Page 34 of The Highlander Is All That

Her smile was blinding. “Thank you, Hamish.”

“Please. Don’t say my name that way.”

“What way?”

“As though you . . . love me.”

She stilled. Stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment. “And what if I do?” she asked in a whisper.

The words were like a punch to the gut. “You canna.” Oh please God. No.

“How do you know how I feel?”

Oh lord. Were those tears in her eyes? “Elizabeth. We’ve only just met. You’re young. This is, no doubt, just some childish fancy.” It hurt him to say it, but it was true.

What was truly horrible, though, was her reaction. Her features tightened. Her lips wobbled, and her nose went a little red. Then she sucked in a breath and tipped her chin high. “Childish fancy?”

“Aye. Aye.” Thank God. She understo—

“You think of me as a child.” Not a question.

“Elizabeth. That’s no’ what I meant—”

“Of course you do. Yes.” She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes. She set back her shoulders and nodded. “I see. Thank you for telling me. Much appreciated.”

“Elizabeth—” The last thing he thought her was childish. She was a seductress, even when she wasn’t trying. But she was naïve. She was untried. And he—

Well, he was alone.

She’d marched from the room.

He knew better than to follow her. Instead, he headed for the decanter on the table by the window, praying for succor.

Sadly, this whisky was worse.

Chapter Eight

Elizabeth didn’t sleep well at all after her interaction with Hamish, and it wasn’t the effects of the kiss keeping her awake.

It was his comment.

And then, of course, the thoughts that followed.

Mortification, that he thought her young and fanciful, certainly, but there was an even more depressing suspicion floating about in her head.

By morning, she was sure she was correct in her assumption that it was not her youth that caused him to reject her.

He simply did not share her feelings, and he was loath to tell her to her face.

What else could it be?

She had kissed him that first time and while he had kissed her while she was sleeping, she’d turned it around after that and kissed him soundly. At which point, he had pushed her away.

No doubt he was mortified by her attention. As mortified as he’d been with Lady Jersey. That babble about him not being good enough for her was nonsense and they both knew it.

How many women had thrown themselves at him?

How many had he had to let down easy with some weak lie?