Page 62 of The Laird’s Sinful Obsession

His eyes narrowed. "How would ye ken that? Ye werenae there."

"Wasnae I?"

"Alba MacKinnon." Lachlann set his cup down slowly, turning to face her fully. "Were ye spyin' on us?"

"Spyin' is such an ugly word."

"What would ye call it then?"

"Observin'." She lifted her chin. "From a safe distance. Behind appropriate cover."

"Appropriate cover." His lips twitched. "And where exactly was this appropriate cover?"

"The tree line near the shore." Alba's cheeks flushed but she refused to look away. "I may have... followed ye all there. Without permission."

"How old were ye?"

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen," Lachlann repeated, something dark and warm entering his voice. "Old enough tae ken better."

"Old enough tae be curious about what me braither and his friends were up tae."

"Is that what ye were curious about?" He leaned closer. “Yer braither and his friends?"

Alba's pulse hammered. "Perhaps I had... specific interests."

"Specific interests." His hand found her knee beneath the table. "Care tae elaborate on that, lass?"

"Nay."

"Nay?" His thumb stroked slow circles through the fabric of her skirt. "Even if I said I might have noticed ye watchin' from those trees? Even if I admitted I may have stayed in that freezin’ water longer than necessary just because I kent ye were there?"

Her breath caught. "Ye... ye kent?"

"I suspected." His hand slid higher, just above her knee. "Confirmed it when Calum mentioned a few weeks later that his wee sister had been askin' very detailed questions about whether I could actually swim or if I just flailed about pretendin'."

"I never—" Alba stopped, biting her lip. "He told ye that?"

"He thought it was hilarious." Lachlann's smile turned wicked. "Asked if I wanted him to tell ye I was actually quite accomplished in the water. Among other things."

"Other things?"

"Shall I show ye?" His voice dropped to a murmur. "When this is all over?"

Heat flooded through her. "Lachlann⁠—"

"When I come back," he continued, his hand leaving her knee to cup her face instead. "When Torquil's men are dealt with and ye're safe and we dinnae have tae worry about patrols or threats or anythin' else—" He leaned in until his lips nearly touched hers. "—I'm goin' tae take ye tae that loch. And ye can watch me swim all ye want."

"That's—" She couldn't finish the thought. Couldn't think at all with him this close.

"Scandalous?" He brushed his nose against hers. "Probably. Dae ye care?"

"Nay," Alba whispered. "I dinnae care at all."

His laugh was soft and rough. "Good. Because I've spent too many years pretendin' I didnae notice ye noticin' me. I'm done with that."

The door burst open.