What is he angry about now?
She thought back to how handsome he had looked when he laughed and how the rich sound had washed over her, filling her with pride that she had caused this mountain of a man to break character.
Usually, she drove him to anger, which had been satisfying, but his amusement was like a treasure she had uncovered, and now that she had seen it, she wanted to see more.
“I like to believe I was only living to the fullest,” Hayden answered, drawing back her attention. “I was young and full of energy.”
She had forgotten his presence the moment she had looked at Darragh, as all things tended to fade when she thought of the brooding man who was now responsible for her.
“Am I to believe that ye’ve stopped causing mischief?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Nae entirely,” he admitted. “Life would be decidedly boring if I didnae cause mischief once in a while.”
“Indeed.” She grinned. “I would have been worried if ye had become boring.”
“I believe the two of us could get along well, Miss Collins,” Hayden said, placing a hand on hers. “I would love to bring ye to me clan and introduce ye to me family. They will love ye.”
Talia stiffened when his hand touched hers, not because she felt any spark, but because she hadn’t been expecting it. His hands were calloused but smoother than Darragh’s, and smaller.
Perhaps that was why she didn’t feel any heat travel through her body the way it did whenever Darragh touched her, or why she didn’t find herself short of breath.
She looked at their joined hands, where his thumb had begun to rub circles on her palm, and back to his eyes. If she married him, she would be guaranteed a life of frivolity and laughter, but there would be no fiery passion or desire, unlike what she felt with…
Why do I keep comparing him to Darragh?
She remembered how brashly he had treated her when they had first met and the strength of his body when he had lifted her with ease. Her face reddened at the memory.
She shook the thought out of her head and met Hayden’s eyes. Here was a nice man who didn’t confuse her or think of her as only a means to enrich himself, but her mind was fixated on the man who confused her at every turn.
“I look forward to meeting them as well,” she offered with a smile.
But even as she said the words, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment in her chest.
Darragh watched Talia’s face redden as Hayden put his hand on hers and felt heat rise in his chest when she lowered her eyes. The cad, whether unaware or uncaring of her thoughts on the matter, squeezed her hand softly but made no move to withdraw.
How dare he?
He half expected Talia to shake him off, but perhaps she did not want to be rude, so she endured the unwanted touch.
Already, his feet had begun to tap an unsteady rhythm on the floor as he fought the urge to bolt out of his seat and tear the man’s hand off her. He knew Talia, and he knew her pride was easily wounded.
She would forgive him if he acted so brashly on her behalf, but still…
Hayden’s thumb had begun to rub circles on the back of her hand, and Darragh scoffed in disbelief as she laughed softly.
If he was being so bold in front of a laird, what would he do when they were alone?
Talia laughed again, her cheeks turning even redder, and Darragh wondered what they were discussing. Was Hayden perhaps flirting with her?
Devils!
He needed to hear what they were discussing, but how could he? If he rose from his seat, he would draw attention, and she would no doubt be incensed at him for interfering.
His hand twitched on his lap, clenching and unclenching to work off the emotions warring within him. His blood began to pound in his ears, growing louder by the second as he watched them.
What was it about Hayden that made her smile at him like that? She had never smiled so coyly at Darragh or even looked at him with such interest.
He wasn’t jealous, but he had been the one caring for her all this time. Wasn’t he worthy of the same pleasantness?
