Quade gaped at her. “Nay, Brenna. I have never lied to you.”
“Lady Brenna to you, Ramsay,” Alex barked.
“Aye, Lady Brenna. But nay. I wasnae lying to you. I meant every word I said. Could we nae discuss this somewhere else, Lady Brenna?”
“Nay, now you are insulting me. What is so wrong with me that you willnae marry me?” Brenna’s throat constricted on her, but she couldn’t stop. “You were going to kiss and run? I have heard of men like you. I thought you had feelings for me.” She swung out in frustration and slapped his arm. “How could you?” Tears threatened to fall, but she would not give him the satisfaction. She should have stayed away from him. Never again would she fall prey to a lad’s kisses, no matter how they made her feel.
“Stop, will you no’? You ken I cannae marry you. We have discussed this.” He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
“You also said it was a mistake when you kissed me before and it wouldnae happen again. But now it has happened again. What is that supposed to mean? You do no’ want me at all? Or do you?” She dared him to deny her again to her face.
Hellfire, she was in a room full of men, each of them trying to run her life. Quade said he wanted her with his actions, but then he insulted her by denying her brother’s direct order. What in blazes did he mean? Was he using her? Had he no feelings? When she was in his arms, he acted as if he couldn’t get enough of her, but now he could hardly look at her. This lad was making her absolutely daft.
And Alex? Alex just wanted to order everyone about. Wait until she informed Madeline how miserable he was when he was away from her. There was no reasoning with any of the men in this chamber. She wasn’t daft, they were. She glanced at her brothers again and narrowed her eyes when she saw that Brodie had finally broken out into a grin. She promptly walked over and slapped his arm. “And that’s for laughing. How dare you laugh at me when they are all trying to tell me what to do! You were there when Mama said I was to have a say when it came to marriage.”
She squared off with Alex. “And I am going to have my say. He does no’ want me and I do no’ want him. This was a big mistake and I can promise you, without a doubt, that it will never happen again. You will never see me kiss Quade Ramsay again.”
Brenna marched in a circle with her hands on her hips. She had to get out, that was the only solution. She had to leave while she still had an ounce of her mind left. Finally stopping in the middle of the room, she glared at all of them before whispering, “I will no’ marry Quade Ramsay and you cannae force me, Alex. And neither can you, Quade Ramsay. I want you out of my life.”
“I want to go home. Now.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
And later, a wedding and a reception. Alex, the gruff chieftain…
Brenna ate until she was stuffed. Logan gave her more than she could manage. The minstrels and musicians began their songs, hoping to get the crowd dancing.
A loud voice interrupted them as a lad made his way over to Alex Grant. “Laird, I would like permission to dance with your youngest sister.” The young lad stared at his toes as he stood in front of Alex Grant.
“Nay!” Alex’s bellow shook the rafters and the lad scurried away with a sheepish glance at Jennie.
“Alex, how can I enjoy myself if you bark at everyone?” Jennie was close to tears as she looked back and forth between him and her other brothers, Robbie and Brodie. “There must be someone I can dance with besides my own brothers. I am no’ a bairn anymore.”
Brenna elbowed Quade at the dais to be sure he was watching the show her brother was putting on for all to see.
“Your brother is jesting?” Quade peered at her.
“Nay, he loves to scare off all the lads. He did the same for me. No one dared to come near me.”
He kissed her cheek. “Och, I will be sure and thank him. Otherwise, you may have swooned for another and I want you for myself.”
She swatted his arm affectionately. “I was never interested in another. It does not mean he has to spoil the special night for her. ‘Tis her only sister’s wedding.” She squeezed his hand before yelling at her brother. “Alex!”
Alex made his way over to her with narrowed eyes. “’Tis only due to your injury and your wedding that I answer your beck and call.”
Madeline followed her husband and took the seat beside Brenna’s. “Alex, love, you need to ease up and allow your sister to dance a wee bit. There must be someone she could dance with this night.”
Alex scanned the room. “Nay, ‘tis no one.”
Jennie’s face fell and her arms dropped to her sides, her lids blinking back tears.
“There is one solution I can propose. Why do you not dance with your sister?” Madeline gave her husband her sweetest smile.
Brenna stifled her laughter as she glanced at her husband, who choked on his ale. Logan stood a few steps away grinning, and Brenna’s other brothers were laughing so hard they started to choke. Avelina came over when she noticed the sudden family grouping.
“’Tis impossible, wife, and you ken that. I do no’ dance.”
“Alex, I know it is not your favorite thing to do, but you are quite capable. Sorry, Jennie, but if he dances, it will be with me.” Maddie smiled at her husband. “Besides, if I carry a wee lass and we dance, it will be like rocking her to sleep.” Brenna noticed how quickly he softened his demeanor. Apparently, his feelings for his wee wife had not diminished one bit.
