He didn’t understand why the sight of his oldest friend and his lovely betrothed made him so bothered. He trusted that Callum was only trying to make the lass feel welcome, but…
In a way, Ruaridh didn’t want to admit that he feared she might fall for his friend’s charms.
“Is somethin’ wrong, McLeod?” Laird McCain asked.
Aye,Ruaridh wanted to say.
He didn’t want Callum to tick any items off Violet’s list. It wasn’t his responsibility to do so. It was Ruaridh’s. After all, it was he who would wed her. It was he who had resigned her to such a fate, and it was he who would restore her reputation.
He found himself walking over to them before he could stop himself, and when the music came to an end, he moved beside them, pulling Violet to him by the waist.
He tried to ignore how perfectly she fit against his side, but he could not help but glare at Callum.
“If ye wanted to dance with yer betrothed, ye only needed to ask, Ruaridh,” Callum teased.
“I shouldnae have to ask with me betrothed,” Ruaridh countered, looking down at Violet, who had a lovely flush in her cheeks.
If he weren’t so angry, he would have complimented her.
“’Tis only polite to ask,” Callum said with a wink. “It was lovely dancing with ye, Violet. If ye’re ever in the need of a dance partner, I am available.”
Ruaridh growled low in his throat, and the darned man walked off with a wink.
Annoying lout.
“You don’t need to ask, do you?” Violet asked, pulling away from his side.
He felt chagrined instantly and rubbed the back of his neck, unable to meet her eyes.
“I didnae mean that,” he sighed when he finally found his words.
“Hmm,” she murmured with a smile. “You only wanted to scare him away.”
He cleared his throat. “Would ye like to dance with me?”
She reddened and then beamed, nodding at him. “I would be honored.”
He held out his hand to her, and she placed her hand in it. Her touch was soft, tentative, and he gripped her hand gently as the first strains of the Eightsome Reel began.
“Just follow me,” he told her.
She nodded.
He performed the steps with all the familiarity of doing them in his younger years, even if it had been some time since he had last danced. He could feel the eyes of his clansmen on him, but it was only one pair of eyes he wanted on him.
He found her staring at him with wide eyes and felt the tips of his ears flush. “What is it?” he asked.
“I didn’t know you were such an accomplished dancer,” she answered with a wide smile.
Her compliment made him stumble, and he found his cheeks reddening when she giggled.
Damn it!
She always found a way to make him act out of character. Still, he couldn’t ignore how her smile made his heart warm. He loved her smile and how it spread across her face. Nothing like the practiced smile of girls born into the gentry that he detested. Hers was often wide and matched the light in her eyes. Considering how much they argued every time they were in closeproximity, earning a quick smile from her was an achievement he was most proud of.
He found himself smiling in return.
“Have I finally made you smile, my Laird?” she asked pointedly.
