Highland Secrets (English Edition) by Elena MacKenzie Page B

bent over my shoulders from behind and whispered: “Only two more seconds and I would have put my tongue between those unbelievably full lips.”
    I swallowed heavily and pushed past an older woman to get to Connor who offered me a glass of dark whiskey with a knowing smile. I gratefully accepted and took a huge sip. I spluttered and had a coughing fit because the dark-brown liquid had almost burnt my throat. “Oh my god, what’s that?” I croaked with tears in my eyes and gasping for breath.
    “Our oldest malt.” Connor gloated in a way that was written all over his face. The man in his fourties was obviously making fun of me.
    After the tour of the distillery, I swore to myself never to drink whiskey again. And to follow Adam’s advice. I would stay out of his way. I would be best off locking myself in the gallery because I wasn’t immune to this dangerous, grim man and the vulnerability he showed. I could maybe convince myself to resist him as I didn’t want to be taken in by a man like him ever again. But the reality was different. He didn’t need to touch me once. Just by looking at me with those eyes was enough to turn my body into quivering mess. Why in the hell did he not behave in the same way as this morning?

Chapter 8
     
    I spent tonight’s dinner with Molly and Alfred again alone in the kitchen. Adam seemed to work a lot and long hours. His habit of using women and then dumping them appeared to be his only flaw. He took his work seriously and his relationship with his employees was obviously more than just an employer-employee relationship. I had seen him with Alfred and Molly who he treated with a lot of respect. If Professor Robert MacLeod really had such a negative image of his son, then he was wrong. Of course he shouldn’t treat women in this way, but I couldn’t say that he led an irresponsible life. He was missing his second dinner in a row today.
    “Does Adam always work such long hours?”
    “Every now and then”, said Alfred and ate a mouthful of fried fish.
    Every now and then didn’t sound like regularly. Maybe he was just trying to stay out of my way and what happened in the distillery today was a lapse. When I thought about the scene in the distillery this afternoon, I got butterflies in my stomach. “ Only two more seconds and I would have put my tongue between those unbelievably full lips”, he had said. I shuddered at the idea. I wouldn’t have been able to resist. I definitely knew that. I found it incredibly difficult to push him away from me. What was he doing to me?
    Maybe it was best that he wasn’t at home. I had no idea how I would react to his closeness. Just by imagining that he was here would make every cell in my body shake with nerves. I should restore the paintings quicker. The sooner I got away from his attraction, the better.
    “You should really go to the harbor festival together”, suggested Molly. “After all, you are both still young. Go and do something while you’re here.”
    “No, I would be better off making sure that I get my work completed.” Molly had probably set her mind on fulfilling Professor MacLeod’s last wish of bringing me together with Adam. That can’t happen. I was already having difficulties with Adam as it was and this incredible desire he awakenend in me.
    “ I think that’s very sensible”, I heard from behind me. I turned around alarmed. Adam leaned on the refrigerator and looked seriously at the rest of the group. Then he looked at me with a mixture of regret and a silent apology on his face, but I wasn’t sure because as quickly as this emotion had appeared on his face, it had also disappeared with the clattering sound of high heels getting closer. A woman of about thirty years of age with jet black hair and an olive-colored complexion appeared next to Adam.
    “Good evening” , she greeted us with a strong Italian accent. She cuddled up to Adam and looked at me defiantly. Adam put his arm around her waist and pulled