Page 48 of The Highlander’s Unexpected Wife

“Because otherwise, I would…”

Would what? Not have ridden for two hours like the devil nipped his heels? Wouldn’t have jeopardized an operation designed to catch a notorious sex slaver? Or wouldn’t have fallen in love? God help him. Would she believe that?

“Otherwise, you would have been stuck with Erin,” Alison said. “I know she is a handful, but she would have tried very hard to be a good wife, and you may rest assured she would not have butted into your business. She is far better suited for you than I.”

“Hardly.”

She frowned. “There is no need to be rude.”

“I am not being rude.” Bloody hell, he was botching things up. “I have no interest in Miss Lennox.”

“You had no interest in me, either.”

“That is what I am trying to say.”

“I understand quite well,” she replied. “You needn’t remind me.”

“I am not reminding you. That is, I mean to say, I didn’t have interest in you only because I did not know you. Now that I do, well—”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “Never fear, you can send me to the country as we agreed.”

“Send you to the country? That was only when you insisted you were going to marry Thomson. Do you really think I am the kind of man to marry a woman then shut her away in the country?”

“I think no such thing. We simply agreed, and I don’t want to be a bother. Erin is likely to never forgive me for locking her in the closet, so I have no real reason to stay in Inverness.”

“Locking her in a closet?” he blurted. “What the devil are you talking about?”

“The night I came to your home. I couldn’t very well have her show up at Welbourne when I was there.”

“Of course not,” he said. She’d really locked her cousin in a closet?

She shot him another narrow-eyed look. “You may be as rude as you like, but you must admit I did save her from you.”

“You saved me from her,” he corrected.

“Erin is not so terrible,” Alison cried. “She is my cousin and dearest friend.”

“For Christ’s sake.” Cameron grasped her hands. “You misunderstand me, love. What I mean is…” He took a deep breath. He held her gaze. “You saved me.”

She lifted her brows. “From…”

He smiled gently. “From myself.”

“That is just plain silly. I—”

Bootfalls sounded in the hallway and her head snapped in the direction of the door.

Cameron grasped her shoulder and gently squeezed. Her head jerked in his direction.

“No one is coming for you, love,” he said.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“Alison, there is nothing to fear. I—”

“May we go—now—please?” she cut in.

“I promise you, no constable will come to arrest you.”