Read The Bedeviled Heart (The Highland Heather and Hearts Scottish Romance Series) for Free Online Page A

afraid I must stay in Stirling, at present,” Cameron replied with a bitter lift of his brow.
    “Ach, well, that is good then,” she said. Skipping to keep up with his long stride, she couldn’t resist prying. “So, ‘tis revenge that brings ye here, then?”
    He gave a slight humph and murmured in a restrained tone, “If only it were that simple.”
    “Oh?” Her eyes lit with interest.
    “Nay, I’ll not unburden my sorrows on ye, lass.” His voice was gentle. “Ye clearly have enough.”
    His voice was so soft and kind that Kate caught her breath. Staring straight ahead, she found herself saying, “My father was a brawny sailor once, sailing the seas until he met my mother. She was so afraid to lose him that she forced him to turn to fishing, and a fine fisherman he was! He often took us with him to the lochs ...” She blinked back tears, stubbornly refusing to shed them.
    “Us?” Cameron asked quietly.
    “Aye, my mother and my wee sister, Joan,” Kate replied gruffly. “’Twas the fever that took them both and stole my father’s strength and eyes. I’m the only one who didna take ill.” She clenched her fists and forced herself to continue. Perhaps it would be easier to forget if she said the words instead of keeping them locked in her heart. “We had to leave … we lost everything and the villagers didna take kindly to the fact that I wasna taken ill like the rest. They swore ‘twas the devil’s work.”
    “Fools!” Cameron growled in a low voice.
    His response made Kate smile. “Aye, but there is some perverse amusement to be had.” Her smile broadened. “We fled because they accused me of witchery, simply because I didna fall ill. And here I’ve earned our keep by selling charms as I find I’m still named a witch, but ‘tis a respectful title here.”
    He didn’t share her amusement. “While the highlands may still hold witches in high esteem, lass, matters are shifting in the lowlands. I’d not let others name ye as such.”
    “Ach, now, I’ve hopes to find other work.” Kate blithely shrugged her shoulders and pointed to the Fletcher’s house. “Just set the cart down here, and ye’ll be free of me, sir!”
    She watched him roll the cart to its place under the pear tree, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He would go now, and she would probably never see the man again.
    He strode back to tower over her, and silence fell between them.
    Finally, she dipped a curtsey. “I canna thank ye properly for all that ye have done for me this day.”
    “There is no need, lass.” He bowed in reply. It was an elegant, courtly bow.
    Giving into impulse, she stood on her tiptoes and pulled his head down. She meant to give him a friendly kiss on the cheek, but he turned his head at the last moment and covered her lips with his.
    His kiss was soft and tender, sending a shiver down her spine. She was lost in the sensation of it until the light touch of his hand cupping her jaw jolted her to her senses. Abruptly, she tore her lips from his.
    He drew back warily, but with a glint of humor in his eye, he asked, “Are ye going to slap me again?”
    Ignoring the pink tingeing her cheeks, she rolled her eyes. “I shouldna have anything to do with the likes of ye!” She placed her hands on her hips. “I’m an upright, hard-working lass who knows better than to keep company with outlaws!”
    “I’ve no dishonorable intentions …” he began with a wry expression.
    But she was no longer listening to his words. His lips were extraordinarily fascinating, finely chiseled, begging to be touched. And, oh, the dash in the middle of his chin cried out for her fingertips. Unwilling to think, lest she lose her courage, she gave into her desire and burying her fingers in the cloth of his cloak gathered about his throat, roughly pulled him close and kissed him fiercely.
    He melded his mouth to hers at once in a wildly passionate, deep, and feverish way. Emotions she had never known to exist exploded