A rush of emotions surged within her, and she hastily looked away, attempting to conceal her newfound infatuation. The stranger’s gaze lingered for a moment, an enigmatic smileplaying on his lips, and Keira found her heart stirring beyond comprehension.
“Laird MacCurtney,” Jasper finally spoke, naming the enigmatic man who had captured Keira’s interest. “May I introduce me lovely wife Joan, and her two friends, Lady MacKinnon and Lady Keira Webster.”
He paused for a moment, then continued. “Ladies, this is me newest ally, Raphael Anderson, Laird MacCurtney. He is to be our guest for this evenin’, in honor of our newly created alliance.”
Keira’s heart fluttered as she took in the sight of this Scottish gentleman. His eyes were a striking shade of azure, reminiscent of the vast Scottish skies, sparkling with a hint of mischief and intelligence. His chiseled features, adorned with a well-groomed beard, exuded an air of rugged charm that perfectly complemented his heritage.
After her friends had already done so, Keira finally summoned the courage to extend her hand, greeting Laird MacCurtney with a warm smile. As their hands met, a rush of tingles shot through her body, an electrifying sensation that left her momentarily breathless.
What is it about this man that makes even his touch magnetic?
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Laird MacCurtney,” Keira said, her voice perhaps a touch more animated than shehad intended. “And my warmest congratulations on your new alliance with Laird MacShaw.”
“Thank ye, Lady… Keira?” Laird MacCurtney asked amusedly, his voice carrying the musical lilt of the Highlands, captivating her.
“Yes.” She smiled, realizing that they were still holding each other’s hands.
Time seemed to slow, and a subtle current of indescribable energy pulsed between their fingertips. She felt the warmth of his hand, strong and reassuring, sending ripples of sensation up her arm and through her entire body.
The air around them crackled with tension, a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Keira finally withdrew her hand, her heart pounding in her chest.
She managed to compose herself, offering a gentle smile, but the sensation of their prolonged touch lingered, leaving her both exhilarated and bewildered.
She turned around to glance at Joan, almost as if searching for a way out of this situation that she had so unexpectedly found herself in. “Perhaps you need some privacy to discuss the event of this evening.”
She clung to the first plausible reason that would have given her an excuse to leave this room and escape the eyes of the manwho seemed to have bewitched her. “I shall go for a stroll. The gardens look beautiful bathed in the glow of the afternoon sun.”
Joan looked confused for a moment. “Oh, but we do not need any privacy to discuss dinner arrangements, Keira. You are more than welcome to—”
“I think I’ll join you, Keira,” Avery, more attuned to Keira’s emotions than Joan, chimed in. “A walk in the sun might do us both some good.” She smiled at Joan, and only then did Joan realize that there was probably a good reason why Keira had suggested something like that in the first place.
“Of course.” Joan smiled. “I might join you two after we’re done here.”
As Keira and Avery stepped out into the afternoon sun, the garden welcomed them with a burst of color and fragrance. The vibrant hues of blooming flowers painted a picturesque scene, while the gentle breeze carried the sweet scent of roses and heather. The garden was meticulously arranged, a blend of manicured paths, blossoming shrubs, and carefully tended hedges.
In the distance, the majestic Scottish Highlands stood tall and proud, a stunning panorama of rolling hills and peaks. The sunlight played upon the landscape, casting shifting shadows and highlighting the natural beauty of the rugged terrain.
The verdant greens of the Highlands seemed to stretch endlessly, merging with the bright blue sky. It would be enoughto clear Keira’s mind if the sky didn’t remind her of Raphael’s eyes.
This can’t be good.
Keira and Avery walked down the gravel path, the sound of their footsteps accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds. They found a secluded spot—a stone railing overlooking the breathtaking view.
Keira leaned against it, taking in the expansive vista before her. But no matter how beautiful it all was, it still wasn’t enough to pacify her racing heart and mind.
“Avery.” She turned to her friend. “When you first met your husband, did you feel flushed? Did your heart race like mad?”
Avery smiled immediately, a smile that was worth a thousand words. “Yes,” she confirmed. “And the best part was that it was only the beginning. The more I got to know him, the more flushed I got, the more I knew that my heart belonged to him.”
Keira sighed heavily as if the burden of the entire world was placed upon her fragile back. “I will never experience that in my marriage.” Then, she paused for a moment. Her mind raced with a million thoughts, a millionforbiddenthoughts. “But… I’m not married yet. I wonder… if there was a man whose appearance in my life stirred something in me at first glance… would my reaction be the same as yours?”
Keira knew that despite the cryptic nature of her question, Avery understood exactly what she had been trying to say.
“There is only one way to find out,” Avery said mysteriously, winking at her friend mischievously, then turning around without another word and returning inside.
“Avery? What does that even mean?” Keira called after her friend, who only laughed as she kept walking away.
Surely she can’t mean I should…
