Hell and damnation. First day of the lass’s arrival and what happens? He’s rescuing her in the middle of the night for all to see. And now this. She was naked, sleeping in his bed, and he was off to look for a place to rest for the remainder of the night.

He definitely had to rethink the eating arrangements. The lass would get no whisky for the rest of her stay here. She could drink anything she liked as long as it was not alcoholic in nature. And after this night, he would sleep in his own bed while she slept on the lower floor in the White Room.

Chapter 5

Colleen woke feeling much better and vaguely remembered a very naked Grant coming out of his shower last night, looking red-skinned, soapy, and more than heated—in a steamed sort of way. She must have scalded him. She was sorry for that, but she hadn’t given it a thought when she flushed the toilet. Besides, if they didn’t have another bathroom for her to use, she really couldn’t have helped it.

She stretched in the bed, smelled Grant all over the sheets, and sat up quickly. What was she doing in his bed? Naked! Oh. My. God!

She rushed out of the room and returned to the adjoining one, shutting the door. Her skirt, blouse, bra, and panties were scattered on the Turkish rug all the way to the lady’s chamber door that led into the hall. She stared at her clothes, trying to recall what had happened last night. Had she wandered around the castle in the raw in the middle of the night? And when did she end up in Grant’s bed? And then she recalled—he had been in it! At the same time!

Naked!

She was burning up with mortification.

Then she paced. She needed a shower. She took a sniff. Why did she smell like the fishy sea? Then she vaguely remembered the rough surf, waves, rocks, but not much else. What had happened last night?

Thank God, Grant wasn’t around. Surely she could lock the bathroom door or his chamber door and get a quick shower until someone could tell her which bathroom she could use.

She picked up her clothes off the floor and set them on a chair. Afterward, she rummaged through her bag for some fresh ones and her shampoo, then stalked through the room into Grant’s. She was in the middle of her shower when she heard Enrick call out, “Grant?”

“He’s not here,” Colleen shouted back, hoping Enrick didn’t walk in on her while she showered. She realized she’d been in such a panic to shower quickly and get dressed before Grant caught her at it that she’d forgotten to lock his door. “He slept somewhere else last night.”

She hoped he had.

She smiled, thinking she had cooked Grant’s goose by letting his brother know Grant hadn’t been able to sleep in his own room, since she was certain he intended to move her into the White Room tonight.

“Okay, I’ll…look for him elsewhere,” Enrick said, sounding highly amused. The door to the chamber shut.

She hadn’t planned to make any changes in the management of the place. Not right away. She didn’t know why Grant thought he had to make her feel unwelcome.

Finished with her shower, she climbed out to grab a towel, which was way too far from the shower itself. That meant she was dripping water all over the tile floor when a male someone said, “My laird…”

She whipped a towel around her wet, naked body and shrieked.

***

Stretched out on a plaid recliner and half-asleep in the sitting alcove of the study, Grant felt as though someone was close by. He took a deep breath. Enrick. Grant opened his eyes to see his brother smiling down at him, arms folded across his chest. He was dressed properly in jeans and a shirt.

“So what’s next on the agenda? No White Room. No more whisky. She enjoyed our sparring, so that didn’t seem to work, either. Did you sleep here all last night?” Enrick asked.

Grant shot him a look that said he did not think the situation was the least bit humorous. “We’ll eat, then I’ll show her the grounds.” Grant stood, then started to stalk off to his chamber.

“She’s in your shower.”

Grant paused and looked back at Enrick.

“I didn’t see her. I thought you were in the shower, but she called out to let me know that you weren’t there.”

“Bloody hell.” Grant turned and went to the kitchen. “Let’s get some breakfast, then.”

Enrick glanced at Grant’s kilt. “Are you…going to wear your great kilt for the rest of the time the lass is here?”

“Don’t say another word,” Grant growled, giving his brother a look that said he was serious.

Enrick just grinned.

Darby, Grant’s personal valet, hurried to meet with Grant. He was perfectly dressed as always, with every red hair in place, but judging from his pinched brows and lips, Grant suspected Darby had met Colleen. Hopefully, not naked in the shower.

“A lass was in your bedchamber when I went in to change the linens. Though Iona usually does the job, she was sent away for two weeks, and I must do it now.” Darby sniffed a little at the notion. “The woman in question screeched when she saw me and told me to leave at once.”

“Was she dressed?” Enrick asked, grinning.

“In a towel. I’m sorry, my laird. I didn’t realize she was in your room. But she is a wolf. Have you taken a mate? That changes everything, and you will have to let me know when to straighten your chamber from now on.”

Enrick, the next most serious of his brothers, was still grinning.

“No. She is the castle’s owner,” Grant said, his voice tight with annoyance. He’d forgotten Darby had been away the past couple of weeks, got in early this morning, and hadn’t been here when the lass arrived.