Page 28 of Saved By the Highland Beast
And I would miss the way she brightens a room whenever she enters it.
He lost his temper and kicked at the snow, sending white powder flying through the air in a pure white arch. The woman was maddening to him in a way that infuriated his habit to control everything around him. He’d struggled with the idea of not being in control of his emotions for his entire life. Even as a child, he had not wanted to cry because he hated the tears. Sophia presented a very real problem to him where he would lose control.
Letting out a deep breath, he mounted the mare and urged her on. Riding away from the castle was the only thing that helped at present.
CHAPTER11
“It’s Hamish’s turn!”Cillian yelled gleefully as Anthony put down his wooden sword, his breath making a small cloud in the icy air.
“Aye, aye.” Anthony laughed as Hamish came forward swinging his sword. The prop seemed like a dagger in the man’s chubby fist, but he did the exercises with a smile on his face as Cillian laughed. They had become quite the team in the past few weeks.
Strutting over to the fence, Anthony leaned against the post and shot Dean a beaming smile. “The lad is makin’ great progress with the lessons. He’ll be takin’ me place as the man of arms soon,” he said light-heartedly.
“I can see that,” Dean admitted with a smile. “The boy is a right genius when it comes to matters of battle.”
“It’s nae just battle,” Anthony added with his eyebrows raised. “Have you seen the boy work with numbers? The other day, he came into the barn an’ showed the lads a quicker way to calculate the amount of hay the horses should be eatin’ per day. He will be runnin’ the castle on his own ‘afore too long.”
Dean’s smile broadened. It was true that Cillian was making excellent progress with his studies. He could count, read, and remember facts like nobody Dean had ever seen before, and it was all thanks to Sophia.
Things had reached a peaceful state between the laird and Sophia. They would joke and tease each other, but they would not put themselves in any situations where they could be alone together.
A few days had passed, and things at the castle had been quiet. Dean had first thought that the reluctance was coming from his side and his side alone, but Sophia had seemed slightly relieved when he had not cornered her again. He felt certain that there was something she wasn’t telling him, but he didn’t know what it was.
Why does it bother me so much?
“It’s all thanks to Sophia.” Anthony’s voice suddenly broke through his thoughts.
“Since when do you call her Sophia an’ nae Miss Harrison?” Dean asked, suspicion and jealousy rising in his chest again.
“She asked me to,” Anthony quickly defended himself. “She said that we have kent each other long enough for us to use our first names.” His voice became strained as he tried to explain. “It’s also nae as if we spend all of our time together. I only see the lass when she comes down to see how Cillian is doin’.” He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at the ground. “It’s nae just me. Hamish addresses her by her first name now as well.”
Dean felt slightly guilty for the way his friend was trying to defend himself. It was obvious that nothing had ever happened between the two of them. “Ye dinnae have to explain yerself, Anthony. I ken that Sophia is just yer friend. She’s friends with everyone in the castle.”
Anthony breathed a sigh of relief as he leaned back against the post. “Thank goodness. I can tell Hamish that we dinnae have to worry about being stabbed if we greet her anymore.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dean asked sharply.
“Naething, naething.” Anthony quickly put his hands up in surrender. “Just that ye seem to be a wee bit sharp wherever she is concerned.”
“I am nae sharp,” Dean barked. He was slightly annoyed that Anthony and Hamish got to call her by her first name when he was still calling her Miss Harrison.
Anthony tilted his head to the side and gave him a knowing glance.
Dean took a deep breath and turned his attention back to Cillian, who was stabbing Hamish’s oversized belly with his sword. “I am nae sharp where Miss Harrison is concerned,” he said more calmly.
“It’s all right to be a bit sharp where that lass is concerned.” Anthony bumped his arm and laughed. “She is a fine lass.” He winked.
“Dinnae wink at me, ye bampot. I dinnae see her as anything’ more than a friend an’ Cillian’s tutor.” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the post.
“I thought Cillian was the one learnin’ geography, my laird, nae ye,” Anthony pointed out.
“What do ye mean?” Dean asked with a frown.
“Cillian is the one learnin’ geography, but ye are the one who seems to be in another country.”
“Have ye been sippin’ the ale when naebody is looking?” Dean enquired with a quizzical expression on his face. “What are ye blatherin’ on about?”
“The Nile is a river in Egypt, my laird, nae in Scotland. You’re being in de-nial about yer feelings.”
