Page 48 of A Highland Bride Disciplined
He narrowed his eyes. “I daenae ken what ye want from me.”
Scarlett stepped in. “I want honesty. Aye? I want some sort of sign that ye care. Even a little.”
Kian’s throat worked. “I do.”
“Then act like it.”
“What about the last few days has given ye any indication that I daenae care about ye?”
“Well ye’ve a strange way of showin’ it anyway.”
They were toe-to-toe again, staring, glaring, daring the other to flinch.
Kian’s eyes dropped once more to her lips.Damnit, I have to stop doing that.
Before he could say something regrettable, or far too honest, he took a step back and said instead, “Effie will be watching the bairn tonight.”
Scarlett blinked. “What?”
He straightened. “Yer maid. I’ve arranged for her to take Elise for a few hours.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because ye’ll be joinin’ me for dinner.”
Her hands went to her hips. “Will I?”
“Aye.”
“And what if I refuse?”
He gave her a look that should’ve been insufferable but somehow still made her heart lurch. “Then I’ll just come to yer room and haul ye there meself.”
She arched a brow. “Romantic.”
“Scarlett,” he said firmly. “Eat with me.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but something stopped her. And the chaos of emotions that crossed her brow made his groin tighten. He wished that she would just turn her brain off for once, and let him —
“Fine,” she said plainly
Kian waited only a moment before he nodded, satisfied. “Good.”
“Wear somethin’ less like yer attendin’ a funeral,” she added, turning on her heel.
“And ye can try nae to throw cutlery at me.”
“Nay promises.”
She walked off with a swirl of skirts and righteous fury, and Kian stood there in the path, watching her go.
He should’ve felt triumphant. Victorious.
Instead, all he could think was,This dinner’s goin’ to kill me.
9
Scarlett hadn’t realized how late it had gotten.
