Free A Scot Like You (The MacLarens of Balmorie, 2) by Kam McKellar Page B

With one of the blankets spread next to the fire pit, she sat down and opened the basket, immediately impressed. Fran obviously erred on the you-can-never-have-enough side of food preparation. There was enough in the basket for at least three people. Along with two bottles of water and a bottle of white wine with two glasses. No wonder the thing was so heavy.
    As Kate opened a container of pasta and dug in, a twig snapped in the forest. Chewing paused, she listened. Probably nothing. She was on a tiny island. Not an ideal habitat for large wildlife. She was fine. The island was gorgeous, there was a mountain of food to eat, a sexy book to read, and wine to wash it all down. Life couldn't get any better.
    Until a huge pile of sticks dropped down next to her blanket. Kate screamed, fumbled the container of pasta and shot off the blanket as Terry raced around her legs.
    Devin stood there, looking as aggravated as she was shocked.
    "What the hell?" she demanded, breathless, heart racing.
    "You're in my spot."
    "Your spot!"
    He frowned, lips drawing into a thin line. Otherwise, he looked pretty damn hot standing there in work boots, cargo pants, and a flannel shirt hanging open to reveal a white T-shirt underneath. He looked wild and outdoorsy, and utterly male.
    As they stared at each other, the situation seemed to dawn on them simultaneous.
    " Hamish ," they both said in unison.
    Devin swiped a hand through his hair and let out a fed up breath.
    "How did you get here?" she asked.
    "My boat's just around that rock. It's an easier place to moor." He eyed her small craft. "You paddled all the way?"
    "Been on the water since lunch. Eventually made it here." She looked down at the blanket. The container was overturned and the pasta spilled onto the dirt. Fair game for the dogs. "This explains why Fran packed so much food."
    Devin's head swung around. "Food?"
    She stifled a laugh. "Yeah. Guess she was in on it too. Might as well help yourself."
    Devin set to work setting up the sticks and logs in the shallow pit. Kate shooed the dogs off, rinsed the empty container in the water, and then returned to shake out the blanket. Double H went tumbling into the dirt, landing right next to Devin's boot as he knelt to light the fire. He glanced down. His brows lifted high as he turned his attention on her.
    Kate wanted to die. Her fingers curled around the blanket and she stifled a mortified groan. His deep chuckle just made things worse. Figures. She should just realize and accept the fact that things would never be normal or easy or relaxing around him.
    Whatever.
    She spread the blanket as Devin tucked the paperback into the back waistband of his pants.
    "Give it back."
    He stopped blowing on the tiny flames and gave her an arched look. "Come and get it."
    The words were spoken deep and evenly, and came with such a punch that Kate gaped for a second. "Well, it's my book, so . . . I'd like it back."
    As he stood and removed the book from his waistband, she stepped back. It looked so small in his big hands. He stared at the cover a long moment, then did the same with her. Kate's throat went dry. What the hell was he thinking?
    "We're going to eat," he told her. "Watch the sun set. And then I'm going to read Highlander's Harlot , to you in my best Scottish accent."
    Her mouth fell open. The romantic-loving girl inside of her squealed with pleasure. Then she saw the corner of his mouth twitch. Bastard!
    Devin laughed and tossed her the book. She caught it. "Real funny," she said, glaring as her stomach went feather-light at the transformation on his face. The grin was blinding and sexy as hell.
    "And you're way too easy." He sat on the blanket and rooted inside the basket.
    Off balance yet again and more humiliated than she had when he first saw the book, Kate didn't appreciate being made fun off, or being the butt of his joke. And more than anything she didn't like the way she'd reacted to his sexy words and smile. "Who knew you had a sense of