Page 36 of When a Highlander Vows
“Caitlin made me think of it.”
“Och, so that’s it.” Archie spoke like he was just about to laugh, and Lucas groaned, knowing what his friend was going to say.
“Go on then. What is it?”
“That is why ye decided to dae somethin’ nice for someone. Because of that lass. I’m glad she is around then.”
Lucas with a glower, swung hard, but Archie was too quick. He kept laughing, making Lucas growl with anger.
“Why dae ye nae think I could dae somethin’ good? Dae ye hold such a low opinion of me?”
“Nay. Ye’d be surprised at what I think of ye, Lucas,” Archie winked. “But I dae think I ken what ye think of the new lass.”
With a loud yell, Lucas jumped up, hitting Archie across the chest. Archie yelped in pain, and he jumped back.
“See? I think I was right?”
They parried now, their swords hitting against one another with loud metal cracks. “I mean to honor me friend, Seamus. Ye ken how much he meant to me.”
“Aye, so I dae,” Archie said, throwing one last swing, before he put down his sword and stepped back. “I daenae wish ye to think I thought little of that kindness. Seamus was a good man, and he deserves the honor.”
Breathing hard, Lucas tamped down his anger. He was never really angry at Archie, but he didn’t like people guessing as to the inner workings of his heart and mind. He was doing enough of that himself.
“Thank ye, Archie.” He reached across and shook his friend’s hand.
He wiped his face with his forearm, and he turned to the doorway where he saw a flash of color and heard a little squeak. Walking to the door, he leaned against the doorjamb, watching as Caitlin raced away as fast as she could manage and disappeared around another corner.
To his own surprise, he smirked, feeling smugly satisfied. It seemed that Caitlin had come to see him.
18
Caitlin had to stop running. Her heart was pounding, and her head was spinning, and she knew she’d bump into something if she didn’t slow down and focus on where she was going. She might have memorized the way, but when she was rushing, her mind didn’t have time to remember. But she had to get away from that room, had to hide herself before Lucas came after her and confronted her about what had just happened.
It hadn’t been on purpose. Not really. After she’d returned from her walk with Lottie, she’d spoken to Sarah and heard the men were practicing fighting in a far part of the castle. Wanting to learn more about the castle anyway, and continue to explore, she’d wandered that way. It hadn’t been too hard to find them. She just had to follow the sounds of male grunting and the clash of sword metal.
Then, when she had come to the door and had seen Archie and Lucas locked in a fierce sword battle, she’d been mesmerized. Lucas’ every muscle looked like it had been chiseled from stone,and now that he was bare chested, it was even more obvious. For a few seconds, she’d merely blinked at him, her mouth a little parted in the shock of it. He was not far away from her, but she was slightly hidden, so she had the freedom to look her fill.
Under his kilt, she’d watched his strong legs move quickly and then stand, holding firm while he ducked out of the way of Archie’s blows. Was this what women felt when they looked at men? Caitlin had only experienced a fraction of this heat, this longing that grew stronger the more she looked at him. It seemed to narrow and focus, sliding from her chest to her belly, and below. A warmth unfurled over her skin, and one hand clung to the wood of the doorjamb, trying to keep herself steady. Then he’d seen her, looking at him.
She was not out of breath, and after she’d turned a few corners, she’d backed herself into an alcove, where she could both hide and catch her breath. Putting a hand over her forehead, Caitlin could feel the heat flowing out of her skin, and she knew it was only partly to do with her embarrassment.
“Dear God, what must he think of me now? He must think I came just to watch him! That will certainly give him an ego.”
She leaned her head back against the cool stone and closed her eyes. She could instantly recreate the image of Lucas in her mind, and she remembered the strength of his hands as he’d held her waist, pulling her close as they’d kissed. She could only imagine how strong it would be to be taken by him, carried upstairs to her bed and—
Ye foolish lass! Stop this now! It will dae ye nay good to think of the Laird in this way. It must be a result of yer grief. Ye cannae think straight.
Immediately, she snapped her eyes open and pushed away from the wall. She could not afford to lose herself to a man, not when it was uncertain how long she’d remain there near to him. With a deep breath, she walked away, feeling her path down the passageway to more familiar areas until she reached the library. She planned to hide away there until the evening meal. Hours later, when it was time, she could hear footsteps coming for her, and she put down her book and prepared herself to see Lucas again, to see the smirk in his eyes as they both knew what she’d been doing that afternoon.
But instead, it was a servant, merely coming to escort her to dinner. She allowed him, but her footsteps dragged as they got closer and closer to the hall. Her stomach rumbled, however, at the smell of delicious food, and she knew that Lottie’s presence at the table would help keep Lucas from mentioning anything.
Once inside the hall, Lucas stood at her approach, and Lottie smiled. “We heard ye’ve been readin’ yerself to death. I am happy,” Lottie said.
“Aye, somethin’ like that.” Clearing her throat, she chanced a glance at Lucas.
He was not looking stern, and something like a smile hung around his lips.
Dear God, he is amused!
