She worriedly looked about, wondering if anyone was listening to their banter. Sure enough, several curious bystanders had stopped to gawk at them. “Why are they staring?”
He shrugged. “Do ye not know?”
“I wouldna have asked if I did.”
He frowned at her sharp response. But he deserved it after speaking down to her before.
“I could spot ye a mile away with that crown of red curls on yer head.”
“My hair? Is it offensive to ye?” She combed her fingers through its length.
“Some say red is the color of the devil.”
She couldn’t contain her laughter. “Now ye sound like me father. What else did he have to say?”
“That ye were a hellion, even a harlot.”
Without thinking, she gave him a shove. Though the beast of a man hardly budged. “Doona call me that, ever.”
“Not my words, lass. And ye did ask.”
“Did yer mam never teach ye to spare someone’s feelings?”
Adam took a step back from her and rubbed his chin, assessing her carefully—perhaps a spark of admiration in his eyes. “I can promise ye one thing. To always tell ye the truth.”
She considered his words, finding no fault in them. His tendency to speak so comfortably infuriated her beyond measure. “Ye canna decide me fate with so little consideration. I may be a stranger here, but I have feelings, ye oversized lout.”
He laughed. “Ye find me oversized?”
She rolled her eyes.Did all men think the same way when it came to their man parts?She had heard her father’s servants jesting about how well-endowed they were, how women swooned over them. So she understood Adam’s crude joke immediately. “No’ in the way ye think.”
“And what would that be, lass?”
Her gaze traveled up and down his muscular form. She found herself distracted by his rugged features. She sighed, then asked, “What else did me father say about me?”
Adam leaned closer to her. “That ye are suspected of witchcraft—the blackest sort of magic.”
She threw her arms up in frustration. “Then why would ye accept me here?” Was the man teasing her for no other reason than to entertain himself? If so, she found it cruel.
“I told ye, to pay a debt.”
“Ye’d risk yer clan’s wellbeing on a suspected witch? With everything King James is doing in North Berwick? What would stop him from seeking me out here? Accusing ye of harboring a witch and destroying everything ye hold dear?”
His green eyes widened in surprise. “Mo chreach-sa thainig.” My ruination has come. “In the form of a redheaded, plain-faced harlot.” Adam laughed so hard he folded over and held his sides. “’Twas what yer sire wrote about ye. I suppose ye are right about perceived truth, lass. He couldna be more wrong about ye.”
When he straightened back up, he was still grinning like a fool. She couldn’t remember having ever met a more pleasing man when it came to looks. But his attitude… “Ye can dress a jackass in royal robes, but he’s still a beast.”
“Now ye call me a beast, lass.” He leaned down so close, she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. “I’m starting to think ye like me.” Adam laughed again.
“I am happy ye found something to make ye simper at my expense.” Her hands tightened into fists she wanted to use on him. But violence wasn’t her way. ’Twas the weapon of choice for men.
“I am done arguing, lass. Remember what I said before? The choice is yers.”
Chapter Two
Apparently not wanting to give the gathering crowd a reason to gossip more about her, the supposed hellion raised her head proudly and started walking in the direction he had pointed.
“I can walk on me own, thank ye.”
