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At the mention of the coverlet, a flash of Maisie tucked into Kieran’s side after he pleasured her nearly made her blush, but she pushed the memory aside.

“I would accept both,” Kieran began, but Niall stopped him.

“I shall send for Lina tomorrow, but then should we not stay closer to Aberdale?”

If they did that, there would be no reason for her to see Kieran again. And though she wished otherwise, Maisie could not will it to be so.

“We will remain here,” Kieran said, his tone leaving no room for discussion.

Niall appeared confused. He looked as if he would question his brother further, but did not. Instead, he looked up at her.

“Thank you for your offer. A meal and coverings for my brother’s floor are most welcome.” His wee smile told Maisie he jested with her. Like Kieran, he’d likely slept in much worse places than on an inn floor with a pillow and coverlet.

“I would speak with you privately, Maisie,” Kieran said, surprising her. She was certain he did not wish his brother to know there had been anything between them. And yet, he stood and followed Maisie to the back of the inn.

“Nay, not here. More private than this,” he said.

She glanced back at Niall.

“I will worry about my brother,” he said, and so Maisie headed instead toward the kitchens, a separate building from the inn. As they walked through the door, instead of actually entering the kitchens, she turned a corner so they were now at the back of the inn.

“Private,” she said. There was no reason for anyone to come this way. The stables were on the other side of the building. Back here, naught but tall grass and a field that was not a part of the inn’s property.

Yet.

Maisie had been saving coin to purchase it and expand on the number of rooms the Red Stag kept.

“My brother found me,” he said, standing closer to her than they’d been all day.

“Aye.” Maisie chuckled. “I’ve seen as much.”

Kieran’s smile warmed her heart. He was truly happy in a way she’d not seen him since they met. With the exception of last eve, after he’d pleasured her.

“Can I come to you this eve? As always I will remain in the hall until ‘tis empty. But we must talk, Maisie.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “If you do so, will your brother not realize there is something between us?”

“I care not for that. Unless,” he said suddenly, “you do not wish him to.”

“You are reconciled?”

“We are. I will explain all later. If you’ll allow me.”

She hesitated. Maisie wanted nothing more than to be with him again. To have Kieran hold her, kiss her . . . pleasure her. Again. Yet each moment that passed she could feel herself being drawn to him, a man who did not plan to marry. Not that she would ever accept another husband. But that simply meant, if they were not to be together, this thing between them was a passing thing.

Her heart told Maisie otherwise.

“I willnae touch you,” he said, as if to convince her. Then Kieran’s smile touched the corners of his eyes. Mischievous. Knowing. “Unless you wish it.”

Undecided, Maisie did not know how to answer.

Say no. You cannae stop thinking of this man. Being alone with him will do naught to alleviate the ache in your heart when you’re not in his arms.

Maisie looked up, into his eyes. Imploring her with their intensity.

What she should say and wanted to say were two very different things. How did one decide between what was the right thing to do and what the heart willed? The feelings he elicited in her were at war with memories of her husband.

“You hesitate. Why?”