Page 82 of Secrets of a Kilted Seduction

“Aye, so it seems. I was astonished and sad tae hear it, but it solves the mystery fer me. Now, I’m just happy that ye’re safe and that ye’re here with me at last.”

“Me too, but it was nae yer fault, Faither, and it’s all come right in the end. Just think how happy Maither would be tae ken we’re together now,” she said, wanting to cheer and comfort him after the terrible losses he had suffered.

“What d’ye think ye’d like tae dae now? Would ye like tae stay here as the laird’s daughter?” he asked, a trace of nervousness in his voice.

“Aye, I think I would like that, Faither,” she replied happily.

“Och, that’s what I hoped ye’d say,” he told her, and they smiled at each other before embracing, sharing their first ever hug as father and daughter.

They were interrupted by a snore from Tadhg that was so loud, it startled him awake.

“What?” he muttered as his eyes opened and alighted on them. He smiled sheepishly to see them laughing at him. “Och, sorry, did I drop off?” he asked a little hoarsely, yawning, rubbing his eyes, then running his fingers through his hair in a useless bid to tame it.

“Aye, ye’ve been snorin’ for ages,” she told him affectionately. “Ye snored so loud, ye even woke yersel’.”

“I apologize fer the snorin’. I’ve nae had much sleep in the past few days.”

“Aye, I can see that,” Alana replied, thinking how adorably befuddled and boyish he appeared. A great wave of tenderness for him washed over her. She wanted to go and put her arms around him and kiss him, thank him from the bottom of her heart for all he had done for her.

She yearned to tell him she loved him, that she never wanted him to leave her side again. But she needed them to be alone for that.

To her surprise, her father seemed to read her mind, for he suddenly said, “I’ll leave ye two tae have a talk. I’m sure ye have a lot tae catch up on, with all that’s happened. Besides, now I’m back, there’s much work tae be done.” He turned a fond look on his daughter. “Shall we meet up later and talk some more? If ye feel up tae it, that is,” he added, getting to his feet.

“Aye, I’m lookin’ forward tae talkin’ with ye,” she said, giving his hand an affectionate squeeze before she let him go. He kissed her cheek and smiled at them both before leaving quietly.

She was alone with Tadhg.

They looked at each other, and the atmosphere was immediately tense. The very air in the room seemed to vibrate like a living thing.

She knew he felt it too, by the awkward way his gaze rested on her one moment and then moved away the next, only to repeat the process several times. He cleared his throat, fiddled with his hair, then rubbed his chin, glancing at her as though trying to decide something.

’Tis almost like he’s scared of me!

“Hello,” he finally said a little tentatively, smiling at her, and holding her gaze firmly this time.

“Hello,” she replied, a mirroring smile blossoming on her lips. She felt the urge to put him at his ease.

His relief at her welcoming response was both obvious and immediate. It was visible in the way his shoulders relaxed, and in the way the anxiety left his expression. “I’m awful glad tae see ye awake.”

“I’m glad tae see ye too,” she confessed truthfully, thrilling to the sound of his voice. She had not expected to hear it ever again, but now it felt like madness to have ever imagined wanting to live without it. “Thank ye fer bein’ here and stayin’ with me while I was asleep.”

“I had tae stay, Alana. I couldnae leave without makin’ sure ye’re all right,” he said earnestly. “But I’ll go now if ye want me tae.”

“Tadhg,” she said softly, holding out her hand to him, moved almost to tears by his humility. “Stay.”

His handsome features suddenly lit up, all the sadness and anxiety draining away. Eagerly, he scooted his chair closer to the bedside, leaned his massive forearms on the edge, and enfolded the proffered hand in his own large ones.

As her fingers curled into his palm, Alana suddenly felt afresh the warmth and the sense of safety his touch always seemed to provide. She asked herself how she ever could have imagined for a moment she could do without it?

“Ach, ye look very tired,” she said sympathetically, worried for his wellbeing. Now they were so close, she could plainly see marks of worry and exhaustion etched around his mouth and eyes. “Ye need a good night’s sleep.”

“Aye, ye’re probably right, though I feel better fer havin’ a wee nap.” He shot her a cheeky look and added, “And fer seein’ ye, of course. That’s a tonic in itself.”

She had to laugh. “Likewise,” she replied, squeezing his fingers.

He seemed surprised by that, in a good way. “So, what daes this mean?” he asked looking at their hands, his expression turning more serious. He did not wait for her reply before continuing in a rush. “I tried tae leave, Alana, I really did, but I just couldnae dae it. I couldnae just leave ye here with Blaine, uncertain if ye’d be safe. I’m sorry.”

“’Tis all right. I understand now why ye did what ye did. Ye were tryin’ tae protect me from hurt, just like Maither did when she told me me faither was a sailor who died at sea. It was a lie but told with the best of intentions. Ye thought ye were actin’ in me best interest by keepin’ things from me, even though I couldnae see it at the time,” she confessed.

“Ach,” he murmured, pressing her hands to his forehead for a moment as though in prayer before lowering them to his lips and kissing them. “Ye dae understand.”

“Aye, I understand, and I’m truly grateful that ye didnae dae what I so foolishly asked and leave me all alone here. If ye hadnae disobeyed me and come back fer me, I’d be married tae Blaine by now. It would have been worse than dyin’.” She shuddered at the thought before going on. Tadhg, I wish I could tell ye how many times I regretted sendin’ ye away like that. It was rash and cruel; I see it now. I took nae account of yer sufferin’, only me own. I’m deeply sorry for the way I acted and I’ll always be grateful tae ye fer all ye’ve done fer me.”

She sat forward slightly, wanting to impress her words upon him. “In the chapel, when ye burst in tae rescue me, it felt like a miracle. Ye’re me miracle, Tadhg, me hero.”

“Ach, wheesht yer noise, lass. I’m nae hero, and I’m certainly nae miracle,” he said in his usual modest fashion, his cheeks flushing with pleasure, nevertheless.

“Deny it all ye like, but ye’re me hero, and that’s all there is tae it,” she told him firmly.

“I ken better than tae argue with ye, so we’ll leave it at that, eh?” he replied. “Alana, I just need ye tae ken that I love ye, and I’ll wait forever fer ye tae forgive me. If ye give me another chance, I swear I’ll never keep any secrets from ye ever again. D’ye think ye can ever forgive me?”

Propelled by an enormous urge to show him the depth of her feelings, she let go his hands and knelt up in the bed, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and smiling into his eyes.

“I’ve forgiven ye already. I’m just sorry we had tae go through all this fer me tae realize it,” she told him, her heart fluttering so wildly in her chest she was sure he must be able to feel it.

“Yer words are like sweet music tae me ears, lass,” he whispered as their lips softly met at last, and they shared a tender, meaningful kiss that expressed their intense, unbreakable love for each other as well as their hopes for a happy future spent together.