Page 21 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Many people would agree he had a right to his anger. However, the ladies who’d married his cousins weren’t among them. They encouraged him to give Dorie a chance. Both women had found love in their marriages and thus believed the world was full of the sentiment. All a person had to do was reach out and pluck the feeling of love from the air and one would be happy to the end of one’s bloody days.

He paused, fearing he might wretch, and not from the trek down the hill. He could have lost Dorie. And missed the opportunity to get to know her better.

When he reached the cottage he waited outside, even ducked under the open window for a moment, listening for Dorie’s singing, but all was silent today.

His fist hovered for a moment at the door before he dropped it to the latch and went inside. It was his own cottage, after all, why should he have to knock?

Dorie turned toward his invasion and a smile pulled up her lips a second before two large paws slammed into his shoulders.

“Ye gads!” He pushed the dog off and gaped at the furry monster as he snuffled around Bryce’s feet. “Rascal?” He had to be at least two feet taller than he’d been when they washed him at the creek.

Dorie laughed and the sound caused a twisting pain in his chest.

He was struck with the vision of another woman smiling and laughing when he’d entered their home. The memory was so strong he even looked around on the floor for a wee lass crawling toward him. But Isabel wasn’t there. Neither was Maggie.

They were both gone.

This was no longer the home he had shared with them.

He wouldn’t be able to scoop up his daughter and hear her giggle. He wouldn’t be able to kiss his wife and whisper promises of what he’d do to her later in the darkness when their child was asleep.

That life was gone along with the cottage he’d deliberately burned down, though it all continued to haunt his memories.

He swallowed back the pain, and Dorie’s smile faltered. As if she understood what had happened in his mind.

Rubbing a hand over his face, he schooled his features into his normal scowl. He expected her to let it go. Of course, Dorie never did what he expected. Instead she came closer and took his hand. Tugging on his arm, she led him to a chair and motioned that he should sit.

She poured him a cup of ale and set it before him. When he frowned at it, she shook her head and pointed toward the castle to let him know it was safe.

Taking the other seat at the small table, she pointed to her lips and then to him. She cocked her head and pointed to her ear.

Even though she hadn’t spoken a word, he knew exactly what she meant. He was supposed to tell her what was wrong, and she would listen.

He wanted to explain why he’d had her followed and apologize for not trusting her. He’d planned to use guilt to earn her compliance, but to his surprise he opened his mouth and began speaking of something else entirely.

“When I walked in and you smiled at me, you reminded me of my wife. That is, my first wife. Not that ye look like her at all. She was beautiful.” He took another sip of his drink and realized what he said. “You’re beautiful, too, don’t get me wrong. Just in a different way.”

She smiled and put her hand on top of his. Her cool skin offered comfort from the blaze of embarrassment burning through his body. When had he lost his ability to charm a woman? He used to have a silver tongue that made ladies smile. Now words bumbled out of his mouth without a care.

“I’m sorry you got stuck with me, Dorie. I’m sorry I don’t have more to give you.”

Her fingers brushed his cheek and he glanced up to see her shake her head. She pointed to herself then at her lips as she smiled. She was happy to be married to him.

He didn’t know how he knew what she meant from her few gestures, but they were able to communicate on a level without words. He found it easier this way and knew it was the reason he hadn’t told her he knew she could speak.

She pointed to his chest, in the vicinity of his heart, and then picked up a bannock from the plate and broke it into two pieces.

When he nodded that, yes, his heart was indeed broken, she offered one piece to him while she nibbled on the other. He could only hope the analogy of his heart to the bannock had ended by that point.

He smiled at the thought and watched her eyes light up. She was lovely when she smiled. Her blue eyes danced with a joy that drew him in. Before he knew what was happening, he leaned across the table and pressed his lips to hers.

She didn’t move away, but she didn’t kiss him back. Not at first. He’d probably shocked her. Hell, he’d shocked himself as well. He was a breath away from pulling back when she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him there. Her lips moved against his in a way that told of her inexperience.

He wanted to teach her the way of kissing. Show her how great it could be when she opened to him, but he knew he wouldn’t stop there. He could already feel his body responding.

It wasn’t fair to satisfy his lust when he wasn’t able to give her anything deeper. Rather than run away, as he had done before, he slowed the kiss and pulled back.

She smiled, her lips shiny from their kiss.