Page 47 of Desiring the Highland Laird
“Lassie,” he said, his voice low and soft. “I came to tell ye how sorry I am.”
“Sorry?” she repeated, stunned to the soles of her bare feet. “About what?”
“About taking ye to Angus Sinclair. I no should have done that.”
“Oh.” The word came out on a breath. She couldn’t tell him it was okay because it wasn’t.
“I should have listened to ye,” he said.
His thumb traced the back of her hand in a way that made her knees turn to water. He should stop that at once, but she didn’t want to tell him to stop because it felt too nice. And…sensual. Oh, God, yes, it was sensual the way his thumb moved over her skin in a slow, sweeping, delicate motion.
“Listened to me?” She sounded dumbfounded as she repeated his words. “About?”
“My da thinks yer from the future,” he said. Then he looked at the wall hanging that depicted her falling through the sky. “Ye told me ye were from the future.”
Hope filled her as she continued to stand there, watching him look at the wall hangings. Understanding came into his eyes and though he said nothing, she saw his mind working.
“He told me I best start believing in the prophecy,” he said.
She swallowed hard, her mouth dry. “And do you?”
“I dinnae ken.” He turned to look at her then and his eyes met hers. “But I want to. It seems to be coming true.”
She reached up with her free hand and clutched his other one, squeezing it. “I want you to believe, too. But, like you, I’m not sure I believe in prophesies or destinies or anything like that. However, here I am standing with you, holding your hand. I thought this was a dream at first but now I know it’s not.”
He released her hand and reached up, brushing his knuckles over her cheek. The sensation of his cool skin sent a wicked shiver through her. Then he dropped his hand to his side. He inhaled a deep breath through his nose, then expelled it.
“Give me some time, lass, to get used to the idea.” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“All right,” she said at last.
He released her other hand and walked toward the door. He paused there and turned to look at her once more over his shoulder.
“Would ye like to break yer fast with me?”
Her stomach rumbled as if on cue. She pressed a hand against it, hoping to silence it. “Yes, please.”
“Good, then. I’ll send Roslyn to help ye dress. Join me in the great hall when yer ready.”
She nodded. He pulled open the door and was gone.
Her anger with him dissipated. Even she could accept an olive branch when she saw one. With her heart pattering hard in her chest, she found she was looking forward to breaking her fast with Callum.
Chapter Seventeen
Roslyn arrived notlong after Callum’s departure and helped her dress for the day. A long chemise with a wool overdress, thick stockings, and shoes. She joined Callum afterward in the great hall and was relieved to see he was there alone. No Malcolm or Hamish. She didn’t question it as she took the seat across from him at the long table.
Roslyn brought thick porridge, oat cakes, ale, and water to the table. When she had it all placed, she scurried out of the room, leaving the two of them alone with their awkward silence. As hungry as she was, she didn’t wait for him to dig in. She realized she hadn’t eaten a meal the night before and was now ravenous.
He watched her a long moment with a half-grin on his face before he took up his wooden spoon and dug into the bread bowl.
“Would ye like to see the keep and surrounding area?” he asked.
Her hand halted halfway to her mouth as she looked at him from across the table. “You mean like a tour?”
“I do.”
“I’d love that.”
