When they entered Gilly’s Coffee House, she stood beside him at the counter as he ordered, peeking at his profile. She wondered what he was thinking about, what had changed his mood so completely. The man ran hot and cold. That’s a good comparison, she thought, he’ll either scald me or freeze me; either way it’ll hurt.

Well, she wasn’t about to make the first move. If he wanted to go all reserved and professional, she could too. After all, he hadn’t said “Come with me to Scotland and let’s get to know each other.” He’d said, “Come with me to Scotland to help me translate texts. Oh, and I’ll try to seduce you too.”

How many times had Katherine called him? Had all nine of those messages been from her? That thought jarred her thoroughly back to reality She’d hate being that kind of woman. Pining after a man she couldn’t have.

She folded her arms across her chest. Stared straight ahead at the menu behind the counter.

“I always want you, Chloe-lass,” he murmured suddenly in a low voice, for her ears only. “There’s no’ a moment that I doona.”

Chloe scowled. What was he—a mind reader? Damn him anyway! Arching a brow, she tipped her head back, narrowed her eyes and gave him a chilly look. “Who said I was thinking anything even remotely like that? Do you just think I sit around with nothing better to do than think about you?”

“Nay, of course not. I merely thought to assure you that though my mind may seem far away, should you wish my attentions, you’ve only to say so.”

“I’m fine. I just want some coffee.”

“Mayhap you’d prefer to spend this eve with me at an inn, rather than going straight to my brother’s,” he suggested with a seductive smile.

Chloe scowl deepened.

“One eve is no’ enough?” he teased, though his eyes were distant. “Greedy lass, would you be wishing a week?”

“Get over yourself, MacKeltar,” she muttered. “Though the women out there”—she flung a hand toward the street—“seem to think so, I hate to break it to you, but the world does not revolve around you.”

Dageus’s nostrils flared and he inhaled sharply as he recognized her emotion. Jealousy. She’d been watching other women look at him (aye, he noticed, in a peripheral fashion) and it chafed her. That her desire for him was intense enough to make her feel jealousy, made him feel wildly possessive. His seduction was working. She was growing attached to him. Abruptly, he pulled her in front of him at the counter, and wrapped both arms around her waist. He held her while their order was filled, hungry for the feel of her wee body against his. She was stiff at first, but slowly the tension quit her small, lushly curved form.