“Aye, he did,” Remy answered, his eyes finding hers. “I wasna going tae leave ye there, Gretna. That was never the plan no matter wot yer brother said.”
Hope flared in Gretna’s chest, waiting for him to say more about his return.
When he said nothing, she finally let the frustration boil over. “Ye came back for mah because ye care for mah.” There. She had said the words that she had hoped he felt the same.
His gaze narrowed. “Aye, lass, I do care for ye. Ye are Ian’s sister and under mah protection as captain of the guard.”
Gretna placed her hands on her hips, not believing that it was the only reason he cared for her. “Donna lie tae mah.”
Remy swallowed, looking a bit nervous himself. “I’m not, Gretna.”
Och, he was so stubborn! Gretna rounded the fire until she was standing only a few inches from him, seeing the tense but wary expression on his face.
“Ye say ye care for mah because of Ian,” she said, reaching out to touch his arm. “But I donna believe ye at all, Remy Wallace.”
“Tis the truth,” he bit back though there was no fire in his eyes to match his tone. “We canna, there is nothing we can have between us, lass.”
Gretna slid her hand up his arm and to his chest, pressing it against his heart.
“Tell mah another lie, Remy Wallace,” she said softly. “Because I willna lie tae ye. I know in mah heart that I love ye.”
“Gretna,” he growled but she shook her head, feeling his heartbeat thundering under her touch. Even if he rejected her after what she needed to say to him, then so be it. At least she had tried. “I love ye because of who ye are,” she continued, the words pouring from her very soul. “I donna care aboot a keep or a title, Remy. I want tae be loved and loved fully. The question is, can ye love mah the way I should be loved?”
He stared at her for what felt like a lifetime, his jaw clenched, but Gretna didn’t move from her spot nor did she remove her hand. Even if he didn’t want to say the words, she could feel his reaction by the rapid beat of his heart under her palm, telling her all that she needed to know and what she would fight for if the time came.
“I canna give ye anything,” he rasped, startling her. “I canna give ye yer fancy gowns or a comfortable bed tae rest yer head on.”
Gretna’s heart tightened in her chest.
“Oh, Remy,” she breathed. “I donna need any of that. I just need love.”
Something crumbled in his expression, but instead of gathering her into his arms as Gretna had expected, he dropped to one knee before her, pressing her hand against his chest tightly.
“I’ve tried tae forget ye, lass,” he admitted. “I tried tae tell mahself that ye deserved better than mah, but the very thought of seeing another man touch ye makes me sick tae mah stomach.”
Tears sprang to Gretna’s eyes. He truly did care for her.
“So I will tell ye now,” he continued on. “I love ye like the grass loves the dew in the mornings. I love ye like a horse loves his feed and I will love ye until the end of mah days and then a lifetime after that.”
Gretna felt the tears slide down her cheeks and with a sob she fell to her knees, only to have Remy catch her as she fell and crush her to his chest. His scent wound its way around her and so did his arms until she could hear the rapid beat of his heart against her ear.
“I’m verra sorry, lass,” he said, his hand combing through her tangled locks.
“For wot?” She asked, her voice muffled by his chest.
“For loving ye,” he murmured, pressing his lips against her temple. “But I canna stop. I know ye are meant for someone more deserving but.
“Shh,” she interrupted him, pulling back enough to frame his face with her hands. “I donna care aboot that. I love ye, Remy Wallace, and will until the end of mah days.”
His face crinkled into a smile and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers.
“I donna deserve ye, lass.”
“Nay, ye donna,” she laughed, her heart full of happiness. “But I only want ye, Remy.”
He blew out a breath before his lips captured hers and Gretna threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close. After weeks of being apart, she couldn’t believe that they were finally together like this. The worst was over and their new life together was beginning.
They were both breathing hard when she finally broke free of his kiss, letting out a small laugh.
