Page 89 of The Laird’s Sinful Obsession

"I was observin'." She swatted at his hand. "There's a difference."

"Is there?" Lachlann let his hand drop but didn't step back. "Because from where I'm standin', they seem remarkably similar."

Alba's mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "Ye're insufferable."

"Aye, ye've mentioned that before." He grinned. "Usually right before ye kiss me."

Her face went from pink to scarlet. "Lachlann!"

"What? It's true." He was enjoying it far too much—the way she sputtered, the way her eyes flashed, the way she tried so hard to maintain her dignity while clearly flustered. "Ye called me insufferable in the corridor. Then ye kissed me. Ye said it again on the battlements⁠—"

"I get the point."

"Dae ye?" He leaned in slightly. "Because I'm startin' tae think ye might actually like when I'm insufferable."

"That's—" Alba's hands flew up as though to push him away, then stopped halfway, hovering uncertainly in the air between them. "That's the most arrogant thing I've ever heard."

"But ye're nae denyin' it."

She glared at him. Or tried to. But her lips kept twitching toward a smile despite her best efforts.

"Ye're impossible," she said finally.

"Still nae a denial."

"I should leave. Let ye get back tae yer very important military plannin' that I definitely was nae spyin' on."

"Observin'," Lachlann corrected solemnly.

"Exactly." Alba started to turn toward the door, then paused. "Though... I did think yer patrol routes were well planned. Thorough coverage without leavin' any obvious gaps."

Warmth bloomed in Lachlann's chest at the praise. "Ye understood all that?"

"I'm nae simple, Lachlann. I ken how tae read a map." She glanced back at him, something softer in her expression now. "And I ken ye're daein' all this tae keep everyone safe. Tae keep me safe."

"Aye." The playfulness faded from his voice. "I am."

Their eyes held for a long moment, the air between them shifting into something heavier, more charged.

"Thank ye," Alba said quietly. "Fer the letter this mornin'. And fer stayin' with me last night. And fer—" She paused, swallowing. "Fer everythin'."

"Alba."

"I should go." She moved toward the door quickly, before he could respond. "I'm sure ye have a thousand things tae dae, and I'm just⁠—"

"Stay."

The word came out more like a plea than a command. Alba froze in the doorway, her back to him.

"Just... fer a moment," Lachlann continued. "Sit with me while I finish preparin' fer the day. I've got correspondence tae review, and—" He paused, suddenly uncertain. "I'd like the company."

Yer company. Nay one else's.

Alba turned slowly, her expression unreadable. Then she moved to one of the chairs near the window and sat, smoothing her skirts with careful precision.

"All right," she said softly. "I'll stay."

Relief flooded through him, stronger than it had any right to be.