Page 49 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

“Ye told me ye worked as a mercenary.” Her eyes were on him now, sharp and assessing.

“I lied about that. I’d never dae that sort of work, if work it can be called.”

“Then why did ye say it?”

“I suppose I thought ye couldnae think any worse of me, so why nae? Mayhap I wanted ye tae think badly of me.”

“Well, that’s stupid,” she observed bluntly, her gaze frank.

He shrugged. “Ye hated me anyway when I came back. Perhaps I thought ye deserved better than me and wanted tae give ye a chance tae push me away.”

“Ye need nae have bothered. What ye did tae me, that was enough.”

“And all this, now, it makes nae difference tae yer decision?”

She sighed with impatience. “We’ve been through all this more than once, Tadhg. What’s the point of doing it again? It willnae change anythin’.”

“Why did ye marry Sloan?” The question burst from his lips seemingly without any preamble in his head, born of a deep-seated jealousy he had tried so hard to suppress but which now reared its head.

Alana looked at him with a strange and unreadable expression. “I told ye why.”

“Tell me again so I can understand.”

She sighed and put down the hunk of bread she had been eating. “It was the worst time of me life. Why d’ye keep makin’ me relive it?”

“I just wantae ken why ye wed him. Why did ye nae wait fer me?”

“Ach! Are ye jestin’with me? I told ye, I waited two miserable, endless years. Was that nae enough?” she demanded bitterly, her eyes flaring with anger. “I’ve already told ye why I married him. Me maither was worried about me. She wanted tae see me settled, and Sloan asked me tae wed him. He was a good man, and he loved me.”

“But ye didnae love him?”

“Ye ken all this. I’m nae gonnae keep explainin’ mesel’ just tae make ye feel better.”

“Did ye love him?” he repeated with emphasis.

“Ach, once and fer all, nay, I didnae love him!” she shot back, clearly flustered. “Daes that make ye feel better?”

“It daesnae make me feel any better,” he assured her with some bitterness of his own. “Nae at all.”

“Well, good, I’m glad. Ye broke me heart intae pieces. D’ye think I care that ye dinnae like it that I wed Sloan after ye deserted me? Because I dinnae!” she declared angrily.

They continued to stare at each other, finishing their food in the short silence that descended between them. Finally, Tadhg managed to swallow his pain and jealousy over Sloan along with his bread and tea.

“Ach, ye’re right. What’s the point tae keep goin’ over it? I’m sorry fer bringin’ it up. ’Tis late. Let’s try tae get some sleep.” He began tidying away the remnants of their meal in preparation.

“Aye, it’s been a long day, and the whisky has just about finished me off,” Alana admitted, stifling a big yawn with her hand. “I feel exhausted.” She shivered as she drew her cloak around her and lay down on the nearest bedroll.

“If ye’re gonnae be cold in the night, we should put the bedrolls together and cuddle up tae keep warm,” he suggested, seeing an opportunity to get close to her.

She sighed. “We can put them next tae each other. There’s nae need tae cuddle. We’ll keep warm just the same without that,” she insisted, watching dubiously as he moved his bedroll next to hers.

“All right, but dinnae blame me if ye get cold. And if ye change yer mind, I’m right here,” he told her, lying down at her side but being careful not to touch her.

“Ye dinnae need tae remind me,” she murmured, turning her back to him.