Connor turned to Johanna. “Well, lass, may I have a moment of yer time?” Odd, how the cockiness seemed to have been stripped from his subtle burr.
“Laurel will be fine,” Serena encouraged Johanna. “We’ve many more feathers to spot.”
In truth, Johanna felt no reluctance to leave the girl in the Scotswoman’s care. Rather, she guarded herself against her own traitorous heart’s response to the brash Highlander. “I must admit you’ve stirred my curiosity. I can only hope there’s not another adventure in the works.”
“An adventure it just might be.” A teasing lilt colored Serena’s tone. “Ye cannae deny a man on his birthday now, can ye, Johanna?”
“No, of course not.” Johanna forced out the words.
His fingers lightly grazed her arm. As they left the table, he drew her close. Scandalously so.
“Oh, how the tongues will wag,” she said with a forced nonchalance.
“By tomorrow night, London will be naught but a memory. Ye’ve no worries of scandal.”
“Still…gossip can cross the ocean with remarkable speed. Of that, I assure you.”
“Why does that concern ye?” He led her to an alcove near the courtyard. “Is it for yer sake, or the girl’s?”
“Both, I suppose.” She glanced about. He’d selected a location secluded from prying eyes and ears. Perhaps she hadn’t learned much from their previous encounters. Or perhaps, she truly didn’t want to consider anything beyond the yearnings of her heart.
“I’ve missed ye, Johanna.” He cradled her cheek against one broad palm. “More than ye know.”
Blast it all, she wasn’t about to be swept up into his seduction. Did he think he’d help himself to a final taste of her passion before she sailed away?
She gave an exaggerated huff. “Given there has been no correspondence of any sort between us, that revelation is indeed surprising.”
“I’ve no talent for sweet sentiments and poetic gibberish.” He drew the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. Dear Lord, how the simple touch rippled through her.
“That is readily apparent. Perhaps you might tell me something I don’t already know.”
One dark brow crooked. “And what might that be?”
“Why are you here?”
“I had to see ye, Johanna. I’ve missed the sight of ye. The feel of ye.” Once again, he brushed his thumb over her mouth. His eyes glimmered dangerously. “Even the smell of yer hair…is embedded in my memory.”
Her mouth went dry, and she struggled to find words. If only he’d stop looking at her like that. Like he desired her. Right there and then.
“Even if I wanted you…there’s no point.” She swallowed hard against the bitterness of the words. “Not now.”
To her surprise, arrogance danced in his eyes. “There’s no if to it. Ye do want me. Ye cannae deny the truth.”
Damn the man, strutting into London like a rooster out to conquer the last hen in the coop.
“I left you behind in Scotland. That’s proof enough of my ability to resist your…charms…for lack of a better word.”
“I should’ve made ye stay.”
His words were blunt and so utterly unexpected, Johanna’s knees went to jelly. She dragged in a breath to steady herself and slowly released it. “It’s all rather pointless now. After tonight, an ocean will separate us.” She swallowed against the sudden burn in the back of her throat. “You never even said farewell.”
“That is a fact, Johanna. I’ve no intention of saying farewell. I’ve no intention of seeing ye leave me again.”
“In that case, you will be disappointed.” My, how the words burned on her tongue. “Your timing is rather poor. I’ve already made arrangements.”
“I am well aware of your arrangements. Why do ye think I am here today?”
Johanna turned toward the door, but he barred it with his sturdy arm. She hiked her chin in defiance. If he thought to control her, he’d discover he was quite mistaken. If only the fire in his eyes did not threaten to melt her defenses. “So, it seems I’ve been taken in by a ruse. Not a very clever one, at that.”
“A ruse?” He seemed genuinely perplexed.
“The visit from Serena. Her request for assistance… I suppose that was merely an act.”
“Nay, my sister has every intention of sailing across the Atlantic. I’d be grateful if ye would take her under yer wing. The lass possesses a head full of facts, knowledge of chemicals and sleuthing and ancient texts, none of which has prepared her for what lies ahead in the city—much less a city in blasted America.”
“How did you know I would be here?”
Arrogance lit his smiling eyes. “I have contacts in many places. Ye should know that by now. London is teeming with them. Some are MacMasters’ clan. Others have earned our trust.”
“But why? Why do you care if I leave?” She gulped against the blasted lump in her throat. “Even if we had one more night together…”
He gathered her in his arms. The brush of his lips over her forehead was tender and passionate and sweet. “If I have my way, we’ll spend a lifetime of nights together.”