Page 32 of Christmas Wore Plaid

“I should leave,” she whispered, maneuvering around him to stand.

“Nay.”

He grabbed her arm so quickly, he reeled from his own intensity. But he didn’t drop her arm. He wanted to keep touching her, wanted her to remain abed.

“Nay,” he said more smoothly. “You can’t travel. The hour is much too late. Rest yourself. I’ll see you back to Crieff in the morn when we can decide further what to do. I must search for Colleen’s lad as I’ve promised and I’ll not rest until all leads are exhausted, and…”

He swallowed his pride in a painful lump. She wouldn’t look up at him as she clenched his plaid to her chin. Uncertainty tainted her brow, and tainted the aftermath of their bodies’ joining.

“And you may plan the party, as you wish,” he said. “I’ll broker no further argument if it will keep you here.”

He dropped his grip upon her arm in favor of holding her hand. Was it so bad? Using this as an opportunity to help his people? It might not pay off for a long time, but then again, she wasn’t offering him a single penny, either. Simply asking him to open up his home.

Her eyes flitted to his lips, then connected with his as pale surprise turned her face grey.

“After what we’ve just done, I had hoped this was about much more than a party.”

“It is,” he replied. It was about so much more. It was about thinking of how best to offer for her when he had nothing to offer.

“You’re right,” she said. “It’s about your pride, isn’t it?”

He smarted, his eyes narrowing with offense. But when had Emerson ever minced words?

“It’s about a future, Emmy, and my ability to give you one.”

She pushed to her feet and found her undergarments in the clothing strewn upon the floor. He followed her.

“I want to give you that future,” he argued further, futilely it seemed, for she was no longer listening. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I don’t doubt that we can make it work, but it will take concessions of comfort on your part.”

She dropped her chemise over her head and cast him a sad, longing look that gouged him as she discarded his tartan without looking at it.

“I never needed you to provide a future for me, Brady.” She gathered up her remaining clothes in her arms. “I just needed you.”