Page 22 of Scot of Seduction

Yet the mere thought of Callum and Catreena marrying made Tad’s palms run with sweat so much that he had to rub them together self-consciously.

“I doubt Bran or any of her braithers would object, Callum,” Tad eventually permitted himself to say. “Just be careful. She has a temper stronger than any storm.”

Callum smiled broadly. Clearly, he quite liked the idea of that side of her.

The problem is, so dae I.

“Tad?” Catreena called to him as she walked down the tall staircase of his castle. For three days now she had been here, and he had barely spoken to her. In fact, the only time she had really seen him was when they had dinner together in the feasting hall.

Standing in the open doorway of the keep, he glanced back at her. He didn’t respond. His dark eyes flashed a scowl, then he turned and strode out of the keep, his tattooed arms on show with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

“What the hell is wrong with him?” Catreena muttered, coming to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. She sighed as guards walked down the hall, inhibiting her path and inadvertently stopping her from chasing after him as they hurried to their posts. Deep down, she knew why he was avoiding her.

It’s that kiss. He regrets it. He’s ashamed of it. Perhaps the mere memory of it is just that disgusting tae him.

She hastily tried to flatten her gown, uncertain why she did it, but feeling more self-conscious than ever.

Once the guards had passed, she moved out of the keep, hastening to hurry after Tad and talk to him at last.

This is ridiculous. We cannae carry on like this.

A determination rose inside of her to speak to him. It was all very well for him to want to ignore her, but she could not forget that kiss. Neither could she forget the way they had fallen asleep beside each other. It was as if that night, Tad had been a different man. She wanted to know that Tad. Wanted to speak to him again, talk to him of what he had seen in those nightmares, to feel his lips so softly against hers another time.

She trailed after him, across the courtyard and toward the lawn where she suddenly saw him retrieve a sword from his belt. She flinched in surprise, watching as he strode across the grass to where his soldiers were practicing their maneuvers.

Bran was with them, as was Callum. Bran broke off with his practice battle with Callum, turning to face Tad.

“Ready?” he called to Tad. “Think ye can beat me this time?”

“Ye ken I beat ye every time.” Tad laughed low, in a warning tone, then took a wide stance, waiting for Bran to lunge toward him.

The first clatter of swords made Catreena jump. There was something about seeing Tad so ready for battle, the muscles taut across his arms, the tattoos even more noticeable than before, that made her mouth dry.

“Catreena?” Ilyssa called to her.

“S-sorry?” She turned around, startled to see she was not alone.

On a low wall nearby, Ilyssa sat with her maid, Annabel, perched beside her. The two were sharing a picnic as they watched the soldiers’ practice.

“Nae a bad view, is it?” Ilyssa said with mischief glinting in her eye. Annabel laughed heartily as Catreena moved toward them, sitting beside them.

“Nae a bad view,” Catreena agreed, though she somewhat struggled to tear her gaze from Tad. She didn’t look where she was going and half fell down beside Ilyssa, rather than sitting down. “Yer braither is avoiding me,” she muttered. “He willnae talk tae me.”

“Probably wise when he’s in a foul mood. He seems tae be in a bad temper with everyone at the moment. Ye’re better spending time talking tae another instead. Speaking of which, he’s coming this way.”

“Who?” Catreena looked around, though Ilyssa merely waved at her, encouraging Annabel to shuffle along the wall so they could give Catreena some privacy.

Callum was walking toward her. Surprised, Catreena sat taller, just as Callum sat down beside her on the wall. He had a gleam of sweat to his skin from his own practice. For some reason, it wasn’t as attractive on him as it had been on Tad. It was a little off putting, though she smiled all the same at him. He had been very kind indeed over the last few days that she had been in the castle.

“I am glad tae see ye here, Catreena. There was something I wanted tae ask ye and I wasnae sure when I would get the chance.”

“What would ye like tae ask me?” she said, turning to give him her full focus. Her own eyes seemed to betray her though, and they kept slipping back to look at Tad and Bran fighting together.

It’s just because I dinnae want Bran tae get hurt.

It’s what she told herself, though her eyes watched Tad more than they watched Bran.

“I wondered if ye would like tae go riding with me some time.” Callum’s words made her snap her attention back toward him. She cricked her neck from the sheer strength of the movement.