“Stop teasin’ the girl, Darragh,” Orlagh scolded. “‘Tis poor manners.”
He laughed and sat next to Talia, causing her heart to beat faster.
“I cannae help it,” he said with a smile. “She is rather bonny when she blushes.”
The women tittered again, embarrassing her further.
“We must thank Talia for bringing out the Laird’s romantic side,” Amber teased, winking at her. “‘Tis rather beautiful to see.”
“Indeed,” Orlagh agreed. “We are really grateful to ye for making me son smile again.”
Talia nodded and met Darragh’s eyes. He was smiling at her. She returned his smile, feeling rather thankful to have put such a beautiful look on his face.
She had thought him handsome from the first moment she had seen him, but now…
She wished there was a better word to describe him. The deep lines that had made him look brooding had disappeared,and now he constantly sported an easy smile, which made her breathless whenever it widened into a grin.
She loved looking at him, loved watching him smile at his clansmen, and loved seeing him play with the children in the castle.
She loved this man so deeply that it amazed her how she had once thought she would never experience the feeling. And he made it so easy for her to fall deeper in love with him that it always felt as though she were walking on clouds.
He took her hand suddenly, pulling her out of her thoughts.
“I am taking Talia for a turn about the gardens,” he announced, rising to his feet. “I believe ye are finished with yer meeting?”
“Nay, Darragh,” Orlagh protested. “We have barely finished anythin’ because ye kept distractin’ her.”
“I believe ye’re capable of finishin’ whatever remains, Maither,” he insisted, pulling Talia to her feet because, in her surprise, she remained sitting. “Surely, ye wouldnae think to keep me and me wife apart, Maither?”
His wife?
Her eyes widened, and the women gasped excitedly.
“Aye, ye’ve won the argument,” Amber said with a wide grin. “Enjoy yer stroll, Talia.” She gave Talia a wink that told her they knew the two of them were going to do anything but stroll.
Why did he have to be so obvious?
“We will,” Darragh answered, leading her away.
Once they had stepped out into the hallway, she buried her face in his arm.
“Why could ye nae wait until we were finished?” she groaned. “They daenae believe we’re just going for a stroll.”
He chuckled deeply, and the sound resonated in her chest.
“That is because we arenae just going for a stroll,” he answered in a teasing tone.
She slapped his arm, glaring at him, and he laughed again, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Ye are about to be me wife, Talia,” he said with a smile. “Everyone kens we’re going to do more than stroll. Ye daenae have to be so shy.”
“Ye’re impossible!” she gasped.
“Does it bother ye?” he asked. “I could take ye back to them.”
“I didnae say ye should do that,” she argued. “I just… Next time, daenae interrupt our meetings.”
He nodded and squeezed her hand.
