched out her arms. She
smiled and closed her eyes, offering her fair face for the sun to
kiss. When she fluttered her eyes open again, she saw him watching
her. At least, she thought he was watching her. Those damn sunglasses.
    She rushed back and got
into the car. He slid in and offered her a bottle of
water.
    “ Thanks,” she said, noticing that he had already removed the
lid for her. How very
thoughtful of him. She took a
sip as he drove out.
    “ The sun’s nice today. Is
it always so nice at this time of the year around here?” she asked
as a way to make conversation.
    No reply.
    She took another sip.
Fine, if he didn’t want to talk, that was fine with her. Better
yet, she could get back to her daydreaming about Brian.
    Another sip.
    She started to feel sleepy. Uh-ho! She hoped that damn
fever she endured on the plane didn’t come back to strike her now.
She tried to keep her eyes open, but it was very hard. She was not
tired, s o why this sleepiness
now? She glanced at him, and
saw him watching her through the rearview mirror.
    She frowned. “So tired,”
she murmured to herself in confusion before blacking
out.
    Alec turned his eyes from the tranquil view of the countryside to
that of the young woman in the back seat. He watched her as she
murmured, “So tired.” Then she closed her eyes and her head fell
sideways. He knew the drug was working.
    The car came to a screeching halt on the side of the empty
road. He took his sunglasses off and swiftly stepped out, opening
the door on her side in order to study her. Damn it! She looked so young and fragile, especially in that Fendi
dress of hers. Was he doing
the right thing?
    Moving in, he arranged her
so that she lay more comfortably across the length of the seat.
Then he got back into the driver seat and drove out.
    It was an hour later when
the car entered Hasting Estate, and by the time he drove into the
courtyard of Hasting Manor, it was already dark.
    An elderly man, dressed in
a kilt and green jersey, rushed toward the Maybach as it maneuvered
around the Cupid water feature to the front of the
manor.
    “ Master Hasting,” the
elderly man said in his thick Scottish brogue.
    Alec came out of the car
and rushed around to open the passenger door. He lifted Ruby
out.
    “ Well, I say—” The butler
stared wide-eyed at the unconscious