“Maybe.”Her reply was croaky as she lifted her head.“I don’t know.But I’ll still have to get through the next few weeks.”
“I’m going to help you with that.”Meeting her gaze, I couldn’t help but smile.Even visibly upset, she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.“How much more time can you take from work?”
“From work?”Her watery eyes widened.“Why, sir?”
“Because while Owen has been a generous host and this place is nice, I have an idea of where to go next.”
I bit down on the bigger grin that threatened to surface as the initial details of my plan were revealed.I’d spent the afternoon scouring the internet and looking for the perfect place, and after moving some money around my accounts, I’d already booked the accommodation.Internet banking made everything so straightforward, and after years of subsidized rents and little to spend my earnings on, I had more than enough for us both.
“Oh?”Her back straightened.“And where’s that, sir?”
“Owen mentioned you’d always wanted to go to the Scottish Highlands.”My pulse picked up its pace as recognition glimmered in her gaze.
“Y-yes.”She sounded unsure.“When did he tell you that?”
“That doesn’t matter,” I chided softly.“The point is, he was able to flesh out some of the places you’d like to visit, and if you have the time, I’d like to take you there.”
“To the Highlands?”Bewilderment rang out in her tone.
“Yes, the Highlands.”I laughed at her stunned expression.“And wherever you’d like to go after that.”
She frowned.“Places up there will be expensive, sir.”
Reaching for her face, my thumb stroked away her remaining tears.“You deserve to be spoiled, Erin.You did save my life, after all.”
“I…” She closed her mouth, searching my face for any sign I might be joking.I wasn’t.The first hotel was already booked and paid for on the assumption I knew she had a few days of personal time owed to her.“I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, do you want to go to Scotland with me?”I chuckled at her shocked bemusement.Erin had been so sure of her opinions of late; I couldn’t recall a recent time I’d witnessed her hesitation.
“Yes.”There were more tears again then, but that time, I hoped they were born of something happier than her sorrow over Chelle.“Yes, I’d like that, sir.”
“Good.”We were getting somewhere.“And what about holiday time?Do you have much left?”
“I haven’t taken a holiday all year, so yes.”She wiped her tears with the heel of her hand.“But are you sure you want to go away with me?We’re still getting to know each other, sir.”
That much was true, but every adventure we’d been through together had only fueled my fire to know her better, to spend more time in her company, and do whatever I could to keep her safe and happy.
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather get to know in the beautiful Scottish countryside.”Leaning closer, I grazed my lips over her mouth.
“You make everything sound so simple.”She shook her head, but the mischievous glint in her eyes told me she was sold on the idea.She might not have been certain on the details—on how long she could stay and what beckoned on the horizon beyond Scotland—but she was excited to find out.“I’m not sure life beyond Niantes will be so easy, sir.”
“Look at everything we’ve overcome so far.The storm, the cabin, and then Hawkins…”
“Right.”Her lips tugged into a begrudged smile.“We haven’t had the most conventional start to a relationship.”
“Convention is overrated.”I threw her a wink.“What we’ve found is something far more unique.”
“That’s one way of putting it, sir.I’m just not sure you’ll want to put up with me full time in the wilds of the Highlands!”
“You’re joking, right?”I couldn’t think of anything better than taking her away and having her all to myself.“I don’t know if you realize, but I like the wilderness, little girl.I’m pretty at home there.”
“Yeah.”She grinned.“I noticed.”
“And Ireallylike you.”I ran my fingers along her trouser-clad thigh.“So, the two are a good combination.”
“Right.”She pulled in a calming breath.
“It’s decided then.”Not that there’d ever been any doubt in my mind.If she didn’t have the holiday time, I’d have asked her to take it unpaid and given her back the difference in earnings.“Call your boss and take another week.I’ll consider bringing you back to suburbia after that.”
