Page 83 of Tempting the Highland Spy
“You already know the answer to that. She’s my aunt.”
“But why—why did you team up with her?”
“She was nearly all I had.”
“And your parents?”
“They died.”
The pain in her words seemed to cut into him as well. “When you were young?”
“Yes.” A tear escaped despite her efforts to hold it back.
His hand clasped hers. “I did not wish to upset you.”
She shrugged. “It’s nothing. After all this time, you’d think that wound would’ve healed.”
“Ah, Grace, some wounds never mend.” A lingering sense of loss twisted his gut.
“Now, who has a story to tell?” she asked softly.
“Once, a very long time ago, I made a mistake,” he admitted. “The cost was…nearly more than I could bear.”
He held his voice even. Calm and controlled. And yet, regret and pain flavored every word.
“Will you tell me about it?”
“Someday.” He caught her hands in his. “And someday, you will tell me who else you’re protecting.”
