Page 44 of A Scot to Wed

She opened her mouth at his last comment, but he held up his hand. “Aside from yer stubbornness and unrelenting need to run everything, I think ye would make a fine wife.”

Katie huffed and tugged on the blanket. Enough of the blanket fell from Evan that the evidence of his desire waved in the morning light.

Her eyes grew wide.

He grinned.

She blushed.

He reached out to tug her toward him.

She pulled back.

“We have things to discuss.” Katie raised her chin and flipped the blanket back over Evan’s lap.

He sighed. “What’s to discuss, lass? We will leave here shortly. When we arrive at the castle, I will send for a priest, and it will be done.”

“’Twill not be done. I see no reason to rush into marriage simply because we lost our heads.”

He gave her the crooked smile that made her stomach dance a tune. “Aye, but if we do, then we can do this as much as we like.”

Katie blew out a frustrated breath. “Can ye think of nothing else?”

He tapped his chin with his fingertip and looked toward the ceiling. After a full minute, he said, “Nay. I tried verra hard to think of anything else but couldn’t.”

“Ach! Yer such an oaf.” Katie whipped the blanket off them both, stood up, and, with as much modesty as possible—which truly wasn’t much at all—she found her clothes and dressed.

Apparently, it finally sank in that she wasn’t about to dally any longer, so Evan climbed to his feet and dressed, grumbling the entire time, bringing a smile to Katie’s mouth.

Once Evan had laced up the back of her frock, she walked to the small window and looked out. “’Tis a beautiful day out there.”

His only answer was a grunt.

Once they were mounted on their horses, Evan turned to her. “I will be sending for the priest. Whatever problems ye think we will have can be discussed later.” Without giving her a chance to respond, he kicked the sides of his horse and he was off.

The ride back gave her time to consider her feelings about the man. He was certainly a handsome man, and even though her experience with the marriage bed had been nil before last night, she knew in her heart that Evan was a considerate lover.

He was a strong leader and decisive problem solver, and the way he took to Gavin—even though he thought the lad too meek—showed his willingness to care for those who were vulnerable. It also told her he would be a good da to any children they would have.

So why am I reluctant?

’Twas really simple. She wasn’t quite sure—despite his words—that he would have considered making her his wife if last night had not happened. When all was settled at MacDuff, wouldn’t he have happily wished her well and ridden off with his brother to never see her again, with the only communication between them being monthly reports from land steward to laird?

As she wrestled with the problem, she could not discount that she did not want to give up her independence. She’d been the one in control for years, but there was no doubt in her mind that Evan was very much The Laird and expected obedience from everyone. Which would include his wife.

They rode up over the hill, and the castle came into view, rising from the greenery like a fairy tale from one of her childhood books. The sun emerging behind it cast the front of the building in shadows, yet with enough light to see a man ride up and dismount from his horse.

Something about him looked familiar, and she almost dismissed him as one of her clansmen who had been out and about already when a knot settled in her stomach. She shook her head furiously. “Oh nay.”

Evan turned to her. “What is it, lass?”

They slowed their horses as they reached the stable, and Katie confirmed her fear. “It appears Richard Armstrong has arrived to claim his bride.”

…

Evan climbed from his horse and tossed the reins to MacDuff, his eyes never leaving the man standing at the front door of the castle. So the despicable mon had found his way to Fife? Evan took Katie’s arm as they walked from the stable. “Dinnae say anything. I am yer laird. I will speak for ye.”

Katie gaped at him, apparently not happy with his edict. ’Twas no matter. She needed to learn that he handled all problems. “Can I help ye? Are ye lost?” Evan strode up to Armstrong, dragging Katie along, never letting go of her arm.