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when Kate reached to run her fingertip over the mark the surface puckered and then
wrinkled before regaining its original shape.
Alex. This scar on your shoulder.& She shuddered at the thought of fire and
the intense pain of seared flesh. She was familiar with the results of carelessness, having
tipped a pot of boiling water from the stove. Her leg was a flamethrower for almost a
week, but the damage small, as she had managed to dodge most of the assault. But this
covered most of his shoulder, hanging there like a noxious claw. How had she not seen
the mark last night? Is it a burn?
No, Alex answered. Although sometimes it feels like one. It s a birthmark, or
so I ve been told.
Kate was lightly stroking the discolored skin. What do you mean it sometimes
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 84
feels like a burn? How can a birthmark do that?
I dinna know. Alex twisted to glance at his shoulder, as though confirming it
was still there. Sometimes it gets hot.
That s odd. Have you seen a doctor?
Och. He dismissed the subject with the guttural noise and pressed her back into
the bed. I had hoped when ye woke up this morning ye d be a wee more interested in
something other than my shoulder. His dark eyes widened with the insinuation. He
pushed his hips against her thigh, inching one leg suggestively between her knees. And
we dinna have to go for awhile yet. Great warm palms stroked hair from her temples as
his expression melted into a sultry urge for gratification. Or have ye gone shy on me all
of a sudden? One corner of his mouth curled.
I m a Daniels, remember? We girls don t have a problem with humility.
I m a MacTavish, and we lads don t have a problem making sure they stay that
way.
Kate gave a disgusted snort and playfully pushed him to one side. No, I m
certain you don t. Now get off me, you animal, so I can make coffee. And if your wee
lad is disappointed then, she kissed the tip of his nose, that s your problem, not mine.
Alex fell back into the pillow, watching her dress. If ye weren t such a beauty,
woman, I d swear ye were a witch.
Are you sure I m not?
Nay. I m ne er sure about anything anymore, except that I m in love with ye,
Ceitag. And of that I m verra sure.
* * * *
The torrents of rain politely held off until they were back at Kirkland Hall later
that morning. Alex tucked the Morgan within the stables and changed out of his
wedding clothes before joining Kate. She was in the middle of a heated conversation
with Mally when he breezed in, shaking drops of water from his jacket onto the stone
floor of the foyer.
I m sorry, Kate continued to apologize, barely inching a word in edgeways.
Yes & I know & but& Seeing Alex come in she held the phone out to one side and
the piercing tone was clearly audible from across the room.
Kate whispered, I wasn t here when she called last night and she says she was so
worried it ruined her evening. Tipping her chin to the phone Kate firmly said, Stop.
Just shut up a minute and listen, would you?
The squeak started again but Kate was persistent. Winking at Alex she said to the
receiver, I spent the night with Alex. With a chuckle she held the phone out, this time
for him to hear the dead silence. He covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
Well, why didn t you say so in the first place? Mally sang out after recovering
from the initial shock. You old vixen, you!
You didn t give me the opportunity to tell you, and a little less of the old
please.
Can you tell me anything or is he standing right there with you?
You don t really think I m going to blurt out all the gory details, do you? Kate
shook her head while feigning an indignant tone. Actually, she would, she thought, but
seeing Alex was indeed standing right there&
I d tell you, Mally protested.
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 85
Then you first. Kate curled on the sofa. I m listening, she continued, hearing
only a litany of splutters. Just as I thought. So seeing you re on a new exercise
program, how much weight have you lost?
Oh, that s bitchy, Mally laughed. We ll take turns on the scales when I get
back.
Kate pulled the duvet around her legs. The house felt as damp as the weather
outside. You do plan to grace us with your presence again?
Yes. In fact, I ll be bringing Tim with me. He has a week off and I thought it
would nice for him to see our estate.
Nice for him or for you? Kate was beginning to have misgivings about another
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