He sipped his whiskey, never breaking eye contact.
Ava cleared her throat. “What about Nathan’s faither?”
“What about him?” His voice was muffled by the glass as he took another sip.
“Where is he? Who is he?” Ava waved her hand to emphasize her point.
He sighed. “First, are there any rules to this game?”
“How about a question for a question?” she offered. “And ye have to answer.”
Caden nodded. “Aye, fine.”
He stared into the fire. He was not sure what had made him agree to this foolish game. All he knew was that he needed to keep talking to her.
“I daenae ken much about him.” He drained his whiskey and then rose to refill his glass.
“Is that all?” Ava rasped.
“Ye said a question for a question. Ye asked two, and I gave ye an answer.” Caden filled his glass to the brim and corked the bottle.
With the glass in one hand and the bottle in the other, he went back to his seat. Then he set the bottle on the small table between them.
Ava rolled her glazed eyes. “Fine. Ask yer question.”
“Did ye want to be a maither?”
Caden was not sure what made him ask that question. He had not even realized he had given it a proper thought.
Ava furrowed her eyebrows as if she was in deep thought. Her lips pursed in that bewitching way that made him want to kiss her.
“I never really thought about it before,” she admitted. “I guess the animals were enough for me.” She shrugged one shoulder.
“Animals?” Caden echoed.
Ava tsked at him. “One question at a time, me Laird. Now, answer mine honestly, if ye please.” She adjusted her skirts around her knees.
Caden glimpsed a sliver of bare skin and swallowed thickly.
What are ye? A dog? Pull yerself together, Caden. She’s only yer wife.
He inhaled deeply through his nose, then let out a sigh. He decided it was easier to just tell her everything he knew. She was like a mother to Nathan now anyway; she deserved to know.
“Me sister Joanna protected her lover. One day, she came to Faither, Finlay, and me and said that she was with child. We were astounded. We had nay knowledge of her courting anyone, let alone being in love. Faither demanded to ken who her lover was so he would force him to marry her, but she never said a word. She took that secret to her grave.”
Ava stared contemplatively into the fire. He could tell she had more questions and expected her to ask them. Instead, she said, “Yer turn, me Laird.”
“I told ye to call me Caden,” he grumbled, not understanding why she could not follow his simple, very clear orders.
“Ye did, aye.” not
“Then why daenae ye do it?” he demanded.
“Because it makes ye angry.Yemake me angry, so now we’re even.” She smirked.
His nostrils flared.
“Me turn.” She cocked her head. “Didnae ye ever want to choose yer wife?”
