Bridget watched as Bruce took a large swallow of ale before continuing. “Aye, I can see why. How many tenants have ye had on the farm at once?”
“This is by far the most,” Bridget said before her father could answer. “And we would gladly welcome as many as we can.” She could only hope that he would see into her words and understand that she wished for him to stay. What else could he possibly want? He had left his own village and had no one else save his cousin as far as she knew.
Bruce bestowed another smile on her, and Bridget hid it behind her mug, hoping that her father wasn’t watching the exchange. He hadn’t asked about Bruce since she had come back from the loch that day, and Bridget wondered if he suspected what she was desperately trying to hide from him.
“Wot are yer plans once ye leave here, lad?” Leathen asked after a few moments. “Do ye have any plans?”
Bruce sat the mug on the table. “I have not thought of any,” he said, his smile dimming. “Truthfully, I didnae expect tae be so welcomed here. It makes a man not want tae leave.”
Och! He has all but admitted he doesnae want tae leave!Bridget could hardly contain her excitement.
Perhaps this was the sign she had been hoping for!
“Aye ’tis hard work, but rewarding,” Leathen admitted, rubbing his chin. “A Scot could truly find his life’s work in this place.”
They chatted for a little while longer before Bridget served the soup, and they partook in dinner together. After her father had said his fill, Bruce started to leave.
“Walk him out, Bridget,” Leathen called out as he lit his pipe that he enjoyed every evening before bed. “I hope that this wilnae be the last dinner we have together, Bruce.”
Bruce gave the leader a sharp nod. “Aye, I would hope not.”
She donned her coat and waited for Bruce to do the same. The snow flurries were just starting to fall as they stepped out into the bitter cold, and Bruce grinned. “Apparently I was right.”
“Apparently,” she answered, tucking her coat tightly around her. “I, I hope that ye meant wot ye said earlier.”
He arched a brow. “Wot was that?”
“That ye are enjoying it here,” she said softly, her words coming out in short bursts.
He took a step toward her. “Do ye like me being here, Bridget?”
Feeling emboldened, she met his gaze and nodded. “Aye, I do, Bruce. I hope that ye will consider staying on.” There. She had said her piece.
Something akin to pain flashed across his eyes before he shuttered it, and Bridget wondered if he was thinking about his own village and how it was gone.
When his cold hand came to cup her cheek, Bridget sighed.
“Och, lass,” he said softly, brushing his thumb over her skin. “Ye make me want tae be a better Scot.”
“I think ye are perfect just the way ye are,” she answered, watching as a small smile crossed his lips.
“And ye,” he replied as he lowered his head, “are so much more, lass.”
Bridget felt the first brush of his lips on hers and knew that in her heart, she was falling in love with this Scot. She may not have known much about him or where he was going, but it didn’t matter.
This was what it meant to be in love, to want to spend the rest of her days with another. Her future was wherever he was, and if he left her behind, she would just go in search of him until he felt the same way... though Bridget couldn’t fathom that he didn’t. Bruce hadn’t taken any sort of liberties toward her or made her think that he was looking for a tumble before he moved on.
All he had done was kiss her and kissed her well at that, much like what he was doing right now to her lips.
Their kiss progressed into his tongue in her mouth, and this time, Bridget felt more confident in her abilities to satisfy Bruce as well.
The snow was falling at a steady pace when they finally broke apart, their breath visible in the cold night air. “I should let ye get inside,” he murmured, his lips brushing across her temple. “Before ye freeze, lass.”
“I wish,” she started, her voice thick. “I wish I didnae have tae leave.”
Bruce drew back, and there was tenderness in his gaze. “Och, lass, I’m not going tae do anything but kiss ye. Yer innocence...that is for yer husband tae take.”
Bridget’s cheeks burned, but her heart also softened at Bruce’s words. He wasn’t looking for a tumble, or else he would have taken her to his hut and given her a night she would likely remember for the rest of her days. “Then ’tis good night tae ye, Bruce.”
