Twelve
Nora spent days sitting by Ewan’s bed. He lay in delirium, his body ravaged by fever.
His brothers took turns helping her and his mother watch over him, but as the days went by, she began to fear he would never awaken again.
Her nervousness made her chatter more to him. Coaxing him to eat and drink. Begging him to wake and look at her.
Only when they were alone did she dare speak to him of her love.
“He whispers your name.”
She looked up from her sewing to see Lochlan watching her from his seat by the window as she sat by Ewan’s side. He’d relieved Sin barely five minutes ago and she had been grateful. There was something very sinister and dark about Sin MacAllister. If not for his endearing love of his wife and small baby, she would have been terrified of him. But since her arrival, she had seen enough of his tenderness with them to know he wasn’t as fierce as he appeared.
Braden she liked a great deal. He was ever charming a smile or laugh from her while they watched over Ewan. And he had told her numerous stories of youthful pranks he had pulled on Ewan.
But when it came to Lochlan...
There was something very stern and sad about this particular MacAllister and he made her terribly uncomfortable. The only time she saw a break in his seriousness was when Catarina nettled him. Which was a habit the gypsy had taken to right away.
Lochlan was a young man to wield such power and authority, and she wondered if he ever found the burden oppressive.
“I know,” she said in response to his words.
“Can you tell me why?”
“Most likely because he wants to wake up and tell me to spare his ears while he heals.”
Lochlan’s face softened a degree. “He can be a bit overbearing.”
“Not really. He is rather charming, point of fact.”
Lochlan arched a brow at her declaration. “You think so?”
“Aye. He’s very gentle and sweet.”
Lochlan choked. “Ewan? Sweet? The devil you say. The man is surly at best.”
“He is not surly...often. He’s just sensitive.”
“My lady, I fear you are the one who is delirious if you believe that. There’s nothing sensitive about him.”
Her anger was fired by his words.
How dare he say such a thing!
“You don’t know your brother very well, do you, my lord?” She reached out and touched Ewan’s hot hand. Hands that had made her want to weep with pleasure. Hands she would sell her soul to be able to hold onto for the rest of eternity.
“You love him.”
It was a statement of fact.
Nora didn’t bother to lie. “Aye, I do.”
“Does he know it?”
“I’ve never hidden the fact.”
She felt the weight of Lochlan’s gaze. It was heavy. Frightening. “Does he love you?”
