Searching for sincerity in his eyes, she fought against lingering doubts. “Ye must think me foolish.”
“Never,” he replied fervently. “Ye seek the truth, and I’ll prove me faithfulness.” His hand bridged the gap between them with a gentle touch.
She wanted to believe his every word, but why would Cameron lie? He appeared to be a good man. But ye never truly knew another’s thoughts and motivations. Could he have made those claims out of jealousy? Perhaps he realized she had chosen Lachlan?
“Who filled yer head with such unfounded tales?” Lachlan demanded.
Torn between loyalty and honesty, Ailis finally met his gaze, her green eyes revealing her inner turmoil. “It was Cameron who told me.” She watched him carefully, curious to see how he would react to the news of his accuser.
Lachlan’s expression darkened. “That man would say anything to drive a wedge between us. He seeks to sow discord where there is none.” He shook his head. “I canna believe ye listened to him.”
Though she felt betrayed, Ailis couldn’t ignore the doubt that had taken root within her.
*
Days later, tensiongripped Ailis as she sat with Cameron in his boat on the loch.
“Ye look fair bonnie against the backdrop of the Highlands,” Cameron crooned, trying to capture her gaze. He reached out and touched her hand, hoping it would break the tension.
“Beauty fades,” Ailis replied coolly. “What remains when it does?” Now that she was with him, she was having a hard time knowing what the truth was. She’d believed Lachlan when shewas with him. But now that she was with Cameron, she was no longer certain.
“Power,” he answered without hesitation.
“’Tis a poor thing to build one’s life upon,” she countered. “Cameron, I have made me choice, and it is not ye.” She spoke softly and compassionately. She didn’t want to hurt him, though she knew some hurt was inevitable.
His oars stilled as silence engulfed them.
“Ye cannot mean it,” he began at last.
“Aye, I do.” Her words fell like stones into still waters. He appeared much less hurt than angry, and that confused her a bit. Why would he be angry? It made little sense to her.
“Ye’ll regret this,” Cameron warned, his charm giving way to cold determination.
“Perhaps,” Ailis conceded. “But I would rather live with regret than choose a man who doesn’t sway me heart.”Or a man who threatened me when I told him me feelings.
Ailis stepped onto the shore, leaving an unbridgeable chasm between them. Her decision anchored her to a path of peril and passion.
*
Beneath the star-filledsky, Ailis McAfee wandered the moonlit heather fields near her family’s estate. The Highland chill stirred the leaves and made her wrap her cloak tighter.
As she pondered her feelings for Cameron and Lachlan, footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Lachlan approached, dressed in hunting leathers with a longbow slung over his shoulder.
“Ye look lost in thought,” he observed, his voice warm in the night air.
Ailis sighed. “I am confused. Sometimes I wish there was a book telling me what I should do in any situation.
“Ye’ll figure it out. Yer a smart lass.” He grinned at her for a moment. “Would ye like to join me on a hunt?”
Excited by the prospect of spending time with him, she accepted with a soft smile. “I would enjoy that. Spending time with ye is always something I want to do.” Now that she was with him again, she knew he hadn’t lied. Cameron had been the liar, and though she hadn’t wanted to hurt him, she was glad he was no longer an important person in her life.
At daybreak, they ventured into the Highlands together. When Lachlan spotted a red deer, he motioned for silence before expertly shooting it down. He grinned at Ailis, saying “There’s more to me than just a charming smile.”
“And ye are better with a bow and arrow than most men. Though, Fiona can still outshoot ye.” She grinned. Her heart raced as the thrill of the hunt sharpened her senses. The bond with Lachlan transcended mere attraction—it was a connection forged through shared experiences and continually deepened.
Returning with their hard-earned spoils, Ailis was pleased that they were able to combine spending time with one another and doing something for the good of the clan. Choosing between duty and her heart was difficult. For once, she hadn’t had to.
*
