Her irritation grew quickly again when she realized he was laughing at the way she was acting. “I can entertain myself, thank you very much. I am a grown woman, after all.”
“Aye, that ye are.” He lowered his voice as he took a step toward her. “Perhaps we can finish yer training once me business with the other laird has been settled,” he said in a low voice that only she could hear.
“I may just surprise you with a few moves of my own,” she whispered back before checking to see that all of the servants had left them alone.
His lips curled into a smile as he placed his forefinger under her chin and tilted her face toward his until their lips were almost touching.
Parting her lips slightly so that her breath could escape, she waited in anticipation for the kiss as her heart began to pound in her chest. There was something incredibly attractive in the way he held her gaze and confidently asserted his dominance over her. She never thought she’d be comfortable with a man as confident as Daniel, yet their relationship was proving to be exciting for her.
“I’ll take that as a challenge for when I get back,” he growled against her lips as their bodies drew closer.
Melissa could feel the tension changing between them as their bodies softened and melted into one another. His eyes suddenly took on a tender quality that she’d never seen before.
“I want ye to be safe until I return,” he whispered, his lips lightly brushing against hers. He gently gripped her forearms. “Dinnae get yerself into any trouble.”
“I highly doubt there will any trouble when you aren’t around,” she shot back in a sultry tone. “I only ever get into trouble when you are in the vicinity.” She parted her lips even further and waited for him to respond as his hot breath mingled with hers.
“I beg yer pardon, Me Laird.” Ewan coughed into his fist.
“What is it, man?” Daniel barked at him as Melissa jumped back, feeling guilty for displaying so much affection and passion in the open, where everyone could see what they were doing.
“Everything is ready an’ packed,” Ewan said as he winced away from him. “Laird Ramsay is already waiting for ye, Me Laird,” he said respectfully as tiny beads of perspiration began to form on his brow.
“Very well.” Daniel’s mannerisms changed back to the harsh demeanor that he seemed to use on everyone else. “I’ll be back soon.” He looked into Melissa’s eyes as if he wanted to continue what they had started.
“I’ll be waiting for you here,” she said and attempted a smile to lighten the mood. His advances on her had wiped the pout off her face and made her realize that he needed to go.
“Aye.” Daniel returned her smile and winked before walking past Ewan and climbing into the carriage.
Melissa noticed how Ewan seemed to squirrel away whenever Daniel passed by or paid him the slightest bit of attention. She hadn’t spent time with the man or even said more than a ‘good day’ and ‘goodbye’ to him, but there was something about his oily demeanor that made her skin crawl. His unkempt beard and messy hair looked as if they hadn’t been washed in quite a few days.
The sound of horses’ hooves beating on the gravel drew her attention back to the carriage as it jolted forward and began its journey down the winding road that led away from the castle.
Heaving a heavy sigh, she watched the man she loved leave her behind as she warred with her conflicted feelings and the fact that she did not know if he loved her back. His possessive nature and the strong passion he displayed toward her made her think that it was a possibility, but he was a notorious rake.
“Oh!” She turned around, startled by the smiling face of Ewan McCollin. “Was there something you needed?” she asked when he continued to smile at her with a creepy look in his eyes that set her nerves on edge.
“Just wondering if ye needed me assistance for anything, Me Lady.” Ewan gave her a dashing smile with his crooked teeth, which had the opposite effect than what she assumed he had intended.
“No…” she said hesitantly as she wondered what the strange man had in mind. She hadn’t really thought much of him on the day they had met in the orchards, and she hadn’t had the occasion to chat with him since. “I think I am all set for now,” she added as she took a step forward with the intention of leaving.
“It’s just…” He quickly moved in front of her, blocking her way. “It’s just that the Laird has given me strict instructions to look out for yer well-being, Me Lady. I am therefore at yer service should ye need anything at all.”
Melissa found it strange that Daniel would have asked the man to look out for her when he hadn’t seemed to like him at all. “Like I said, I think I am all set for now,” she reiterated and took another step forward in an attempt to get her point across.
“Were ye nae intending on paying yer sister a visit?” He matched her step and blocked her path once again. “Because if ye were, I think I should accompany ye on yer ride, in case anything was to happen to ye along the way. It’s best to have a man at yer side in the highlands,” he explained with a wink that made her stomach churn.
Melissa realized for the first time that his mustache boasted a variety of crumbs, whether they were there from breakfast or a few days prior, she didn’t know. All she knew was that she wanted to get as far away from the man as possible.
“I think I’ll actually go and pay Beitris a visit,” she said in a firm tone, hoping to convey her intentions. “Lady Ramsay’s castle is a bit far. I think I’ll leave that visit for tomorrow,” she finished and began to walk in the direction of the cottage, not giving him another chance to block her way.
She winced inside when she heard his hurried footsteps coming up from behind.
“Surely you do not need to accompany me to the healer’s cottage,” she almost snapped when he caught up to her.
“Nae, Me Lady,” he responded quickly, almost panting from the short sprint he had done to catch up. “I feel it is part of me duty to inform ye that Beitris isnae in her cottage today.”
“Where is she, then?” She stopped and looked him in the eye, feeling her annoyance growing exponentially with the curious man.
