Page 66 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Blaine put the parchment down on the low table in front of them and turned more fully to her, hemming her in by crossing one leg over the other. He was less than a foot away from her now, his knee sporadically touching hers as he shifted in his seat. He looked into her eyes. His were twinkling, and his smile was bright and warm.

“Come on, Alana, if ye dinnae mind me sayin’ so, ’tis somewhat foolish tae say his wish may “never’ come true.”

“I’m nae quite sure what ye mean by that,” she replied, almost imperceptibly trying to put space between them. But each time she did, he just moved closer, as though he was aware of what she was doing and was compensating. Then, he alarmed her further by placing his arm along the back of the sofa, just behind her shoulders. It would require only the slightest of movements on his part, and his arm would be around her.

“What I mean is, however sure things seem, they’re always subject tae change at any moment. Fer instance, I could go out huntin’ today, and me horse could get spooked by something. I could be thrown, break me head, and wind up dead. Or ye could eat some potted salmon at dinner, nae kennin’ it had turned intae a poison fit tae kill ye.”

She frowned at him. “Ye’re tryin’ tae tell me that people die all the time?”

He laughed. “I dinnae have tae tell ye that. Ye’re a healer. Nay, me point is that our lives are fragile and always subject tae unexpected change. So, “never” is a very strong word tae use.”

“Hmm, ye say that’s yer point, but what is yer point exactly?” she asked, growing increasingly concerned at the turn the conversation was taking.

“Och, never mind,” he answered with a light laugh and dismissive wave of his hand. “But let me ask ye this: if ye’d come here as a single lady, and I asked ye tae marry me, would ye have said aye?”

She stared at him, inwardly amazed at his nerve as well as worried that Tadhg might come roaring in, and a fight would break out. There was no doubt in her mind now that Blaine was flirting with her again or at least trying to, very ineptly. “Since that didnae happen, I dinnae see what it has tae dae with anythin’.”

“Humor me, would ye? I mean, if things had been different, could ye see me as yer husband?” he asked, leaning forward, his voice low and honeyed. She could smell whisky on his breath, he was so close.

“Blaine, I think ye should stop this now,” she told him, her unease growing.

“Ye’re a very beautiful woman, Alana, if ye dinnae mind me sayin’ so, and I cannae help thinkin’ of what might have been. Ye and me together, Laird and Lady MacIver, fulfilling the laird’s most precious wishes. Och, think how grand that would be.”

She bristled at his use of the present tense. “Wheesht! That’s naught but pure, childish fantasy, if ye dinnae mind me sayin’ so,” she began, deliberately paraphrasing his own words for sarcasm’s sake. “I think ye need tae⁠—”

She stopped suddenly, her eyes flying wide and her breath leaving her body, for she was sure she had just felt him touch her neck. She shot up out of her seat, shocked to her core.

“What d’ye mean by that?” she demanded, rounding on him angrily.

His smile faltered as he got to his feet. “By what?”

“Ye ken very well. I felt yer hand.”

“I think ye must have imagined it.” He came closer to her again. With a sly look in his eyes, he added, “Or maybe ’tis wishful thinkin’ on yer part, eh? Maybe that’s what ye really want.”

A little afraid of him now, but determined not to show it, she huffed and drew

herself up to her full height, glaring at him. “I’ll remind ye I’m a married lady. I think it would be best if ye left me now, please,” she said, stiffly formal.

He grinned at her brazenly, making her even more anxious. “I apologize if I’ve spoken out of turn,” he said, sounding to her ears not sorry at all. “I’ll go as ye wish.” He made for the door. But at the last minute, he paused and turned back to her. He gave her the bow of an insolent servant and said, “But I hope ye’ll think on what I’ve said.” He opened the door and stepped out. “I hope tae see ye at dinner, Alana. We can talk more then, if ye like.” With that parting shot, he closed the door and left her.

For a few moments, she remained where she was, her ears attuned to his fading bootsteps. As soon as she was sure he had gone, she lifted her skirts and ran into the other room. “Tadhg! Tadhg, where are ye?” she hissed urgently, rapidly circling the room but unable to see him anywhere.

“In here,” came a deep, muffled voice from some indeterminate direction.

“Where?” she replied, looking around her in confusion.

“The cupboard.”

“Cupboard? What cupboard?”

“By the door.”

She looked over to the door and saw a large wooden cupboard with pretty, barley-twist legs and carved doors set against the wall. She had not noticed it before. She ran to it and pulled open one of the doors.

The comical sight that met her eyes banished all worrying thoughts of her interview with Blaine, and she laughed out loud.