“I am the fool if I let you go without making amends.” He took another slow step forward, the sea wind ruffling his hair. “I would clear my name. I have my honor,lady.”
“I am not a lady – nor would I wish tobe.”
“All ladies should be treated honorably, regardless ofstation.”
Do not listen to him. He is ascoundrel.
Ophelia heard the warning in her gut, but his words slid through her. His deep voice, so soft and musical, the rolled r’s marking him as a true Highlander. And they weren’t a folk to lie. Save a few rotten-to-the-core souls amongst them, one of which she’d had the ill fortune of trusting. The memory steeled her spine, undoing the magic of hisvoice.
“You stole that midnight kiss,” she said, bristling. “I only needed you to shieldme.”
“Will you believe that was myintent?”
“To steal a kiss?” She smiled. “Yes, I believeyou.”
His dark gaze pinned her. “You know what I meant. You begged me to hide you. I didso.”
“You ravishedme.”
“Aye, well.” He smiled, a dimple flashing in his cheek. “I suppose I did – for all of a heartbeat. I’ll no’ deny I was overcome.” He shrugged, his smile deepening. “You are a desirable woman. You bewitched me. I couldn’t resist. I kissed you before I even realized what was happening. Andthen-”
“We both know what happened.” Ophelia shivered, remembering her shock and disappointment. For a crazy-mad moment that night, she’d felt bound to him. Safe, secure, and entirely swept away, as if she’d waited all her life for that one breathtaking and magicalkiss.
He’d ruinedit.
A thought came to her – one that pricked her somewhere deep inside and in ways she shouldn’t acknowledge. But Kirsty Muir was a beautiful woman, andalone.
Ophelia clasped her hands before her. “What were you doing at Kirsty’s cottage? I hadn’t heard she has a gentlemanfriend.”
“You think I am her lover?” To her annoyance, he looked amused. But then a shadow crossed his face and all levity vanished. “I am her friend, aye. Her husband and I grew up together. He might have been my brother. I look in on Kirsty now and again, making certain she has all sheneeds.”
“Oh.” Ophelia felt terrible. For some reason, she didn’t doubt him. But she’d remain wary. How a man treated the wife of a friend varied greatly from how he might behave when manly urges ‘overcame him’ as he’dsaid.
“Kirsty is a good soul.” It was all she could think to say. “Everyone in Stony Bay looks out forher.”
“So they do.” He glanced briefly at the sea, then back to her. “And you, lass? What brought youhere?”
“Mussels.” Ophelia almost didn’t tell him. But it wouldn’t hurt for him to know she wasn’t alone. “Cook swears Stony Bay mussels are the best in all Scotland, so whenever she comes here to purchase some, I join her. The carriage drops me at the head of the beach. They will be returningsoon.”
She looked over her shoulder, toward the road and the row of low, thick-walled cottages that all faced the sea. “I expect them anymoment.”
“Nae worry, lass.” He looked amused again, a disturbingly appealing smile tugging one corner of his mouth. “I will no’ be falling on you here on thesand.”
“It is true.” She felt heat inch up her throat. “We are here for themussels.”
“Is that why you were tossing a stick about?” Somehow he was right before her. Worse, he cupped her chin and lifted her face when she would have glanced aside. “Does stick-throwing improve the quality ofmussels?”
“You are making fun ofme.”
“Nae.” He shook his head. “You delight me. I am teasing you. Again” – he released her chin – “you enchanted me. I have ne’er seen a lass cavort along the water’s edge as youdid.”
“I wasn’t cavorting.” Ophelia stood straighter, wished her skin didn’t tingle from his touch. In truth, she tingled everywhere, an unstoppable excitement gathering insideher.
“I was playing with a dog,” she blurted, forgetting caution. “There is one here. He is lonely and so I visit him whenever I accompany Cook to StonyBay.”
“I did no’ see adog.”
“You wouldn’t have.” She squared her shoulders, aware she was now indeep.
