Ava looked up at them and whispered loudly, “I daenae think the Laird likes to chase, Nathan.”
Nathan nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling with glee.
Caden was surprised to see how well the boy had taken to her. Apparently, no man in their family stood a chance against her.
Not when she laughed so freely, teased so mischievously. His eyes slipped on her lips for a moment. That perfect grin was still there.
“Aye, I prefer to hunt.” He licked his lips.
The blush that bloomed in her cheeks sent his own blood running. He tried really hard not to think what other words or activities would make her blush again like so.
“Ye’ll never catch us, me Laird!” She teased. .
“I’m going to put the horses away before it snows.” Finlay winked at him.
Caden rolled his eyes at his brother’s retreating figure. Then, he sat next to Nathan and nudged his shoulder. “I’ll never catch me nephew, that’s for sure. He’s a very fast young man.”
Nathan clapped excitedly, before toddling over to the blooming yellow roses.
“Do ye think ye’ll catch me, then?” Ava challenged.
Caden looked into her eyes, green as grass and glinting with mischief.
“I think ye’ll beg me to, lassie,” he whispered, so only she could hear.
Her blush deepened.
At that moment, a snowflake fell on her lashes. She blinked it away and they both looked up to see Nathan catching snowflakes in his palm. He squealed with delight and held it out for them to see.
“That’s lovely, lad.” Caden smiled proudly.
The boy’s eyes lit up at the praise.
Ava smiled at them both. “All right, little man.” She picked him up and carried him toward the castle. “We daenae have warm clothes on, so we had better go inside. Since it’s the first snow for this year in the Highlands, we must be careful nae to catch a cold.”
Little tears started spilling from Nathan’s eyes as he pointed to the garden.
“Hush now, wee lad, there is nay need for tears!” Ava wiped his eyes and held him tight. Caden followed behind. “We’ll comeout and play tomorrow. We might even have enough snow for a snowball fight! But tonight, there’s something else we need to do!”
Nathan’s cries slowly subsided, before he raised a quizzical eyebrow, as if to say,What’s that?
“We must sleep to let the snow fairies work their magic! They must nae be disturbed!”
Ava carried him through the castle doors and up the stairs to his room. The boy smiled softly at her and rested his head on her shoulder.
Her heart swelled. She was not sure when she had started caring so much for the little lad, but she felt a deep-seated need to protect him.
Suddenly, Caden’s voice drifted up from downstairs. “I expect ye here after ye put him to bed, me Lady.”
CHAPTER 8
Ava could feelthe boy’s steady breath brush her shoulder as she made her way to his room. As soon as she stepped inside, she handed him to his nursemaid.
“Thank ye, Nancy. Please kiss him goodnight for me,” she murmured.
“Aye, me Lady.” The nursemaid smiled, cradling the boy.
Nathan let out a soft snore, before the door closed.
