Page 63 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

“Which one?”

She began to stress as she searched for the right words. Not only had he attained an injury in the battle but she had also stabbed him in the hand to appease Tavish. Her eyes fell on the thick bandage wrapped around his hand. “Both, I guess…”

“My back will mend and so will me hand, in time,” he shuffled the papers on his desk with his uninjured hand. “The one on the back however will need more time.”

“What happened tae yer back?”

“It’s where yer treacherous knife cut me wide open, Ava. Or ye forgot already?”

Ava shifted uncomfortably, while Boyd didn’t even lift his gaze toward her. “I trust the meeting with the council went well?” she changed the subject feeling the tears in the corners of her eyes.

“Aye. They were just as shocked as I was tae learn that Tavish was behind the disappearances. We’ve since learned from some of the men that were helping him that he’d disappeared after the murders tae cover his tracks. The men who were helping him were thrown intae prison. He was using spies inside the castle, that’s how he kent everything that was going on.”

“I thought I recognized the green and black kilts, I just didnae place them as men from the castle. Has the council decided on whether or nae ye will remain Laird of Clan Cameron?”

Boyd walked around the desk and leaned on the edge in front of her. “Aye. They were more than understanding about the situation and voted that I should remain the laird. Tavish was a cruel man and a harsh leader. They thought it was time for a new line tae start.”

“Will ye be keeping the Cameron name? Or taking yer the name of yer father?”

Boyd sighed heavily and Ava was sure it was the weight of the knowledge that he now bore that burdened him. There was a lot to consider now that he knew the truth, another truth, making his entire life a lie. “The council thinks that keeping the Cameron name would be for the best.”

“And what dae ye feel?”

He gave her a half-hearted smile. Nobody ever asked or even cared what his feelings on matters were. “I think it would be tae confusing if I were tae tak’ the Steward name. It would raise all kinds of questions as tae where me loyalties should lie. Not that Callum would be keen on acknowledging me as his nephew… He hasn’t sent any kind of word since the battle, and I guess he didnae ken his brother had a son. A bastard.” He laughed forcefully. “He does ken now that my mother was having an affair with his brother, if he can even remember that. He was wounded badly on the field. And when I think I almost married my stepsister…”

Ava shifted uncomfortably on her feet once again. It was all such a mess; no wonder Boyd was feeling so crushed. Laird Steward was not Cora’s real father. But still, the whole situation would be extremely repulsive.

She finally shot Boyd a look as they danced around the issues that needed to be addressed.

“How is Neil this morning?”

“He’s doing just fine; Angus has been taking great care of him. Thank ye for that, Boyd… Skye went tae check on him early this morning.”

“Good,” he nodded awkwardly.

“I will be taking him back tae the cottage,” Ava gripped her left arm with her right hand. “That’s if I’m free tae go?”

“I’m a man of my word Ava. But I have been thinking of a way ye can repay me for everything that has happened,” he said earnestly and stood, taking a few steps toward her. She was vulnerable next to him. The feeling became more intense when he placed a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. A pulsating desire to return his touch was burning within her, but she knew better. He caressed her lips with his callused hand and Ava felt pleasure in the hotness between her legs as if he was touching her whole body. She tried to escape the thoughts plaguing her, for they had no business in her head during a moment like this. Boyd stroked her mouth again; a shiver made her skin tingle in goosebumps. The man knew how to make a woman yearn for his touch. Everywhere.

Her breathing quickened as she waited to hear what her fate would be. “Yes?”

“Ye can marry me.”

Ava blinked a few times and cocked her head to the side in confusion. “Marry ye?”

His lips curved into a mischievous smile as he took her neck in his hands, making her look at him right in the eyes. “Aye, Ava Rose. Ye can mak’ up for all the things ye did tae me by becoming my wife.”

“I dinnae understand. Why would ye want tae marry me?”

“Because beside the fact that ye tried tae kill me, ye are the single most fascinating and exciting woman I have ever met in my life. I cannae think how tedious life at the castle would be for me if ye were nae here.”

“But I’m nae even a laird’s daughter. I’m just a common… well, criminal,” she stammered while trying to ignore her beating heart.

“Ava Rose…” Boyd laughed and shook his head. “I keep saying yer full name, Ava Rose, because I dinnae want tae marry Ava Sinclair, but her. She disnae ken how tae be a lady. She messes things up and has nae idea who Shakespeare is.”

Ava blushed slightly and bit her lower lip, and he laughed a little louder when she stared at him in confusion. “But Ava Rose kens how tae be the woman I love,” Boyd placed his hands on her hips and drew her even closer to him.

Ava looked up at him, feeling the tears that were lingering in the corner of her eyes, which were now falling freely on her scarlet cheeks.