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Eoghan glanced in Sarah’s direction. “Does she know?”
Keir exhaled a slow breath, wondering how he could have been so daft. Was it truly possible that Sarah believed him to hold affection for Kenna beyond that of a friend or sister, perhaps? The idea seemed ludicrous, and yet perhaps it only did so from his point of view. “Pardon me,” he said to his friend. “I needa speak to Sarah.”
Eoghan grinned. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
Ignoring his friend’s amused chuckle, Keir strode down the beach toward Sarah and Kate. He could see the expression upon Sarah’s face waver, something nervous sneaking into her eyes. She almost dropped her gaze, but then she forced her chin back up.
Inwardly, Keir smiled. Indeed, he had been a fool. He had been a fool to wait this long to make it clear to Sarah how he felt about her. Again, foolishly, he had thought she already knew. Of course, certain words had been spoken, and yet he had never told her he loved her, had he?
Smiling at the two sisters, Keir looked at Katherine. “Would ye mind giving us a moment?” he said softly, with a sideways glance at Sarah. “I needa speak to yer sister.”
Katherine nodded, something almost wistful in her eyes before she smiled at Sarah and then hurried away toward Eoghan and Frederica.
“What do you wish to talk about?” Sarah inquired, her gaze barely meeting his as she continued down the beach, forcing him to fall into step beside her.
A devilish smile came to Keir’s face. “Are ye jealous, lass?”
Instantly, Sarah spun around, her eyes wide and staring as a deep blush stole onto her cheeks.
Keir chuckled, unable to help himself. “Ye’re blushing, little wisp,” he murmured, savoring the moment, for once again time had stopped, and there was nothing and no one in the world but them. He stepped toward her and took her hands within his own, finding them chilled and trembling.
Bowing her head, Sarah closed her eyes, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.
“Tell me the truth,” he urged her gently. “Are ye jealous?”
Forcing her gaze back up, Sarah met his eyes. “Why are you asking me this?”
“Because I want to know. Something has changed between us over the past few days. Ye canna deny it. I dunna care for the way we drifted apart.”
Defiance lay in Sarah’s gaze. “Well, you seemed rather busy lately,” she snapped, a bit of an accusing tone in her voice.
Keir grinned, seeing his suspicion confirmed. “Then ye are jealous.”
Glaring at him, Sarah spun around upon her heel and stalked back the way they had come.
Determined to see this settled between them, Keir went after her, quickly catching up. He grasped her arm and pulled her back around, forcing her to face him. “Have I not made it clear that I care for ye?” He held her tightly; his gaze fixed upon hers. “Why would ye think that to have changed?”
Sarah’s lips trembled. “Everything feels different here,” she whispered, looking deeply vulnerable. “This is your home, your family, your people.” She glanced past his shoulder, and he wondered if she was looking at Kenna. “You have a past here. There are people here who—”
“Kenna is family,” Keir interrupted, his voice hard and determined, his gaze fixed upon Sarah’s, “and I care about her. But I never once looked at her the way I look at ye, little wisp. Do ye hear me? Never.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
A BRAVE, LITTLE WISP
Stunned speechless, Sarah stared up at Keir. His words echoed through her head, and she felt that familiar warmth return. Whatever she had expected him to say, it had not been that.
‘He’s lying!’ Her mother’s voice growled in her head. ‘He only wants what all men want.’
Sarah pinched her eyes shut, willing the voice away. She felt her head shake from side to side, desperate to clear her mind, to cling to this moment and Keir’s words.
“Dunna listen to her,” Keir’s voice urged, and Sarah’s eyes flew open. “I dunna know what she’s saying, but whatever it is, is not true. Do ye hear me, Sarah?”
Sarah nodded, touched by Keir’s insightfulness, and the tension slowly flowed out of her body. She had spoken to him of this before, had told him she sometimes heard her mother’s voice whispering to her, urging her to doubt those around her, Keir in particular.
Gently, Keir grasped her chin, his blue eyes compelling as they looked into hers. “Tell me honestly, lass. Are ye jealous?”
As she could not turn her head away, Sarah closed her eyes. “Yes.” That one quiet word felt almost deafening to her. “I miss that it is no longer the two of us,” she rushed to add, unable to bear the silence, unable to look at him. “Your family is wonderful, and I’m so grateful. Still, I wish I knew if—”
