Alex didn’t know what to believe. “What do you get out of this, Campbell?”
He shrugged. “It makes Meg happy.”
Jealousy tore like acid through his chest.
“Please, Alex—” Meg clutched his arm, her fingers singeing his skin. “Just take precautions.”
He would. They would have to change their plans. Still, he couldn’t believe she’d put herself in danger for him. Nor did it soften his anger.
Alex turned his anger back to Jamie. “I can’t believe you allowed her to come here.”
The look Jamie gave him returned Alex’s anger in kind. “It wasn’t my idea, but Meg was right, there wasn’t time for anything else. You should be thanking her. Were it not for Meg, I might not have been persuaded to tell what I know.”
Alex couldn’t breathe. His chest constricted.Persuaded.
“Don’t be angry with Jamie. If you are going to be angry with anyone, have it be me alone.”
He was. How could she forget what had happened between them? It was what he’d wanted, but Alex didn’t think it would be so fast. He couldn’t stand here listening to the two of them together any longer. “Don’t you worry about that, my wee crusader.” He pulled her toward the copse of trees that hid their temporary encampment. “I’ve more than enough anger to go around.”
He turned to Neil. “Don’t let Campbell out of your sight.”
“Wait!” Jamie shouted. “Where are you taking her?” He made a move to stop him, but Neil held him back.
“I’m just doing what the lady requested.” Alex laughed, a harsh sound devoid of amusement. “I’m going to vent my considerable anger. On her, alone.”
Chapter 21
Well, that didn’t sound promising.This was not going the way she’d planned at all. Not one thanks. Not one tiny indication that he was glad to see her. Meg had thought he’d at least be appreciative of her information, if not pleased. Instead, he was stiff and unyielding and angrier than she’d ever seen him.
Angrier than he had a right to be. It didn’t make sense.
When they’d trampled deep into the trees, well away from the men on the beach, Meg stopped short and shook off his hold on her arm. “I don’t understand. Why are you so angry? I was only trying to help.”
He looked at her as if she were daft and took a few deep breaths, obviously trying to control himself. “Because every minute that you are here, you are in grave danger.”
The flatness in his voice belied any thought that he might be concerned for her. Meg’s emotions felt frayed and precariously close the surface. “Why do you care?” she asked thickly. “I heard what you said to Lord Huntly. You don’t need to pretend concern.”
Nothing. No reaction. No denial. He couldn’t even look at her. God, it hurt.
“This is no place for a woman. What I don’t understand is why your father didn’t just send a messenger? I can’t believe he’d—”
Unconsciously, she bit her lip; it gave her away.
“Of course,” he said, far more evenly than she would have thought possible given the present state of his temper. “Your father doesn’t know you’re here. How could you just up and leave like that, Meg?”
“I wouldn’t trust something this important to a messenger. And I told my mother,” she said defensively. “She knows I’m here.”
“But it’s your father who is going to strangle you when he finds out.” He paused and said ominously, “If I don’t do it for him.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Her flippancy acted like a trigger. Alex pulled her roughly into his arms, crushing her against his chest. Meg felt the familiar rush of heat, the slow melting, the complete surrender of her body to his.
“Don’t push me, Meg,” he warned, his mouth achingly close to hers. “Not this time. You shouldn’t have come here.” His lips were white with anger, and the dark edge of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. But Meg didn’t care. It might be reckless, but she liked making him lose control. At least it made her feel that he wasn’t completely indifferent to her.
Her head fell back as she studied his face, trying to gauge the danger. If the black expression was any indication, it was considerable. Every inch of his incredibly hard body pressed against hers, ready to explode. Anger, frustration, and undeniable attraction sizzled between them.
All she wanted to do was lean up and kiss him, force him to acknowledge what was between them. A sign. Anything to show that she was not alone in her feelings. But she knew that was probably the furthest thing from his mind. Meg had begun to accept the truth—she had made a mistake in coming here.
