Page 3 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"Wait, wait! Please stop. Isnae that… a little extreme?"
Laird Cullen began to nod his head emphatically, still pulling against the man's vice-like grip on his wrist.
"I daenae think so," the man with the eyepatch said, his intense gaze holding hers. "I daenae like it when they touch what's mine… me love.
2
Daniel felt the corners of his lips quirk up as he saw the shock on the lass's face. He was even a little pleased with himself. After all, she had shocked him with her public declaration. But he couldn't spend too much time smiling at the beautiful girl's astonishment. Not when he was seriously contemplating chopping the old man's hand off.
"Do ye ken what I hate?" Daniel asked, squeezing the man's wrist even tighter. He knew he was causing the man pain, but he also knew how to hold back just enough that he wouldn't break any bones.
"What is it, Me Laird?" the old man sputtered, his voice little more than a whine.
"I hate men who daenae respect women. And I hate men who force their unwanted attention on them."
The old man glanced over at the girl, and Daniel was pleased to see her scowling back at him. Clearly, Daniel had voiced the words she wished she could speak.
But the old man only looked confused and then angry.
"Unwanted attention?" he asked, finding his voice. "The lass should be pleased to speak with me. It isnae me fault she is too daft to recognize who I am."
The words sent a surge of anger through Daniel, and he raised his sword over his head, ready to chop the man's hand off, just as he had promised. The girl's hand was on his arm again, but anything she said to him was muffled by the scream of a woman next to them. Others in the crowd began to yell or push each other away.
"What is the meaning of this?" a voice boomed across the room, bringing everything to a halt.
The music that had been playing in the background suddenly stopped as the musicians heard the commotion. Daniel looked over to see their host, Alexander, storming toward him.
"Put down yer sword, Sir," Alexander commanded.
The order made Daniel want to swing his sword at him.
"Alex," the lass said, jumping forward before Daniel could respond. "He is only protecting me."
"Enough, Lana," Alexander boomed, not even looking at her. "This doesnae concern ye."
It was at this moment that Daniel finally understood who he was dealing with. The girl who had run to him, seeking protection, was Alexander's sister. And he had found himself right in the middle of his host's family business—an unenviable position.
For a man who wanted to sink into the background of this wedding, Daniel was less than thrilled to be thrust into the center of attention.
"Let him go," Alexander growled, his face hard and dark as he prepared to face off against him, Laird-to-Laird.
But it wasn't any threat from Alexander that made Daniel finally release Laird Cullen. Instead, it was the way Lana's face flushed red as all eyes in the room focused on her. He couldn't bear to see her so embarrassed after the old man had already humiliated her.
Daniel released the man with a shove, forcing him backward so a few onlookers had to catch him before he fell to the ground.
The old man scowled in Daniel's direction as he rubbed his wrist.
"Apologies, Laird Cullen," Alexander offered. "I daenae condone such behavior from the guests I invite into me castle."
His words were pointed, clearly a dig at Daniel.
"It was a misunderstanding, Alex."
The girl, who Daniel now knew as Lana, stepped forward to explain things to her brother, but Alexander wasn't listening. Instead, he was focused on the guests still staring at their small group.
Alexander turned away to catch the eyes of the musicians. With a wave of his hand, he told them to resume playing, and after a choppy start, they were soon playing an upbeat song that pulled guests back onto the dance floor. Before long, the hum of music and voices filled the hall again.
"It is time for ye to leave, Sir," Alexander said, returning his attention to Daniel.
