“Stop that! What were you doing, perched on the window ledge like a big chicken?"Despite his aches and irritations, he couldn't help but grin. "I prefer to think of myself as a more noble bird, like a hawk.""I'm sure you do. But you flew like a chicken than any hawk I've seen.”

“You don't have to say a thing except yes. You don't have to do anything, either, I'm quite willing to plan it all." "You?""Yes me.""You'd plan all of it? Even the wedding?""Why not?""You don't even like to plan your own breakfast."He grinned. "You mean more to me tban bacon.""More than [i]bacon?[/i] I'm honored.""You should be, my foolish pea brain.”

“I find you too charming by half.""And I find you too annoying by far. If you do not release me, I cannot be held responsible for your well-being."He chuckled at that. "A fiery little bundle,aren't you? I'll wager you like-"She brought her foot down hard on his instep.He yelped and released her, his face contorted in pain.Sophia stepped past him, but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back toward him. "You tease!" he gasped.She used her forward motion to shove him back against the settee.One moment, he was standing before her; the next, he was lying upside down on the rug behind the setee, his legs in the air.Sophia gathered her skirts and ran for the door. She was only steps away when it flew open and Dougal stood in the opening.He was dressed in his riding clothes, and she couldn't help but compare his elegance with Sir Reginald's flashy attire, with his exaggerated riding coat and gaudy gold-tassled boots-which were sill waving in the air.”

“Had I known you were waiting, Miss MacFarlane, I would not have lingered,I assure you."Flattery was something she knew how to deal with, and it was much better than this odd heat that simmered between them. "What a pretty compliment, Lord MacLean. I don't know what to say."He bowed. "I merely speak the truth. I daresay you've heard such before.""And I'm certain you've spoken such before."Amusement twitched his lips, though he said gravely, "I am sorry if you were left waiting on my arrival. I hope you were not bored.""Oh,I managed to keep busy.""I'm certain you did," he replied, almost under his breath.”

“Could he be naked beneath his breeches? Theyseemed molded to him, outlining the powerful lines of his thighs and the swell just above—Oh, God. She closed her eyes. She’d been looking at his—Not only was it rude, but it had sent anamazing tingle through her, almost as if she’d touched it.“Fiona, if you ever look at me like that again, I will not be held responsible for what I do.” Jack was soclose that she could feel his breath on her temple. “Do you understand?”

“He couldn't have eaten that horrid soup!""He did,and he even pretended to like it.""Pretended?""No one could have liked that meal." She wrinkled her nose. "Mary was mortified.""Mary can be mortified all she wishes; we can't have MacLean da-"Sophia slipped the spoon into his mouth and dumped the contents.Red choked, his face contorting, and he looked around wildly."Do not spit that out."He glared at her, and after what appeared and sounded like a heroic effort, he swallowed the laudanum. "Blech! There! I hope ye're happy!" He grabbed up a hand cloth and began rubbing his tongue vigorously. She calmly replaced the spoon and recorked the bottle. "As I was saying, MacLean swore that he liked every dish at dinner, even the turnips. They were so hard it almost broke my knife to cut one.""Hm.That's very odd,it is.”

“Do you prefer burned or raw?""I'll have the burned portion, thank you.""Excellent choice. The turnips will complement them perfectly." He winked at her and filled their plates with such amused spirits that Sophia found herself watching him through her lashes.What was wrong with this man? Surely he wasn't used to such horrid meals? Yet to watch him eat with such enthusiasm, you'd think he was starving.”