As it turned out, she was determined not to marry the man she was betrothed to and had used Jamie to ruin her reputation.
When he’d returned to Dundale, he’d made a silent vow he would never allow himself to fall for the charms of another woman.
And yet, here he was, vexed by the beautiful Brianna Sinclair.
Cursed by the curve of her full lips.
Charmed by her sweet kisses.
Bewitched by her soft skin.
Intoxicated by her sweet scent.
Most of all, he was enchanted by her impulsiveness and her strong sense of individuality. She knew her own mind. She knew what she wanted, even if she weren’t able to fully obtain it.
And yet, she was vulnerable. Absent-minded when it came to keeping up with her piece of the keystone, something that endeared her to him more than he wanted to acknowledge.
He didn’t want to admit those amorous feelings for her were starting to creep their way into his heart. He had fallen for her long before she’d stepped out of the tapestry as a flesh and blood woman.
“Hi, Jamie.”
Her voice startled him out of his thoughts. He stood straight and looked out over the stall wall.
There she was, standing inside the stable doorway as though he’d conjured her by thinking about her. She clasped her hands in front of her, her gaze fixed on him and color high in her cheeks. She wore no cloak and, he could tell, she tried hard not to shiver in the cool afternoon wind. Her hair was long and loose, freshly washed, abouther face. She tucked a wayward lock behind her ear, gazing at him with those adoring eyes. He loved the way she looked at him.
He dropped the shovel he was using to muck the stall and reached for a rag to wipe the sweat from his brow. He hadn’t noticed the cool wind so much since he started working in the stable. He tossed aside the rag and walked toward her, the pain in his leg throbbing. He tried hard not to limp, but it was hard to ignore the discomfort radiating outward from his healed calf.
“Hello, lass.”
He didn’t want to show her how happy he was to see her. It took some effort to keep his face impassive. But inside, joy ignited through his chest, spreading warmth. He managed to stop the grin that wanted to erupt.
“Am I interrupting?” she asked.
“Och, no’ at all. Ye look refreshed. Was yer bath satisfactory then?”
Refreshed really wasn’t the right word. She looked relieved. Almost happy. When he paused near her, she hooked her arm in his and turned toward the door.
“It was great. Thank you for doing that for me.” She hesitated a moment, as if there were something more on her mind. “Will you walk with me?”
“Aye.”
As they stepped out into the pale afternoon sunshine coupled with the brisk north wind, he noticed the cold as it hit his sweaty skin. But even that wasn’t enough to dampen his happiness at having her by his side. His heartbeat quickened. His pulse raced. And he knew, in that moment, that he would do anything for her. He would fight for her. He would die for her.
Such a strange, instant reaction to this woman whom he hardly knew and yet it seemed he’d waited for her his entire, disreputable life.
“Are ye well, lass?”
They took long, slow steps across the greenway. Hetried to ignore his aching leg. He let her set the pace as she clutched his arm close to her. He suspected her slow steps were because she was aware of his limp and didn’t want to push him.
“Yes, better than I have been.”
“Ye seem to be.” On impulse, he placed his hand on her still bandaged one.
“I think my sisters and I have finally reconciled,” she said.
“Ah, I’m glad to hear it. I ken that troubled ye.”
She halted, turning to him, pressing her chilled body against him. On impulse, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She snuggled closer.
