Logan looked into her green eyes, the same that had aggravated him, aroused him, annoyed him, and excited him. His hand came up to her cheek.
“I love you,” he said gruffly, feeling more exposed than ever.
To his pleasure, the tips of Faith’s mouth curved up, and she took a small step forward, leaning against his solid frame.
“You do?” she asked, her tone amused.
“Yes, although I should probably have my head examined, like Duncan in there—”
Without warning, she reached her hands up, grabbed either side of his face, and pulled him into a desperate kiss.
Suddenly, everything that had once been so important in his life ceased to matter. His nightmares, his anxieties, his mother’s abandonment, hell, and even his art collection paled compared to his desire for Faith. She was the most important person in his entire world, and he wasn’t sure how he would convince her to marry him, but he would try.
The rumbling of horse hooves galloping toward them barely distracted Logan long enough to pull away from Faith as Graham and several grooms thundered across the open field to where they stood. Jeanne and Duncan came out of the house at that moment, with Duncan wrapped in a hole-filled blanket and Jeanne pressing a dirty rag to his forearm. His other arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
“Logan!” Graham said as he and the others came to a halt. “And Faith? What are you doing here?” He glanced around fromon top of his horse, and when his gaze landed on Duncan, his mouth fell open. “Duncan Carlyle? It can’t be.”
“It is,” Jeanne said lovingly, looking up at her husband with a tear-stained face. “He’s finally come home.”
Graham looked back at Logan, who shook his head.
“Our horse thief and shooter,” he said before quickly adding, “but he is not well. He needs a doctor. Whatever damage he’s caused, I will take care of restitution personally.”
“Well, the horse is clearly right over there,” Graham nodded. “Besides shooting you and cutting a few leather straps, I don’t think he’s wanted for much of anything.”
“Good,” Logan said, tightening his own arm around Faith. “Then let’s bring him to Harris House. And call a doctor.”
Graham gave him a nod and swung off his horse. He helped Duncan to Jeanne’s steed, and once the both of them were on its back, he instructed his grooms to take Sweetness home.
“Faith,” he said after everything had been settled. He eyed her and Logan with interest. “I think you should come home too.”
She nodded and started to draw away, but Logan pulled her into a kiss before she left his arms. Faith gasped but then melted against him until he broke off, settling her away from him. He glanced at Graham who was frowning.
“Logan,” his friend said with warning.
“I’ll see her back.”
“Now, wait just one moment—”
“Please, Graham?” Faith pleaded, sinking back into Logan’s arms. “Please?”
Her brother-in-law was visibly annoyed, but after a long pause, Graham smirked and shook his head.
“An Englishwoman then, Logan?” he said with a friendly taunt.
Logan gazed back at Faith and smiled.
“Aye,” he said. “An Englishwoman, indeed.”
Chapter Twenty
Once Logan depositedFaith at her family home, he left to return home to see to Duncan. Faith knew the responsibility Logan felt for his friend, so while she wasn’t particularly pleased to be left behind, she understood that he needed to be there for Jeanne’s husband.
“I’ll send word later tonight,” he said, kissing her hand after she climbed off his horse.
Jaco seemed perfectly content to stay behind as his master left. Hope, Grace, and Aunt Belle all watched in stunned silence from the doorway as Logan rode off. Turning to face them, she saw a flood of questions just waiting to be tossed at her. Immediately upon entering Lismore Hall, they began interrogating her.
“What in the world was that about?” Grace asked.
