“Were you a soldier for a long time?”
His slow nod was almost imperceptible in the dark. “Aye. Centuries.” Finally, he shifted toward her and made a chuckling sound. “At least it felt like it. ’Twas the lack of bonnie lassies tae talk tae, ye ken, that made the days seem like decades.”
Lauren knew he only teased, so another flush of warmth on her cheeks both surprised and annoyed her. She wanted truth, not tired, empty lines of flattery. She desperately wanted him to be different from all the rest. She’d almost convinced herself he was.
Even if it was just for this one night, she wanted to believedifferentexisted.
He couldn’t be much older than she, so he couldn’t have soldiered all that long. “No girl at home to call, or write to?”
“Nae,” he replied, somberly. “No girl.”
She found that hard to believe. “Not ever?”
“Nae. ’Twas a good thing, as it turned out.”
“As it turned out?”
“Aye.”
She sensed he watched her, but she couldn’t make out his expression.
Clearing his throat, Reggie continued. “Let’s just say I was bound by circumstances that dinnae allow me the opportunity tae give a lass the attention she deserved.”
“And now?” she pressed, ignoring both the flutter in her stomach and the notion that she was overstepping.
“Now?” he shrugged. “Now I’m free.”
Something shifted in Lauren’s chest, even though his words were casually spoken and far too innocent for her to read anything into them. She knew she was being foolish. Perhaps because she knew it couldn’t go anywhere, she saw no danger. Just an innocent flirtation with a handsome Scot she’d never see again. A delicious memory as a souvenir of her visit to Scotland.
They were quiet for a while, letting the brilliance of the stars, the cool night breeze and the rippling water fill in the gaps.
“What about ye?” he suddenly asked, startling her.
“What about me?”
“Ye’ve a lad at home waitin’ for yer return?”
She kept her snort of derision to herself. “No. No onelike thatis waiting for me.”
Not anymore. Breaking off her engagement to Ben was the smartest move Lauren had ever made. She’d been an idiot to agree to marry him, in the first place. What a fool to ever believe he’d lovedherinstead ofher family’s money and position. She grimaced, hating that their relationship had been nothing but a tired cliché.
Humiliating.
Although, if she were totally honest, she’d have to shoulder some of the responsibility. She’d accepted Ben’s proposal for all the wrong reasons. Benjamin Howell Jr. had been perfect for her parents. Everything they could, and did, ask for. But nothing she wanted for herself.
Lauren winced at the memory. Where had all that bravery Reggie credited her with hidden itself, back then?
A breeze unexpectedly kicked up, snaked down the gully, and swirled off the water into the curves and crevices along the bank where Lauren rested, triggering a shiver. Chilled, she hugged her arms tighter to her body and hunched her shoulders. “Goodness,” she muttered. “I think the temperature just dropped ten degrees.”
Reggie was immediately on his knees. “Aye. And sure tae become colder. A fire, then?”
At her nod, he took a couple of stones from his sporran, turned his back to the wind and struck a spark into some shredded bark he’d prepared earlier. The movement appeared so smooth, so practiced, she wondered how he’d gained such easy proficiency. Captivated, she watched as he protected and grew the flame, patiently making it stronger, his movements fluid and steady.
After he had a small but efficient blaze, he sat back. “We’ll feel the warmth soon enough, with our backs tae this bank.”
“I feel it already,” she said, holding her hands palm out. “It’s nice. Thank you. I guess I was colder than I realized.”
“ ’Tis Scotland,” he said with what sounded like pride. “She still wants tae put a bite in the air, this time o’ year. So, it isnaeifye’ll get a chill, but when.” He patted the length of the tartan crossing his chest, before sending a dubious look toward the thin blouse she wore. “ ’Tis why we Scots are always prepared. So, remember, ’tis here for yer use, when ye need it.”
