Page 75 of The Dragon Laird’s Obsession

“When ye care for people, ye show them how ye feel with gestures like this… gifts,” he explained. “Miss Ailis will appreciate that ye thought of her when she looks at these flowers. She will swoon at the gesture.”

“Why would she swoon? She is nae ill, is she?”

Rowan quaked with laughter now as he exhaled again. “Ye, me brother, are completely hopeless and clueless on matters of the heart.”

Gordon knew that very bit was true. He did not think he would want Ailis to feel faint when she thought of him.

If she swoons and falls, she might hurt herself.

He frowned again. He did not want her hurt because of him.

Gordon snorted as the confusing thoughts all raced through his mind, and he lowered himself onto the wall beside his brother.

The evening air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and heather from beyond the walls. For a while, neither brother spoke.

It was an easy silence. A strange thing, considering how much of their lives had been filled with bitterness, suspicion, and everything neither had known how to say in the past.

Rowan turned a small white flower between his fingers. After a while, he nudged Gordon’s shoulder.

“Ye ken Sorcha says ye smile now. She caught ye smilin’ at supper yesternight. In her words, it was the first time she had seen ye that way. She thinks it is because of Ailis.”

Gordon rolled his eyes. “Everyone seems very invested in me face these days.”

Rowan laughed softly. “Because we genuinely worry for ye, brother.”

Gordon looked down at his hands and at the scars across his knuckles, caught the fading light.

“It is good to ken that ye remember how to be happy.”

“I remember,” Gordon said after some time. His voice had grown quieter. “I just never had much reason.”

Rowan’s smile faded. For a moment, neither man spoke again.

Then Rowan leaned back against the stone. “Ye do now.”

Gordon gave a low scoff. “Because of Ailis?”

“Aye. And it is a good thing,” Rowan answered. “If she makes ye happy, Gordon, then it isnae a thing to be feared.”

“Daenae be very certain how she makes me feel, brother,” Gordon said, shaking his head as he tried to derail Rowan from his thoughts.

Rowan’s smile returned. “I am.”

Gordon opened his mouth to argue, but a muffled giggle sounded from nearby.

Both men turned. A small pair of boots protruded from behind a wooden barrel.

Gordon stared, and the boots disappeared before he raised an eyebrow. He already knew who was hiding there even before he called.

“Lileas.”

Silence followed his voice. Then a tiny voice came from behind the barrel.

“I wasnae spyin’!”

Rowan’s shoulders shook with laughter.

Gordon looked toward the barrel. “Of course, ye were nae.”