Page 37 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“The tonic.”
“Of course,” he said, a small smile curling his lips. “I wasnae listenin’,” he muttered.That sounds like him,Keira thought affectionately and then scolded herself for being so familiar with the man.
“And ye’re sure nothin’ happened before it started?”
“Nay. I have told ye that already, lass,” he stated firmly.
Keira did not believe him. She was uncertain why, but his response was too quick and too emphatic to be truthful.
What does this man wish to hide from me?
“I ken ye told me,” she agreed. “But chest pain can be affected by the mind as much as anythin’.”
As she finished, she retrieved some liniment to rub against the edges of the bandage to prevent friction. She applied it fairly liberally, and when she looked at MacAllen, he had his eyes closed, and he was leaning into her touch. She swallowed, breathing heavily and trying to calm her hammering heart.
“Have ye tried deep breathing?” she asked thoughtfully. “It helps women when they are givin’ birth to calm them.”
His relaxed demeanor evaporated in an instant, and the authoritative laird was back.
“Do I look like a woman givin’ birth to ye, lass?” he growled.
“I’m just sayin’,” she continued determinedly, “ye have nothin’ to lose. If ye think of somethin’ that makes yer chest start to ache, try to think of somethin’ different and see if it helps. Clear yer mind as much as ye can. I kenned a story of a maither who had chest pains similar to yers after she lost her son. She had to turn her mind to other things for them to abate.”
MacAllen was thoughtful for a long time; his eyes focused on a spot in the distance that seemed to be somewhere not quite in the present. Keira examined his profile, taking in the pleasing line of his strong jaw and long, straight nose.
“I see,” he finally said, his tongue coming out to moisten his lips as she fastened the bandage around him.
“Thank ye, lass.”
Keira rose as he stood to pull his léine back over his head. She forced herself to stand still and not assist him, not wishing to get any closer to all that heated flesh than she needed to.
She gathered the soiled bandage and made to leave the room, but as she passed him, his hand curled around her upper arm, and she stopped.
“What, nae seduction this time?” he asked; his voice was amused but banked with heat, and she shivered before gently pulling her arm free.
She tried to keep her expression as blank as possible.
“I am sorry for that,” she said finally, watching his gaze falter. “I was just desperate; I shouldnae have propositioned ye like that.” She gave a hollow laugh. “Ye are the last person I should try to seduce; ye’re a powerful laird, and ye could have me head if I disrespected ye.”
He snorted, his hands coming to rest on the top of his belt, the picture of manly strength.
“I’m naethatbad,” he protested.
As she turned to leave, he touched her elbow again, just a whisper of connection, but it still lit up her skin like a bonfire. “Ye ken ye can stay here for as long as ye need. Even after the month is out, ye are welcome to remain in me castle.”
She frowned up at him. “And do what?”
“Be me healer. I’ll keep ye safe.”
Keira felt sadness settle in her chest as she looked up at his earnest and kind expression. He was doing this because he wanted to protect her, just as he had done in the forest. But she realized now her heart yearned for there to be another reason for his actions.
Nae matter how temptin’ this beautiful castle, and this beautiful man, may be. I must do what is right for me family.
“I thank ye, me laird,” she said haltingly. “But I hope in a month’s time I willnae need yer protection. We can both live our lives as we did before, and ye willnae be troubled by me presence any longer.”
CHAPTER16
What the hell am I thinkin’invitin’ her to stay for longer?Noah thought feverishly.I havenae been able to keep me hands to meself until now, it isnae as though things will get easier if she is around me even more.
