Page 19 of Never Fall for a Highlander

He grabbed her hand before she could move.“Nay.I want ye to help me bathe.”

Her beautiful green eyes grew wide.“Nay!I canno’ give ye a bath.I am an unmarried woman!”

“So are the maids.”

“But ‘tis their job.”

“So now, as yer laird, I make it yer job.”

He waited for the explosion and wasn’t disappointed.She flung her long braid over her shoulder, fisted her hands at her side, and scowled at him.Through gritted teeth, she said, “I.Will.Not.Bathe.You.”The words were so soft he almost dinna hear them.

She took a step back and inhaled deeply, apparently attempting to calm herself.After a few moments she said, “I shall order a bath for you from the kitchen.When it arrives, I will unwrap your bandage—try no’ to get yer wound wet—and then I shall ask one of the male kitchen helpers to assist you into your bath and then out of your bath.”

He was frustrated that she dinna blow up as he’d hoped.But he would certainly find other things to get those green eyes flashing with anger.He had no idea why taunting her pleased him so much.He couldna help but wonder what all that passion would be like in his bed.

He needed to put that idea to rest.He’d never have Helena in his bed.He needed an alliance with another clan and Helena was for all intents and purposes a Ross orphan.If he touched her in an inappropriate way, he’d have to deal with the Sutherland laird.He sighed.“Verra well.If ye insist on no’ bathing me, then go ahead and order the bath.When I’m finished I intend to retreat to my solar and do some work.”

Helena tapped her lush lips with her fingertip.“I doona ken if going back to work is a good idea.”She held her hand up when he started to speak.“Ye have been verra sick with a fever for three days.I’m no’ sure it won’t come back again.”

“Woman, I have a clan to run.I canno’ loll about in bed for days like some old woman.”

“We shall see.Ye are no’ as strong as ye think ye are.”

Now she managed to get his wrath up.“Bluidy hell!I am a warrior.No one is stronger.‘Tis an insult, lass.Ye overstep yerself.”

Instead of cowering as most men would have at his words, she merely sniffed and raised her chin.“I shall order ye bath.”

“Lass,” he said as she reached the door.

“Aye?”

“Ye still owe me a kiss.”

His teeth rattled at the sound of the door closing.

* * *

Helena stomped down the stairs.Give him a bath, indeed!When he mentioned it, the thought of seeing all that beautiful wet golden skin and taut and bulging muscles was enough to make her heart pound.That was most likely why she grew so angry.She didn’t need her heart pounding for Laird Robin Mackay.

“Good morn, Maude,” Helena said as she entered the kitchen.The cook was standing at her usual place in front of one of the large kettles, stirring something that smelled like porridge.

After a night of walking the floor with a wailing wee Aruthur, the smell of the porridge reminded her she needed food if she were to continue helping Jena and taking care of the laird.

“How is our laird?”Maude asked.

“Well enough to demand things.”

The cook shrugged.“Aye.Just like any mon.What does he want now?”She turned from the kettle and took several very large loaves of oatbread from the oven.They smelled wonderful.

“He wants a bath.”She dinna think it was a good idea to mention that he wanted her to give him the bath.“Is there a lad here in the kitchen who can help him with his bath?”

Maude turned to her and grinned.“Ye doona want to do it?”

Helena could feel the heat begin in her stomach and continue on up until she was certain her face was as red as the cook’s hair.“Nay.”

The woman’s belly quivered as she laughed.“Ye should see how red yer face is, lass.”

Helena sighed.“I ken.”