“I was being hard on ye.”
“But ye were right. I kept forgetting to behave like a boy. I think...” She pulled farther away creating a space between their bodies. “I think even then I wanted ye to see me as a woman.”
“Aye, I could see ye just fine.”
Niall cleared his throat. Sean pulled back, his face flushing with heat. He should not have given in to foolish desires. It only made it worse. Thomasina touched her finger to her lips, avoiding her brother’s eyes.
Niall glanced between the two, a hard expression. “I believe we have some things to discuss.”
Thomasina faced her brother, her hand on her hip. “Dunna be taking it out on him. I wanted him to kiss me. Imadehim kiss me.”
The four stood silently then Lachlann started to laugh. Niall quickly joined in and then Sean.
Thomasina’s jaw dropped. “Why are ye laughing?”
“A truly ridiculous thing to say,” Niall said.
“Ye could not make him kiss ye if ye tried.”
She gave an exasperated sigh then walked as far as the horses. “Ye’re all brainsick.”
“Tommy and I will see to the horses.” Lachlann patted Niall’s shoulder and added in a quiet voice. “Ye two talk.”
Reality gripped Sean’s throat. He could not swallow. “We were saying our goodbyes. I’m sorry I let it happen. I ken ’tis not right with her being intended for another.”
“I think we need to talk about that.”
Sean faced the stream, stiff backed. “Yea.”
“She needs to be married.”
“Yea. And what do ye need me to do?” He faced Niall.
“Marry the lass.”
Sean’s chest tightened at the words. “I thought I was not up to yer choosing.”
He could hear the bitterness in his own voice.
“She is in love with ye.”
“It is what is best for her that is important.”
Niall shook his head, a look of disbelief etched across his face. “Do ye hear yerself?”
“Yea. I hear myself fine. I ken ye need to do what is best for the clan and it will be what is best for her.”
“She does not care about the clan. I am the one who cares about the clan. Thomasina? She cares about ye.”
Sean glanced toward her, his voice quiet. “And I care about her.” He turned his intense gaze on Thomasina’s brother. “I canna love her only part way, just enough to get her away from yer father. I need to love her all the way. I need her to go back with me to Eire. I need her by my side. Can ye give her up to me?”
Niall shifted his jaw, perhaps struggling with emotions. “I love my sister. I have looked out for her my whole life. Lachlann, Aldred, and I. We protected her always. I would not let her go with anyone who would offer any less. Yea. I can give her to ye, Sean.”
The spark leapt into a flame. “I will protect her with my life.”
“I ken ye will,” Niall smirked. “It is best for her. Ye can protect her now. She’s vulnerable otherwise. As ’tis now, my father and O’Reilly could take her.”
Sean’s jaw clenched. “She will come willingly to me as my wife or I’ll not marry her. I care too much for her to take her against her will because ye’ve arranged it for her.”
