“You promised to come inside.”
Tess nodded and stood up. She must have risen toofast, for Colin saw her put out a hand to stop herself from fallingforward. As he instinctively reached out to steady her, anotherinstinct—that of pulling her into his arms and kissing herlips—suddenly blocked out all rational thoughts.
She was looking up at him, innocent and vulnerable,and then her eyes widened. As much as he wanted to kiss her now, hehesitated. Then the realization that taking advantage of her inthis situation would be a mistake poured through his body like icywater. His hands immediately dropped to his sides. Without utteringanother word, he turned and strode quickly away and across the moortoward the rocky cliffs overlooking the sea.
He had felt his body respond to women before, butthere was something in his attraction to this island lass that wasso different. He had never been faced with such aggravatingthoughts of right and wrong. It was only a kiss he wanted. Only akiss, he repeated to himself. So why was it, then, that confusionand guilt were churning about inside of him?
He reached the rocky bluffs and stared out at therolling sea. Suddenly, the weather around him couldn’t even competewith the turbulence of his mood.
When had wooing lasses become so blasteddifficult?
CHAPTER 6
What was wrong with her?
One minute, Tess was startled by the intensity shecould see in Colin’s face. The next minute—as she watched him walkaway—more than anything in the world she wanted his powerful armsaround her again. She realized she actuallywantedthefluttering in her stomach back.
All of the questions about living alone—questionsthat she’d allowed herself to ignore—were now rearing up defiantlybefore her. Even the sense of security that she’d created in herown mind had been shattered, swept away in two short days. And allshe could feel now was a jagged and dangerous edge.
Colin Macpherson had upended her life, and now hehad the nerve to walk out into the storm.
Tess went inside and changed into dry clothing. In afew minutes, she came out and looked at Makyn, who hadn’t moved.There was no sign of Colin. Going in again, she spent some time inthe loft area beneath the roof. Restless, she went down and sat bythe fire, carding wool. But she could not sit for long and went outagain. And then back in. And then out yet again. Still no sign ofColin.
She considered going after him—but then decidedagainst it. As the daylight faded into dusk, the wind continued toblow, but without the sense of purpose it had earlier. Even thefrothy sea seemed to be extending farther and farther to thehorizon.
The thought of Colin going away without tellingher…or saying goodbye…started as a cold white point in her head andgrew steadily until it was a torment for her. There were no boats,however, left on the island. Not long after Garth died, his smallcurrach had been battered to splinters during a winter storm whenthe waves had crashed it against the rocks. It hadn’t mattered toTess at the time, and she was glad of it now. But that didn’t meanother boats from the mainland were not already out on the sea. Atany time, one could see Colin on the shoreline and carry him backwith them. But if this was to be their fate—never to see each otheragain—then she was as helpless about it as she was about everythingelse in her life.
It was well after dark when she finally heard himcoming up the steps. Checking the thick braid she’d made of herhair, she hurriedly tucked an unruly tendril behind her ear. Sheglanced down at her tattered dress and wished she had somethingbetter to change into. The excitement surging through Tess wasunmatched by anything she remembered experiencing ever before.
Colin was wet through, and he looked extremely tiredwhen he stalked into the firelit chamber.
To keep herself from going to him, she crouchedbefore the hearth, lifted a cauldron onto the iron arm thatextended out from the wall, and swung the pot over the fire.
“I thought perhaps you’d decided to take a chance onthe sea,” she said. “’Tis only a few leagues to the mainland. Not abad swim, I shouldn’t think.”
Tess smiled over her shoulder at him and tried topretend that nothing was amiss. He walked toward his bedding, andTess ignored the crunch of the seashells beneath his boots.
“I cannot say I didn’t consider it.”
His admission stung a little, but she swallowed theknot of disappointment and turned her attention on the steamingbroth. “It must be the food that is keeping you here, then.”
“Nay! ‘Tis these bloody shells. I’m growing quitefond of the things.”
Tess glanced over her shoulder, but her retortcaught in her throat. With his back to her, Colin was pulling hiswet shirt over his head. He turned abruptly and caught her lookingat him.
“I…” Tess knew her face was betraying the heat thathad suddenly come over her. She looked quickly away and gestured tothe ladder. “There is…I mean, Garth had a good shirt if you want adry one.”
“This blanket will do.” His voice was low andhoarse, but she couldn’t trust herself to look at him again.
“I made some broth. And there is more smoked fish.There is also some dried bread. It doesn’t taste too bad with thebroth, and—”
“Have you eaten?”
She nodded.
“You don’t need to serve me, Tess. Why don’t you goabout doing what you usually do at night? I’ll take care ofmyself.”
As he came near the hearth, she moved skittishlyacross the chamber. She sat on her bedding and leaned back againstthe cold wall. Picking up a small sack of shells from the floor,she poured them out on her lap. She had already punched a hole ineach carefully selected shell with an awl, and she now beganstringing them onto a strand of leather. She watched him dip a bowlinto the broth.
