Page 39 of Edinburgh Escape

She trembled, her knees turned to jelly, and she sank backward into Callum.

“I can’t resist,” he murmured, his words tickling her skin.

And she couldn’t fight her overwhelming desire for him.

“As beautiful as that dress is on you...” he whispered, “I want to take it off.”

She turned in his arms and stared up at him. “Would they come looking for us if we don’t show up for their dinner?”

His gaze bore into hers. “Do you care?”

Maggie shook her head.

Callum touched a finger beneath her chin, tipped her face upward and at the same time lowered his mouth to hers.

He claimed her lips with his, at first gently, caressing, worshipping.

Maggie’s hands climbed up his chest and wrapped around the back of his neck, dragging him closer. When his tongue traced the seam of her lips, she opened to him.

The kiss deepened. His hand slid around her and cupped her buttocks, pressing her hips to his.

When the evidence of his desire pressed into her belly, Maggie’s breath caught in her throat, and her pulse raced so fast, it made her dizzy.

The kiss went on. All thoughts of half-brothers, attacks or trains disappeared behind a haze of lust.

A knock sounded on the door, and a woman’s voice called out, “Ms. McKendrick?”

Maggie fell back to earth. She reluctantly stepped back, pressing a hand to her flaming cheeks.

Callum stared into her eyes. “I should say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Please don’t,” Maggie said. “I wanted it.”

For a long moment, he met and held her gaze.

Another knock sounded on the door, “Ms. McKendrick, I’ve come to show you to the dining room.”

Maggie recognized the voice. “That’s Mrs. Jones.”

“I’ll get it.” Callum headed toward the door.

Pressing her hands against her heated cheeks, Maggie spun away from Callum and sucked air into her lungs.

That kiss.

Holy smokes! Callum was right. They shouldn’t have done it.

Now all she could think about was doing it again.

And again.

The door creaked open behind Maggie.

“I came to escort you to the dining room,” Mrs. Jones said. “If you’re ready, you can follow me.”

Maggie smoothed her hands over the dress and squared her shoulders. She pasted a smile on her face as she turned toward the older woman. “Thank you, Mrs. Jones. We’re ready.” She crossed the floor, hooked her hand through the crook of Callum’s arm and followed Mrs. Jones out of the room.

The housekeeper led the way down the stairs and into the hallway between the twin staircases, which led to the rear of the house. They passed through a room with a massive display of spears, bayonets and old wooden rifles arranged in artistic sunbursts across the walls. At the other end of the room, a corridor led into a dining room with a table long enough to seat twenty guests. Five settings had been laid out at one end, with a frightening number of forks. Maggie had no clue how to use most of them.