“I don’t rail and yell,” he said, slightly offended.
She laughed, and he was glad to see that he could make her laugh even though his thoughts were heavy and there was grief in her eyes.
“So you won’t cease your activities,” he said.
“I will no’.”
“I worry about you.”
“No need. What will happen will happen.”
“I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“We are responsible for our own actions in this life.”
He felt drained, hollowed out. He couldn’t imagine how Cait must feel.
She wiped at her eyes and stood to shake out her skirts. “I’m sure ye have plenty to do besides yammering away with me.”
“There’s nowhere I want to be more,” he said, not thinking about his words, just saying what he felt, because what had Cait said? That they were responsible for their own actions in this life? He’d always been responsible, always weighing his words, his actions, his expressions. He never did anything without thinking through the consequences. But right now, right here, he didn’t want to think about anything except the warm sun on his face and the peacefulness of Cait’s barn.
There was something to be said for living so far from everyone else.
Cait sat back down beside him. “I can’t remember the last time I sat outside and just enjoyed the weather.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever sat outside for the pure enjoyment.”
“That’s sad.”
“It is.”
They fell into a comfortable silence. Iain’s eyes grew heavy, and he let them close while he listened to the birds and the slight breeze that rustled through the leaves of the trees.
“I want to make love to you,” he said.
Chapter 16
Cait wasn’t as shocked as she should have been by Iain’s declaration that he wanted to make love to her. Probably because she wanted to make love to him. Their conversation that had started in anger had ended in deep confidences. That didn’t mean they would make love, but…
“I have eight men hiding in my cellar,” she said, clinging to her last thread of sanity.
He groaned. “I forgot about that.”
“How could ye forget? It’s the reason ye’re here.”
“Not theonlyreason.” He grinned and she laughed.
“No fibbing, Iain Campbell. Ye came here to demand and command.”
“It might have started out that way.”
Her smile faded. “I want to make love to ye, too,” she whispered, finding the admission difficult. She had a fleeting thought of John. Funny, but she’d never thought overmuch of John when she’d been sleeping with Cormac.
“Please don’t tell me you’re jesting.” Iain’s voice sounded strangled.
“No jest. But I do have a houseful of men, and I’ll no’ make love while they’re in my home.”
“When do they leave?”
