Scot to the Touch (The Hots for Scots Book 6) Read online

  Scot to the Touch

  Caroline Lee

  Contents

  About This Book

  Other Books by Caroline Lee

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Sneak Peek

  About the Author

  About This Book

  Six brothers were single at the beginning of this mess, but now there’s only one man left standing.

  Kiergan Oliphant considers himself the only sane one in his family; what other explanation could there be for why all five of his brothers have fallen in love and gotten married, just because their father made a stupid ultimatum? Sure, the laird declared whichever son married and produced a son first would become his heir, but is that really any reason for a man to give up his freedom?

  Because if there’s one thing Kiergan likes, it’s his freedom. And women. And those little berry tart things the cook makes. And the freedom to do things to and with women. So…four? Aye, four things he likes.

  Which is good because there isn’t much else he’s good at. His brothers all have their talents and responsibilities, while Kiergan has been content to be relegated as the role of the family rake. He has no desire to be the next laird, because it would not only mean less time for pleasure, but it would also mean being saddled with a wife.

  Nae thank ye!

  But of course, his father has other plans.

  Enter the MacKinnon sisters: Davina is beautiful, desirable, and would make a brilliant alliance for the Oliphant Clan, while Katlyn is…none of those things. So of course, ‘tis Katlyn who intrigues Kiergan the most, with her strange eyes and even stranger ideas.

  Katlyn MacKinnon knows exactly who she is, and she knows her worth as well. Upon her birth, the devil himself marked her by giving her eyes of two different colors. Her curse means she’ll never marry or secure any alliances, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have a little fun…

  So what happens when these two independent hearts get caught in bed together? Hilarious shenanigans ensue, of course!

  Warning: This book contains crude jokes, lewd puns, and more than a little slapstick. Get ready to laugh out loud in this side-splitting adventure, full of secret passages, revolving bookshelves, a damned annoying ghost, and one stubborn rake!

  Other Books by Caroline Lee

  Want the scoop on new books? Join Caroline’s Cohort, an exclusive reader group! Or sign up for my mailing list by texting “Caroline” to 42828 to get started!

  Steamy Scottish Historicals:

  The Sinclair Jewels (4 books)

  The Highland Angels (4 books)

  The Hots for Scots (8 books)

  Sensual Historical Westerns:

  Black Aces (3 books)

  Sunset Valley (3 books)

  Everland Ever After (10 books)

  The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet (6 books)

  Sweet Contemporary Westerns

  Quinn Valley Ranch (5 books)

  River’s End Ranch (14 books)

  The Cowboys of Cauldron Valley (3+ books)

  Click here to find a complete list of Caroline’s books.

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  Prologue

  Her sister was pouting.

  ‘Twas not a polite thing to say about one’s beloved sibling, but that didn’t make it any less true. Davina was pouting, and there was no use pretending otherwise.

  With a sigh, Katlyn put aside her own thoughts and stretched her leg out to nudge her sister’s foot. They were seated across from one another in the carriage Grandda had commissioned for this journey, and Davina ignored the prodding in order to continue staring out the window.

  Well, Katlyn wasn’t going to be ignored. That had happened much too often in her life already, and she wasn’t having it anymore.

  “Vina” she prompted. When her sister’s lips tugged down into a frown, Katlyn tried again. “ ‘Twill no’ do to meet yer bridegroom for the first time with frown-lines marring yer forehead.”

  That got a response, but not for the reason she would’ve assumed. Her sister swung her frown her way. “Bridegroom? Bah. I’ll no’ marry him!”

  Ah. So she was more irritated by the thought of marrying the Oliphant’s son than she was about her complexion? Curious. Davina could usually be counted on to worry about her appearance far too much the majority of the time.

  She’d always known the MacKinnons’ hopes for a solid marriage contract rested upon her, after all.

  Swallowing down the bitterness she’d long ago grown accustomed to, Katlyn did her best to draw her sister into conversation. “Why are ye so set against this match?” she asked, in what she hoped was a sympathetic tone. “Ye ken Grandda is for it, and ye ken ‘twould make a strong alliance.”

  Oliphant Castle might be some distance from theirs, but the laird had six sons. Bastards, aye, but one of them would become the next laird. The others…well, surely he could spare one. ‘Twas Grandda’s plan to marry Davina—the suitable MacKinnon daughter—to one of those sons, and if her husband didn’t become the next Laird Oliphant, then he’d drag the lucky man back to MacKinnon land and start grooming him to be the laird of their own clan.

  Without a male heir of his own, Grandda was relying on Davina’s marriage to bring in a suitable future laird, someone strong, to ensure the MacKinnons’ continuance.

  It took Katlyn a moment to realize her sister hadn’t answered. In fact, she’d gone back to staring out the window, but this time, her worried gaze was directed at their grandfather, who rode alongside his men.

  Worried? Aye, Davina was no longer scowling, but looking…guilty?

  “Vina?”

  Her sister’s head whipped around, and anger fell back into place like a mask. “What would ye have me say? There’s only one Oliphant son left, aye? Grandda waited too long to make his move and now five of them are married!”

  “Ye ken ‘tis no’ his fault,” Katlyn corrected softly. “His illness—”

  Her sister waved away the rebuke. “Aye, I ken it. And I’m glad he’s healthy again, truly. But I wish all six of the Oliphant bastards had been married by now so we wouldnae be making this journey.”

  Katlyn studied her sister. Davina was, most definitely, the beauty of the family, the pride of the MacKinnons. But the knowledge hadn’t made her arrogant; if anything, it had been a burden, knowing the future of the clan rested on her shoulders, since Katlyn herself was useless when it came to marriage prospects.

  Still, as a dutiful granddaughter, Katlyn did what she could. Even if that was only to calm her sister’s fears. “Grandda was able to communicate with the Oliphant over the winter, remember? ‘Tis when he concocted this scheme. If it werenae for his illness, mayhap a formal arrangement between ye and one of the sons could’ve been reached.”

  But Davina shook her head. “Ye ken the Oliphant refused to make betrothal contracts for his sons. ‘Tis only women who can be bound by gold that way. A son can refuse to marry me.”

  But not one with eyes in his head.

  “He wouldnae refuse to marry ye, Vina,” Katlyn said quietly.

  Her sister snorted and crossed her
arms. “ ‘Tis what I’m afraid of,” she muttered, slouching on the padded seat.

  There was that flash of guilt again. Curious, Katlyn shifted forward. “What have ye no’ told me, Vina?”

  “The only son left?” Davina frowned down at her own knees. “He’s the rake. The one who has made love to countless women. The one who is rumored to be so good with his tongue. ‘Tis said he can make a woman scream with pleasure in under five minutes.”

  Scream in pleasure?

  Katlyn shifted, squeezing her thighs together to hide the rush of warmth those words conjured. She was no stranger to pleasure, for certes, but her curse had ensured she was most definitely still a virgin.

  And would be until her death.

  Unless she herself did something about that.

  Intrigued, she cleared her throat. “Oh, aye?” She tried for nonchalance. “And…what is so bad about that?”

  Davina’s scowl shifted out the window once more. “I’ll no’ marry an insatiable whore, Kat. Imagine! He’ll likely jump from bed to bed, even after he’s married. A man like that isnae true, isnae loyal. He might be able to bring a woman unimaginable pleasure, but I’ll marry a man who will be true to me. No’ him.”

  Unimaginable pleasure?

  Oh my. Katlyn could imagine all sorts of pleasure. Still…

  She hummed in consolation. “I can see what ye mean. If there is only one brother left, and ‘tis the disloyal one, ye can be forgiven for no’ wanting to marry him.”

  But maybe instead of marrying him…

  A wicked idea began forming in Katlyn’s mind. She knew she’d not be married—she knew no man would take her, not with her curse—but that didn’t mean she’d have to die a virgin, did it?

  Unimaginable pleasure.

  If her sister was determined not to marry this last Oliphant bastard—and when Davina set her mind to something, not even Grandda could sway her—then there’d be no harm in Katlyn meeting him, would there? Especially if he was so good with his tongue.

  Oh, he’d likely take one look at her, shudder, and turn away as most other men did. But mayhap she could arrange a meeting in a darkened bedchamber where he could not see her eyes. Mayhap there’d be a bed nearby, and she could somehow convince him to show her this unimaginable pleasure.

  And she wouldn’t die a virgin.

  ‘Twas a wicked, wonderful scheme. Much would depend on the man himself; if he were as naughty as Davina had heard, and if she truly didn’t want to marry him. But once they reached Oliphant Castle and were welcomed as guests…

  Well, much could happen, couldn’t it?

  Knowing her sister was distracted by her irritated pout, Katlyn rested back against the cushions, folded her hands in her lap, and began to scheme.

  Chapter 1

  “I’m no’ marrying her, Da, and that’s final.”

  Kiergan Oliphant crossed his arms in front of his chest and didn’t bother to hide his scowl. Even when his father—the laird—lowered his bushy brows, Kiergan refused to be intimidated.

  What in all of damnation had his father been thinking, to promise him in marriage to some faraway chit? Did his father know naught about him?

  “Look here, lad, I’m still yer laird.”

  Kiergan scoffed. “What the fook does that have to do with the price of cabbage? Ye’re my father, and we both ken ye’ll no’ force me to marry.”

  The burly older man opened his mouth to respond, then appeared to reconsider. When he closed it with a sigh, Kiergan knew he’d made his point. He had no interest in marriage, no matter what prize Da dangled in front of him and his brothers, and Da knew it.

  “What does cabbage have to do with aught?” muttered Alistair on Kiergan’s other side. The fact his twin brother had joined them in the castle’s courtyard for this argument was a surprise, considering how busy he usually was. “And isnae Finn the one who kens about the price of goods? Is that what he’s doing? Negotiating for a good cabbage price? I thought ye dinnae like cabbage, Da?”

  “I dinnae,” their father growled, his beard twitching. ‘Twas impossible to determine if it was because he was frowning or trying to hide a smile. “I loathe cabbage, and nay, yer brother isnae bargaining for more of the vile shite. He’s taken his wife to visit her brother, just as he claimed.”

  “I’m glad Fiona’s feeling better,” Kiergan offered, hoping to nudge the conversation away from the colossal fook-up his father had made when it came to promising him in marriage. “She was looking green for an awfully long time.”

  Alistair shrugged. “Lara says ‘tis to be expected when a woman’s breeding.”

  Peering at his newly married twin brother, Kiergan had to ask, “And how is Lara doing these days? Are ye likely to be making an announcement soon? Of the face-turning-green sort?”

  His brother merely smiled, looking more at ease than Kiergan could recall in a very long time. “If ye’re asking me if she’s pregnant, ‘tis too soon to tell. But I pray if it happens, she’s no’ as sick as Fiona.”

  Forgetting his own troubles for a moment, Kiergan loosened his arms and slapped his brother on the back. “I’m glad to see ye so content, Ali. Lara is a good woman, and she’s obviously shown ye how to loosen up a bit.”

  Instead of reacting to the ridiculous childhood nickname, his twin just smiled. That was practically a miracle. As recently at the beginning of the summer, Alistair had been overworked and underappreciated, without any time for fun or relaxation. He’d taken over most of the laird’s duties several years ago and had somehow forgotten it hadn’t meant he was actually the laird.

  Yet.

  Though it wouldn’t happen until Lara birthed a son, and only if she did it before Fiona. And Merewyn, Rocque’s wife.

  Of course, since marrying Lara, Alistair had mellowed. She was best friends with the brothers’ younger sister, Nessa, and they’d known her for many years. Kiergan had been instrumental in pointing out Lara’s charms to his work-obsessed twin brother. Now he saw how happy she made Alistair and was rather proud of himself.

  Especially since it means there’s less likelihood of having to become laird myself.

  Of course, since Alistair had shared some of his duties with Kiergan, ‘twas impossible to deny Kiergan had some talent when it came to—

  Nay. Nay, I’ll no’ be laird.

  The thought came right on the heels of Da’s growl. “I’ll no’ tolerate ye changing the subject, lad.”

  Kiergan plastered on an innocent expression and turned back to his father. “We’re speaking of yer future grandbairn, and I for one pray ‘tis a boy, so Alistair can become yer heir, and we can all get back to doing what we do best.”

  “Fooking the scullery maids is no’ a life’s ambition, Kiergan,” his father warned.

  But Kiergan merely grinned lazily. “Is it no’? Hm. But I’m so, so good at it.”

  In fact, ‘twas one of the few things he was good at.

  “If ye’d marry the MacKinnon lass, ye could be in the running—”

  “Enough!” Kiergan rolled his eyes and planted his hands on his hips. “Just because ye promised Laird MacKinnon one of yer bastards, does no’ mean it has to be me. Ye ken my feelings on marriage!”

  “Aye, I do, and I thought mayhap ye’d understand the clan’s honor is at stake, and—”

  “Dinnae give me that crock of shite.” Kiergan rolled his eyes and shot his twin brother a look. “Ye learned it from him, did ye no’? I have to put up with both of ye giving me the guilty puppy dog eyes.”

  “I dinnae have puppy dog eyes,” Da snapped, then sighed. “And ‘twas worth a try. If ye must ken, I was in contact with MacKinnon over the winter, and I made the man nae promises. I merely pointed out I had six eligible sons, since he was looking for one to marry his—extremely attractive, so I’ve heard—granddaughter.”

  Alistair hummed. “So there’s been naught signed.” He shot a knowing look to his twin. “That means nae promises made, Kier. If Da had promised a son, ye’d be stu
ck, because ye’re the last one unmarried.”

  “And I plan on staying that way!”

  But there was a part of Kiergan, a part which looked around at his five brothers, who’d all found happiness with their wives, and wondered what he was missing. He’d always thought marriage would be boring—St. Columba knew his father’s marriage to Glynnis had been hell on earth. And God help him if he had to be resigned to fooking one woman for the rest of his life.

  But…Alistair was happy. So were Malcolm and Rocque and Finn, and even Duncan, although ‘twas hard to tell what Dunc was feeling at any given moment, what with having a face apparently carved from granite.

  “Look, laddie,” sighed their father, clapping Kiergan on his shoulder, “all I’m asking is that ye meet the lass. If her grandfather hadn’t fallen ill earlier this season, they would’ve been here sooner and had a pick of yer brothers. But they’re arriving today, and I promised we’d welcome them. Now that ye’re in charge of our correspondence, ye should’ve been the one to handle this, but ‘twas agreed upon months ago.”

  Well, put like that, ‘twas hard to deny his father. All he had to do was meet the lass? He could do that.

  Kiergan grinned. In fact, meeting lasses was one of the only things he really excelled at.

  A whistle interrupted their conversation, and the three men looked up to see Rocque waving from atop the curtain wall.

  When he had their attention, the big man hollered, “Get yer arses up here!”

  Kiergan’s hand dropped to his sword, but his brother shook his head.

  “Yer betrothed is arriving!” And the laughter in his voice was evident.