Page 61 of The Laird’s Lost Wife

What happens when he catches me?

A familiar knot of desire tightened in her gut, enough to make her choke on air. One of her calves briefly cramped, forcing her to hop along for a moment or two.

At least nobody’s around to see me make a fool of meself.

Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen.

Or was it twenty? Had she lost count?

Twenty-one. Twenty-two.

The shadow of the keep was only about fifty feet away. Was that safety, or did she need to go a little further?

Willow had reached the shadow already and was yelling something, jumping up and down in triumph.

It must be thirty now, but Daphne had had a good head start. No footsteps thumped behind her. No⁠—

An arm curled around her waist, jerking her back.

“Caught you,” Hunter intoned, his warm breath tickling her ear.

Heat tightened in her chest, and she gasped in surprise, unable to hold back.

At once he released her, taking several large steps back. When she glanced over at him, he was cool-faced, not even sweating. In contrast, she was heaving great gulps of air, sweat beading along her hairline.

“Ye lost, Mama, ye lost!” Willow cried, skipping over. “You werenae very fast.”

“I havenae run for a while,” Daphne panted.

She pointedly didn’t look at Hunter, even though she knew he was looking at her.

“Look, River is here!” Willow held up a mess of red fox fur.

The little creature blinked at them, mildly curious.

“Ye had better take yerselves off, then,” Hunter remarked, taking a step forward and touching the middle of River’s forehead, stroking it with his forefinger. The little fox closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. “I have work to do. I will see ye both later, aye?”

“Thank ye, Laird MacCrimmon, for playing with me!” Willow chirped.

Daphne cleared her throat. “And thank him for yer gift.”

Willow dived forward, wrapping her arms around Hunter’s middle in a tight hug. “Thank ye for me sword, me Laird.” She beamed up at him and then skipped off toward the keep.

Unable to look him in the eye, Daphne turned on her heel and hurried after her.

If I’m going to be here for any length of time, I’ll have to learn to manage me emotions. I must.

CHAPTER 14

The more he thought about it, the more avoiding dinner seemed to be a good idea. What would he have done, anyway? Picked at his food while trying not to stare at Daphne?

No, he’d done well to steer clear. Magnus had mentioned that they all took dinner together as normal in the dining room, and nobody seemed to notice that he wasn’t there.

That stung a little. Of course, it was good to know that his mother was finally spending time with her friend. Lady Pilbury seemed to be a good woman, and maybe the Highland air really was doing her some good.

But shouldn’t Daphne and Willow have remarked on his absence?

Daenae think too hard about it, he thought grimly, turning onto his side.