“Me mouth is always shutwhen it needs to be.” Declan stood, stretching. “Though I have to say, this is the most interestin’ thing to happen around here in years. A mysterious lass with enemies, a laird who swears he has nay interest in her, and?—”
“Declan.”
“A vowof protection that seems awfully personal for someone ye claim is just an employee.”
“Get out of me study.”
“I’m goin’,I’m goin’.” Declan headed for the door, then paused with his hand on the frame. He looked back, and his expression had lost all traces of humor. “But before I do, I have one more question.”
“What?”
“Isthat the only reason ye want to protect her? Because ye made a vow?”
Elijah glared at him.“What other reason would there be?”
“Oh,I daenae ken. Maybe because ye’re attracted to her? Because ye like the way she challenges ye? Because for the first time in nine years, ye’ve actually shown interest in a woman who’s nae a ghost hauntin’ yer memories?”
“I’m nae interested in her.”The lie tasted bitter on Elijah’s tongue. “She’s me employee. That’s all.”
“If ye say so, me laird.”Declan’s expression said he didn’t believe a word of it.
“Out. Now.”
“Aye, aye.”Declan finally left, pulling the door closed behind him with a soft click.
Elijah was alonewith his thoughts again, and he found himself wishing Declan had stayed. At least then he’d have something to focus on besides the uncomfortable truths his friend had spoken.
Damn him. Damn him for seein’too much.
Because Declan was right,wasn’t he? Elijahwasattracted to Piper. Had been from the moment she’d run into his arms in that forest, all wild desperation and fierce determination to survive.
He’d toldhimself it was just the situation—the danger, the adrenaline, the primal satisfaction of having saved someone. But two days of riding with her soft body pressed against his had proven that theory wrong.
Two daysof feeling her curves, smelling her hair, listening to her argue with him, watching the way her gray eyes flashed when she was angry or frightened or defiant—all of it had made it abundantly clear that what he felt wasn’t situation-dependent.
It was Piper-dependent.
And that was a problem.
Elijah stood abruptlyand moved to the window, staring out at the darkening courtyard. He could see servants lighting torches, guards changing shifts, the normal evening routine of Castle McMahon playing out below.
This was his domain.His responsibility. Every person within these walls depended on him to keep them safe, to make good decisions, to be the Laird they needed.
And Piper was nowone of those people.
She’d been through hell.Been held captive, and hunted like an animal. The last thing she needed was her employer, the man who’d vowed to protect her, looking at her with desire. Wanting things from her that she had every right to refuse.
She deserves better than that.Better than ye.
The thoughtof Catherine flashed through his mind. Her dying words blamed him for failing to save her. And she’d been right, hadn’t she? Hehadfailed. Had been too slow, too distracted, too focused on the wrong threats.
If he couldn’t even protecthis own wife—a woman he’d known for years, who’d borne his children—how could he promise to keep Piper safe?
Because ye have to.Because ye made a vow. Because she has nay one else.
Elijah’s handsclenched into fists on the windowsill, the stone cold and rough beneath his palms.
He would keep Piper safe.Would honor his vow and give her the security she needed to heal and build a new life. And hewould do it without letting his inconvenient attraction get in the way.
