“I wasn’t goin’ to, ye beautiful, stubborn dolt,” he huffed, shaking his head. “I love ye, Nancy. I love ye, and I cannae decide if I want to kiss ye, make love to ye, or throttle ye for bein’ so foolish.”
A lovely pink hue ripened the apples of her pale cheeks. “I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t suggest either of the last two.” She bit back a smile. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I recently met the pointy end of a sword.”
“Ye think this is a time for jests?” he said in disbelief, but he was secretly relieved. If she could joke, then that meant she was all right.
“Yes,” she replied, lifting her hand to his face, “and I think it’s also time to tell you that I love you, too. Lord knows I’ve tried not to, but I wouldn’t get in the way of a sword for just anyone. I wouldn’t… consider a life without modern medicine, antiseptic at the very least, for just anyone either.”
Hunter found that he couldn’t speak, his hand coming up to cover hers, pressing her palm more firmly against his cheek.
She loves me back.
“I let ye go once, love. I hope ye ken that I willnae do it again,” he said, finding his voice. “If ye’ll have the Hawk for yer husband, of course.”
She carefully propped herself up on her elbows, wincing through the movement. His arm curled around her, bringing her into his chest.
“I don’t think I’m in a position to get married today, my love,” she said, with a soft chuckle. “And it seems you’ve ruined my wedding dress.”
He rested his hand on her stomach and dipped his head, his lips a whisper away from hers. “We’ll get ye a new one,” he murmured. “I’ve waited me whole life for ye, lass. I can wait a few days, a few weeks, to marry ye. So, will ye let me take that pendant off ye?”
“You can,” she replied, her arms looping around his neck. “I don’t think I need it anymore.”
As his lips grazed hers, his hand unfastened the ribbon that held the necklace around her neck. After putting it into the pocket of his belted plaid, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her more fiercely.
“I love ye,” he murmured, losing himself in her, grateful beyond belief that no grave harm had come to her.
“I love you,” she replied in a breathless whisper, before her mouth caught his in a slow, searing kiss. “And perhaps if we take it very slow, and you’re very gentle, I think I’d like to reconsider what I said before.”
He paused. “What do ye mean?”
“I mean…” she whispered, her voice sultry, as her hand traveled down his chest and stopped at the buckle of his belt. “If a kiss can heal a cut, imagine whatthatcan do for healing a sword wound.”
“We shouldnae,” he protested lightly, kissing her again.
“We’re both alive, my love,” she reminded him. “We changed history. I’d say there’s no better time.”
Pulling her up, a growl rumbled in the back of his throat as she straddled his thighs. And, gazing into her eyes, he knew he couldn’t deny her anything.
“Once Lady Gibson has tended to ye, we’ll see,” he allowed. “Until then, I daenae plan to stop kissin’ ye.”
Cupping his face in her hands, she smiled. “Then don’t.”
As their mouths met in a stirring kiss, his arms tight around her, he found himself grateful to a tapestry he had never seen and the bride who had altered his fate, allowing him the promise of a happy future with her at his side. A love he had never thought would come to him, right there in his embrace.
“I love ye,” he said quietly, doubting he would ever tire of saying it.
“I love you, too,” she replied, her eyes bright with contentment, before pulling his head down and kissing him again.
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
“Much better,”Elsie said with a decisive nod. “It suits yer complexion far more than the other one. I daenae ken what I was thinkin’ when I suggested silver.”
Nancy chuckled as she looked at her reflection in the looking glass, the mirror less clear than the ones in the future, which she didn’t mind at all. “I don’t much mind what the dress looks like, but it’s a good choice.” She glanced at Elsie. “Thank you for arranging everything.”
“Honestly, I was happy to have more time,” Elsie insisted, though the twitch in her eye betrayed the truth. “It has kept me busy, givin’ me an excuse to have a few moments away from me bairn.”
At that moment, the baby was fast asleep in a sling fastened across her chest.
