Page 43 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
He had no idea why he had agreed to her idea. His only explanation was his own stubbornness. That, and a refusal toacknowledge that he was starting to care for the woman. He had planned to set her straight once they arrived home, tell her in no uncertain terms that he would be theonlyman to ever touch her, but there hadn't been time.
When Lana and Daniel returned to the castle, they found that her siblings and their children had all arrived in their absence. Daniel had spent the entirety of dinner trying to remember all of their names as Lana bounced from seat to seat, connecting with every one of them. He was struck by how comfortable she was with her family and how much joy it brought her to have them under one roof.
Perhaps this is what happens when ye grow up with love.
But Daniel didn't have time to dwell on that thought. His castle became a cacophony of noise and activity as her family jumped into the wedding preparations. Her sister, Ciara, and sister-in-law, Olivia, chatted with her long into the night about decorations and color palettes. Meanwhile, the men spent the evening sizing Daniel up and making veiled threats if he were ever to hurt her. As for Cameron, he tried to out-drink all of them, only making a fool of himself in the process.
"I'm nae sure how ye are standing this morning," Daniel mused, glancing at his brother. "Are ye feeling alright?"
"A bit of a headache." Cameron smirked. "But nothin' a drink willnae fix."
Cameron walked over to the seating area of the chambers and helped himself to his brother's whiskey. Skye's kitten was at his feet, gently swatting at a piece of string he held out.
"Do ye want one?" he asked.
"Nay," Daniel said, watching the kitten flip onto her back. "Believe it or nae, it's too early. Even for me."
Cameron made his way to his brother's side, and the kitten bounded after him.
"When did ye become the cat sitter?" Daniel asked. "Shouldnae that animal be in the barn?"
"Her name is Rosebud," Cameron corrected, as if the kitten were royalty. "And we'll thank ye to address her as such. Skye asked me to watch her while she showed Lana the gardens."
Daniel rolled his eye at his brother as he stepped back to the window. He glanced outside to see Lana and Skye picking flowers from the garden. Lana chose white rose buds while Skye held a beautiful bouquet of blue flowers.
"They're picking those to wear later at the wedding," Daniel observed.
Once again, he noted the smile across his daughter's face and the admiring look she gave to Lana as they bent over the plants.
"Smart girls," Cameron said as he rejoined him.
What should have been a comforting image only made dread curl in Daniel's gut as he watched them. He couldn't shake the sense of doom that had settled over him.
"Are ye alright?" Cameron asked, sipping his drink with a satisfied smack of his lips. "I ken ye daenae like strangers in the castle, but ye're about to have a lot more of them. Are ye sure ye're ready for this wedding?"
"It's nae that," Daniel sighed.
"Then what? Daenae tell me ye're nervous about yer wedding night?"
"Enough, Cam." Daniel wasn't in the mood for his brother's teasing. "For once in yer life, can ye please try to be serious about something?"
He stormed away from the window before dropping down into a chair. He stared into the empty fireplace, wondering if he should have taken Cameron up on that drink, after all.
"Sorry, Dan," Cameron said as he crossed to his brother. "Sometimes I daenae ken when to hold me tongue. What's botherin' ye?"
He sat down and waited for Daniel to speak.
Daniel heaved out a loud sigh. "It's what happened in the tavern. The fight with Clan Cullen."
"Aye," Cameron said. "I've been thinking about that too."
Ever since setting eyes on Alexander, Daniel had been thinking about that fateful night. He found himself running through all his interactions with Flynn MacDonald, obsessing over every word shared and every scowl on the man's angry, flushed face.
"Do ye think I should warn Alexander?" he asked.
Cameron gave him a surprised look, as if the thought had never occurred to him. "Alexander?" he echoed. "What does he have to do with it?"
"Laird Cullen is angry with me for embarrassing him at that wedding," Daniel explained. "It may be that he's also upset with Alexander. And, for that matter, Lana."
