Niall shrugged. “’Tis well enough for a short ride to thank the healer.”
“Nae.”
“Aye.”
Annie glowered at him. “Ye are being obstinate.”
“I think ye have used that term before.” Niall grinned at her. “Would ye like to add a few more, so we can spar?”
Annie didn’t return his smile. “Ye nearlydied, Niall.”
He sobered. “And I nearly failed ye as well.”
“Failed me? Ye dinnae fail me.”
“’Twas my responsibility to protect ye and get ye to safety.”
Responsibility. That word again. Ian had basically said the same thing. Niall’sobstinacyhad made him keep going with a festering wound because he feltobligatedto whisk her away from danger. Highlanders followed a code of honor. That was all. Annie straightened her shoulders and raised her chin, and looked past Niall at the wall. “Ye have gotten me to safety, and I thank ye. Your duty to me is done.”
He frowned. “My duty?”
“Aye. Ye felt responsible to save me. Ye just said so.” Annie studied the wall over Niall’s shoulder. “Ye would have done the same for anyone. Ian said ’tis what Highlanders do.”
“Did he, now?”
“Aye. ’Tis noble of ye.”
“I was nae thinking of being noble when I took you away.”
Annie looked down at her folded hands. “It does nae matter.”
Niall leaned forward from the edge of the bed and put a hand under her chin, tilting it up so she had to look at him. “Do ye really think I would have risked my life for just anyone?”
“Ian said—”
“Ian does nae ken me,” Niall said, his eyes growing dark. “Come here.”
Annie gave him a startled look. “What?”
“Come here.” Niall took hold of her arm and pulled her toward him, his other hand sliding along her jaw to cradle her head and then bent his head to brush a kiss across her mouth and then another, letting it linger slightly. Annie moaned, herlips parting for him. His arms slipped around her waist, pressing her closer while his tongue swept across her open mouth.
“They’re kissing!”
Annie jumped back at the sound and turned to find the twins standing in the open doorway and giggling. The door Niall had left open probably because he was a gentleman.
Niall seemed unfazed, although the glower he gave the twins made them stop giggling as he released Annie. “Is there a reason the two of ye are standing there?”
They looked at each other as if suddenly struck mute, then one of them finally found her voice. “Aunt Jillian wanted to ken if ye wanted a tray sent up for dinner.”
“Nae. Tell your aunt I will come down.”
The girls turned, practically tripping over each other, trying to get away. Annie turned to Niall. “Perhaps I should have a tray sent up. I am nae sure I can face those two at dinner.”
Niall gave her an amused look. “Ye doona mind facing a crowd of angry union workers who pelt ye with rotten fruit, yet ye are afraid what two bairns might say?”
“They are nearly fully grown, nae bairns,” Annie answered. “I doubt Jillian—or Ian—will appreciate their witnessing what they just did.”
“’Twas just a kiss, lass.”
