Page 32 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

She sighed. “Aye, I willnae bring it up again, son. Apologies.”

“I’ll see ye later.”

But it had been said, and her words hung around him like a chain. She had a way of pointing out the obvious in her gentle yet firm tone.

It meantnothing.

Even if he felt he was lying to himself.

Dougal had told himself he wouldn’t watch. He had lied.

He then shrugged it off and turned his attention to anything other than what was happening before his very eyes.

The anger kept rising slowly, settling in the pit of his stomach. It was too great a temptation to ignore, he realized.

From the edge of the yard, arms folded, he watched Skye and Stephen cross the finish line together, their arms linked, laughing so hard that Skye had to grip Stephen’s sleeve to stay upright. Stephen said something Dougal couldn’t hear, and Skye threw her head back and let out that full, unguarded laugh he’d only ever gotten in careful, rationed pieces.

The treasure hunt had been ongoing all morning. Lily’s giggles were infectious, drawing smiles from even the most hardened of men. Dougal managed one of his own when no one was looking, grateful his daughter was having a fun time.

He had Skye to thank for that. His mother had said as much.

He toyed with the idea. A simple “Thank ye for planning this day for me daughter.” But then his mother announced the next activity, which Stephenhadto participate in.

It was Lily’s doing. She marched right up to Stephen and tugged at his sleeve, demanding in her sweet way that he join in on the fun and games. Stephen was no match for her and quickly agreed.

Dougal did not blame him. Lily was quite a force to be reckoned with.

Everything was fine at first until Skye and Stephen teamed up, resulting in this situation playing out before his very eyes.

Skye’s cheeks were flushed from laughter, dark curls loose about her face. And the easy way she moved, unguarded, her throat bared as she laughed at something Stephen said, made it hard for him to look away.

She looked lovely like this. Dougal hated how much he noticed.

Something ugly and unfamiliar coiled low in his chest. He wanted to march right over there, grab her arm, and pull her away.

Howdareshe have such a good time with Stephen? How dare she stand there and laugh with another man while he stood there, watching from afar?

And it wasn’t just any man, either. It was Stephen, his man-at-arms and closest friend.

Stephen was not romantically interested in her, of that Dougal was sure, but it didn’t quell the unfamiliar feeling that was spreading its ugly tendrils across his body and taking hold.

He crossed the yard before he’d decided to, catching her eye, and tilted his head toward the shadow of the stable wall. A silent command.

Skye excused herself from Stephen with a lingering smile and followed.

“Ye wanted something, me Laird?” She was still flushed from running, her hair coming loose from its pins.

Dougal’s hand started to reach out, but he snatched it back before it could touch one of those stray curls.

What was he thinking?

He had lost control of himself for a moment there. The unfamiliar feeling was making him act irrationally and was entirely to blame. He would never act like that, otherwise.

He took a deep breath. What he should do was tell Skye what he thought, and she would understand. As his betrothed, she would have no choice.

“Ye laugh easily enough with him.”

Her brow furrowed. “Stephen? He’s yer man-at-arms. He’s kind.”