Free Highlander of Mine by Red L. Jameson

wondered why he’d go to such lengths when Fleur had already seen him looking more a beast than a man, like now.
    As Rory approached, the bright orange and yellow setting sun hit the golden colors of his hair and his new palomino’s too, making the man appear to have a golden halo. Angelic. Fickin’ perfect, Duncan huffed, thinking of his ma’s language.
    Had Fleur noticed that his new captain was a man who made grown women tremble in excitement? Had she as well?
    Duncan imagined punching Rory in the jaw. As hard as he could. For no reason, of course. Not that he was jealous, he told himself.
    God, he hated being home. Hated the discomfort of it all.
    Through it all though, he wondered if delicate, delightful, divine Fleur thought of him, the uncomfortable oaf, at all.
     

 
     
    Chapter 7
     
    A s Rory trotted along the dirt road, he easily spotted huge Duncan in Mrs. Cameron’s back garden, while the lovely Lady Fleur was sitting in the front, the sun’s setting rays bouncing off her dark hair, making some of it appear scarlet. He smiled. Oh, the lady’s tresses were bonny. Making him appreciate the scene before him even more was the fact that Duncan was nowhere near her. Rory had heard the women of the MacKay territory chatter about the large man—the warrior returned; the good son who had given his mother so much money, she was almost as rich as his own brother, the laird. Duncan, the man who would make the chits swoon as he silently stalked by. Although Rory knew himself to be a very different man from Duncan, if anyone was his competition, it would be him.
    He took a deep breath though, thinking what he could offer the lady. Conversation for one thing. It seemed that Duncan could only talk when giving orders. Aye, the lady wouldn’t want that. Rory could talk to her at length about a variety of subjects, unlike the immense soldier. He could also seduce her with wealth. All right, Duncan might have riches too, and—Wait, Rory told himself. He was already thinking of seducing the lady?
    Rory knew better. He was a gentleman after all.
    He chided himself for his rushing urges, which would never win the lady to him.
    Duncan started to walk along his mother’s fence line. He gave a nod and a quick wave. It wasn’t truly a wave, but more of an acknowledgement. It irritated Rory more than it probably should have. He knew Duncan in the last four years had served as a bodyguard to the Swedish king, whatever his odd name was, and as such mayhap being around lairds and lairds’ brothers might not be all that exciting anymore. Nonetheless, he thought Duncan should have more respect for his rank and authority.
    Duncan somehow found his way to the front garden as Rory did. Damnation. Rory dismounted from his new horse gained from a nearby neighbor of Mrs. Cameron’s, then tied the reins to the front fence, close to the steed Duncan had stolen from him. He nodded at Duncan as the too tall man held the gate open for him. Walking through, Rory finally caught exactly where the lady sat in Mrs. Cameron’s garden. Apparently Duncan did too, for the man gurgled a kind of gasp. They both gaped as she weeded through a row of carrots. Dirt smeared along her thin hands, she looked up at both men and smiled.
    “I haven’t done this since I was a kid. It’s actually kind of fun once you get into a rhythm.”
    Her hair appeared to be tied in a literal knot at the back of her head. A few black strands hung around her face and neck, somehow highlighting her appearance, making her seem so soft and feminine. Delicious.
    Rory heard a squawk, then looked up to see Duncan’s mother hold her hands over her mouth in horror. Finally, she came rushing from the porch of her house to the stone path, close to Lady Fleur.
    “My lady, you can’t—”
    “I’m sorry,” Lady Fleur said, quickly standing and wiping dirt from her extra long legs. “I—I should have asked first, but I thought I could help. I’m sorry.”
    Duncan’s mother