Page 80 of Desiring the Highland Laird
“Oh, my God,” she whispered. Her hands started shaking.
What was he doing at her door? Had he changed his mind about her going with him tomorrow?
She slid out of the bed, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around her shoulders before padding to the door. She pulled it open a crack. He stood on the other side of the door, his eyes wide as his gaze went over her face then the length of her hair hanging in waves about her shoulders. She shifted from one foot to the other. She was not uncomfortable—she could never be with Callum—but his gaze was sointenseit was unnerving. As though he were seeing her for the first time.
“Yes?” she said, peering up at him.
His face softened and something about the way he looked at her made her want to fling open the door and fall into his arms. She remained where she was, holding the door so tightly, her fingers cramped.
“Och, lass, I came to tell ye…” He paused, took a step back and raked a hand through his hair. He seemed nervous, which was unlike him.
“Tell me what?” she asked.
Her voice was even and cool like she wasn’t expecting bad news. Like she was hoping for something else. Perhaps not a declaration of love, but…what? What did she want from him? Frustration edged through her. What was she even thinking? He was not interested in her like that. He kissed her because…well, she didn’t know why he kissed her.
He swallowed hard, his throat moving. “We willna be going to see the chieftain on the morrow.”
Shock rolled through her. Something had changed. But what? “We won’t?”
“Nay.” He didn’t elaborate.
“Why?” she asked, confused.
“Mayhap I could come in and tell ye what I’ve learned,” he suggested.
Her brows rose. “You want to come in?”
“God’s teeth,” he swore under his breath. “I ken the hour is late but I came here to tell ye…” He paused again and shifted from one foot to the other. He blew out a breath and met her gaze. “I saw Moira.”
Her blood turned to ice as her body stiffened with surprise. “Moira? The shopkeeper?”
“Aye.”
She stared at him a long, hard moment as her heart thudded and the blood whooshed in her ears. She pushed open the door wide for him to enter and stepped aside.
“I hope you have whiskey with you for this story.”
His handsome face broke into a grin. “Should I get some ale, then?”
A laugh bubbled up her throat as she waved him inside. “I was kidding.”
He stepped through the door. She closed it behind him, then wasted no time pulling the chair over from the other side of the room in front of the hearth. She offered it to him while she perched on the foot of the bed, pulling the blanket tighter around her shoulders. He eased down into the chair, which was much like the one in his chamber.
She had a vision—a reminder of her all too erotic dream. Immediately, she pushed it aside. Now was not the time for that.
“So, you saw Moira?” She did her best to sound casual, as though it did not affect her.
“She came to me in the stable after ye left,” he said.
“She came to you? Like in the flesh?”
He nodded.
Her skin prickled with gooseflesh. She clutched her elbows. “You sound surprised by that.”
In truth, she was surprised by that. How was Moira able to travel through time without the keystone to see Callum? Who exactly was this mysterious shopkeeper? She watched his face as the firelight flickered over it. There was acceptance in his expression.
“Aye,” he said slowly. He glanced toward the tapestries behind the bed. “I understand now.”
