Free The Capture of Highland Desire (The Mac Coinnach Brothers) by Kella McKinnon Page A

didn’t know any of the various men they mentioned, she soon realized that Eian Mac Coinnach was far more than a pretty face.  He spoke with confidence and authority on every subject Leon brought up, and it was soon obvious to anyone listening that he was both very intelligent and well educated.  Which only made him more attractive in her eyes.  Damn, why couldn’t he be some sort of all brawn and no brains jerk that she could never really fall for?  Why did he have to be gorgeous and interesting too?   Allia sighed and turned to the roast venison that had been sliced and placed on her trencher.  She cut off a small piece with her eating knife and chewed it slowly.  It was good, but she felt too on edge to really taste it.  Instead, she drank some more wine, hoping it would calm her enough to make it through the rest of the evening.
                  It wasn’t long before Eian spoke to her again.  “My lady, have ye been at Lochain long?”
                  “No.”  She set her wine down on the table.  “Just for a few days.”
                  “And where were ye staying before, then?” 
                  He was doing that thing again, holding her captive with those eyes, making her feel as if she were the only person in the room.  “I… um… I was with other relatives. In London.”
                  She caught her uncle’s sudden frown out of the corner of her eye.  Well, what was she supposed to say?
                  She deftly turned the tables on him.  “What brings you all the way to Lochain, Eian?”
                  “My brother.  I’m just passing through Lochain on clan business to the south, but Bren likes to keep up with all of our allies.”  He nodded respectfully at Leon.  “I willna be here more than a few days.  But… I have some time tomorrow if per chance ye could show me around, my lady.”
                  A quick glance at her uncle told her that he was no longer listening to them, or she was certain he would have objected.  “I… I don’t know.  I’ll have to see if I can find the time.”  She folded her hands in front of her to keep from fidgeting with them.  “Or perhaps one of my maids can give you a tour.  They would likely know the place better anyway.”
                  Eian leaned forward a little in his chair.  “I would rather have ye, lass. Perhaps ye would consider it?”
                  “Perhaps.”
                  There was so much more Eian wanted to say, but couldn’t with the lass’s uncle listening, and he was all too soon drawn back into the conversation with the other men.
     
                  Tonight after dinner there was dancing, which as a lady of the house, well, the only lady of the house, Allia was expected to participate in.  And she was determined to do exactly what was expected of her this evening.  She could not afford to lose any more of her already limited freedom, or she would never be able to slip the leash, so to speak.  At her uncle’s meaningful nod, she rose gracefully from the table as the music started and joined those already on the floor.  As she flew around the room, stepping lightly, spinning to the loud, fast music, and fortified by the wine she had consumed, it didn’t take long for her to lose herself to the exhilaration of the dance.  It was nothing like the rock and roll she had mostly grown up with, but overall, it had the same intoxicating effect.  Music had always spoken to her blood, the beat of the drums seeming to echo the beat of her heart, and it was effectively taking her away to forget about her problems for a while. 
    She laughed out loud as man after man held her in his arms, then spun her around, and she twirled with arms outstretched to reach for the next. Occasionally one of them would cup her bottom or try to cop a feel of her breast, but she