Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel by Maddie MacKenna (red novels TXT) 📗

Her eyebrow arched. Jude exhaled slowly as he reached behind him to close the door. He could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. Not even Cleo’s gentle touch seemed to be able to distract him. He clasped her hands and pressed his lips together. In the depths of Cleo’s eyes, he saw the desires in her kindling, but he knew this could not get sidetracked.

“Cleo, please sit down,” he said, “there is somethin’ that I need to tell ye and I’m nae sure how ye will handle the news.”

“This sounds a bit ominous, is everything all right?” she tilted her head before stepping away from him.

As she moved over to the sitting chair next to the window, she glanced at him several times as if trying to pull information from him. As she lowered herself into the plush chair and crossed her ankles, Jude thought of the many times he had seen her in that very spot.

“Is this about the assassination attempt?” she asked as she gestured for him to sit down in the chair beside her.

Jude shook his head and refused to sit. His nerves were shot and he knew that it would do him no good to sit beside her at this particular moment in time.

“Forgive me,” Jude said, “but there is a reason to believe that it is yer faither who is behind this attack.”

Jude waited for Cleo’s response and yet her face was blank. She pursed her lips together and gave a slight nod only dropping her eyes for a minute before returning them back to him.

“Did you think that didn’t cross my mind?” she asked. “You do not know my father as well as I do. I would not be surprised if it was him. The only problem is how do you go about bringing justice? And he is clever which makes him dangerous with many connections. I’m sure he has the means to do these horrible things if he wants to.”

“I ken,” Jude said, “yer faither is powerful and rich. To make such a claim would be suicide. Until I have the proof I need, I will nae say anythin’ or give cause to rile his fury.”

“That is smart of you,” Cleo said tilting her head. “But I see that is not the only thing you’ve come to discuss with me.”

“Nay, there is more I wanted to talk to yet about.”

“Oh?” Cleo said as she stared at him, “out with it then. If we are going to be honest with one another, I should hear it all.”

“There is somethin’ I must confess to ye, and I must also beg for yer forgiveness.”

“What is going on? You’ve never been so distant from me, or so distracted. Have you changed your mind about having me stay?” she said as Jude watched her swallow hard. It was almost as if she had stopped breathing as she sat perfectly still on the chair waiting for the news.

“Nay, I want ye to stay with me, that is nae the issue.” Jude dropped his eyes and struggled to find the words that didn’t make the situation seem so horrible. Yet no matter how much he struggled with what he knew, he realized there was only one way he was going to be able to get the news to her. He was going to have to be as blunt as possible.

“Before yer faither returned Hugh to me, I had told him that I had taken ye.”

“I figured as much,” Cleo said, trying to remain as composed as possible.

“Yer faither told me that he doesnae want ye. He practically begged for me to take ye away.”

A slight chuckle escaped her lips as she looked at him and tilted her head. “And you find this news to be any different than to what I had suspected? You think I don’t know my father despises me and wishes me nothing but ill will?”

Jude watched Cleo rise to her feet as if a fire had been lit under her and she needed to get away.

“If what you say is true, and my father is behind these attacks, you and Hugh are not safe. I must leave here. I must go as quickly as possible to keep you both safe from his wrath.”

“What are you doin’?” Jude asked as he watched her frantically rush about the room collecting items and tossing them on the bed.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Cleo asked. “I cannot stay here. I cannot be the cause of you or Hugh losing your lives. If my father is behind this, there is no escape. You do not understand, he will kill you to get to me.”

“And what if it’s nae yer faither?” Jude asked as he snatched Cleo’s arm, forcing her to stop. “What if it is someone else behind this? What if there is someone wantin’ us to think that yer faither is responsible? Will ye leave me so quickly?”

“You both are in danger because of me. Even your council sees that and blames me.”

“Me council? Who came to ye?” Jude asked shaking her roughly. “Tell me, what did he have to say?”

“It was the same man who told me I killed his son,” Cleo said fighting back the tears. “He came to me apologizing. He told me he thought I was behind his son’s death, but sees now that I can be trusted. In his eyes, I could see the truth, he doesn’t believe me or what he told me. I cannot stay here,” she said trembling.

Jude’s heart broke as he watched the tears well in her eyes before spilling down her cheeks. He reached up and brushed them away as he shook his head. He knew no matter what, he would never let her go.

“Cleo, please be reasonable. We have to think this through. Yer faither may nae want ye,” he said as he cupped his hands to her face and drew her eyes to his. “But I do. Cannae ye see that? I am