Page 40 of Healing the Highland Sinner
She chuffed. “Go tell it tae the fishmonger’s daughter.”
She cringed immediately when she said it, making Ellair laugh heartily. “Why, Rosalind, are ye jealous?”
“Shut it,” she said. “I dinnae want tae hear it.”
“Truly, it’s sweet of ye tae be so possessive of me,” he said as he spread his arms out and turned in a circle. “I mean, what lady wouldnae be, eh?”
“I’m startin’ tae regret savin’ ye from that warehouse.”
“Nay, ye’re nae.”
She pulled a face and shook her head. “I still cannae believe I agreed tae take twenty bleedin’ percent off the top of Rory’s shipments.”
Ellair shrugged. “Ye could try tellin’ him ye were so consumed with jealousy because a fishmonger’s daughter was flirtin’ with me that ye were out of yer head and didnae ken what ye were daein’,” he said. “I mean… ye should always go with the truth, eh?”
Her face red and her hands balled into fists, she stomped on the dock. Ellair clapped his hands and laughed. He knew immediately when he’d seen the look on her face as he talked to the fishmonger’s daughter that she was out of her head with jealousy. It had struck him hard for it had confirmed her feelings for him—feelings he returned in spades. But also, feelings he couldn’t share with her. There was a lot he couldn’t share with her, it seemed, and it was eating him up inside.
“What are ye even daein’ down here?” she growled. “Why are ye followin’ me?”
“Because somebody had tae watch yer back and Ciar said he couldnae be seen with ye in the daytime. So, I volunteered. He said ‘twas a good idea. Especially with everythin’ goin’ on and Ewan lookin’ tae take yer head and all.”
“Ewan wouldnae move on me in the daylight.”
“People are doin’ a lot of things ye’d never think them capable of,” he said, wincing at how close to home that statement hit.
“Well… I appreciate ye watchin’ me back. Even if ye did bollocks up me negotiation.”
“I didnae bollocks anythin’ up. I was simply eatin’ a fish stick.”
She rolled her eyes. “If ye say so.”
“I dae,” he replied lightly. “So, now what?”
“Now, I go back tae the compound and tell Ciar I bollocksed everythin’ up and we’ll be makin’ less money. ‘Tis nae enough I’m kickin’ meself about it, but now I’ve got tae deal with him mockin’ me fer bein’ distracted and lettin’ Rory get one over me. He’s always remindin’ me how slippery that man is.”
“Tell him ye were doin’ Rory a kindness—one that will be repaid and then some.”
“That’s the trouble, Rory never repays me kindnesses. He only ever wants more,” she said dejectedly. “And now that I’ve shown him I’m willin’ tae take such a healthy shave, he’s goin’ tae expect it all the time movin’ forward.”
Ellair tipped him a wink. “Dinnae worry, lass. I’ll make sure he makes good on his promise of recompense.”
She offered him a weak smile. “Aye?”
He nodded. “Of course, I will. Because I suppose it’s partly me fault ye had tae take such a healthy shave in the first place.”
She laughed. “Ahh, so ye admit it.”
“Perhaps.”
“All right, are ye comin’ back tae the compound with me?”
He shook his head. “Nae yet. I want tae go have a drink at the tavern and listen in on all the gossip floatin’ through town. Always helpful tae know what people are sayin’, eh?”
“’Tis true,” she said.
He met her sparkling green eyes and felt his heart skip a beat. The effect this woman had on him was as maddening and he didn’t understand it. No woman had ever made him feel the way she did. And certainly with nothing more than a glance. It was all the more frustrating because of the secrets he was being forced to keep from her. He wanted to curse Laird Gunn for putting him into that position, but he also knew there was no way Torrin could have foreseen what he would feel for a woman who was supposed to be the enemy, and supposedly a man. If there was anybody Ellair should be upset with, it was with himself.
“Dae ye have tae get back tae the compound straight away?” he asked.
