He chuckled. “I dinnae ken what that is, but if ’tis somethin’ I’ll enjoy…” he raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
She tried to appear stern, but her smile betrayed her and she laughed with him. “You’re impossible.”
’Twas just the way he wished to remember her; standing in the sunshine, eyes bright with laughter, her auburn curls in beguiling disarray around her lovely face.
“Aye.” He whispered. “Impossible.”
He cleared his throat, reached for the tail of his plaid, adjusted the folds over his shoulder and pinned his brooch in place.
When he looked up, he caught Lauren watching him.
“I never realized how versatile kilts are. Ingenious, really.”
He smiled, picked up the bag of food from last night and handed it to her. “It’s served me, well enough.” He nodded at the food. “Eat something. I’m going tae scout around the bend and see if there’s a way out of here that won’t be so hard on yer ankle.”
He stopped her protest with a shake of his head. “I’ll only be a moment. Here…” he pulled the skean dhu from his boot. “…slice off a bit of apple for me, and I’ll be right back tae eat it. Then we’ll wrap yer ankle before we go.” He nodded at the small sack holding the food. “Finish that off so we can use the bag for a binding.”
“Don’t be long.” She took the blade from him, brows scrunched over worried eyes as she tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth.
His kiss was so quick and light, her mouth rounded, in surprise. “Ye must stop worryin’ yer lip so. I’ll no’ always be around tae fix it.” He winked at her and hurried away before she could protest.
And before she saw the anguish in his eyes.
Chapter Six
Just as Reggie hoped, he’d found a fairly easy assent out of the ravine. Once on top, Lauren couldn’t believe how much simpler it was to traverse the undergrowth with a big Highlander breaking a trail for her.
He’d tried to stop so often to see how she was doing, she’d had to scold him.
“Do you think we’re going in the right direction?”
He laughed. “Lass, ye dinnae exactly sneak through these bushes. Ye left markers a bairn could follow. We were on yer trail within minutes of reachin’ the rim.”
“Really?” She peeked around him. “I don’t see anything.”
“Ye cannae see the signs?”
She snorted with indignation. “Goes to show my lack of Girl Scout training, I guess.”
“Who?”
“Never mind,” she chuckled. “I think I’m ready for a break, now.”
Concern clouded his eyes. “Of course.” Reggie gestured to a broad, flat stone a few feet away. “Ye could rest atop that rock if ye like, although…”
“Although…what?” She studied the stone. “Are there ants or something?”
“No ants. But ye said ye dinnae care tae sit on the hiding rock, last night. Ye said it prompted ye tae go lookin’ for bars. So, I dinnae ken if this one might do the same.”
“I’m not sure I understa— Oh! You mean the rock I hit with my car?”
“Aye. I ken ’tis the one.”
“Well,thisrock looks just fine.” She sat with a loud sigh.
Reggie pulled the freshly filled water bottle from the folds of his tartan, handed it to her and knelt near her foot. “Let me see if ye’ve any more swelling.”
Intrigued, she grinned at him. “What else are you hiding in there?”
