Page 50 of A Highland Bride Disciplined

Kian sighed again. “If she keeps lookin’ at me like she did last night, I may do somethin’ foolish.”

That was when Elise giggled.

Not a little coo or a curious squeak, but a real, hiccupping, belly-deep laugh.

Kian startled, nearly dropping her. “What in th —?”

The baby laughed harder.

Scarlett burst back into the room, her mouth agape. “Was that…?”

Kian turned to her, looking stunned. “I dinnae do anything!”

Elise was in fits now, wriggling in his arms and gurgling between giggles.

Scarlett stared. “She’s never laughed like that before.”

“What do ye mean, she’s never laughed?”

“Nay, I just mean, she’s laughing so hard.”

Kian shifted awkwardly, his cheeks coloring. “Well, she just… started while I was talkin’. Complaining, really.”

Scarlett stepped forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “What were ye sayin’ to her?”

Kian straightened, suddenly looking like a man who’d been caught mid-confession. “Nothin’ worth repeatin’.”

“Oh?” she pressed, lips curving. “That bad?”

He cleared his throat, shifting Elise to his other arm like it was the most natural thing in the world now. “She was just makin’ faces. That’s all.”

Scarlett raised a brow. “Right.”

He scowled. “What’re ye smirkin’ about?”

“She likes ye. That’s all.” She nodded toward Elise, who was still squirming in his arms, cheeks flushed and happy.

Kian looked down, then back at Scarlett.

He didn’t say anything.

Scarlett watched him, really watched him, and something tugged at her chest. The sight of him, hair tousled, holding a baby like he wasn’t quite sure what to do but trying anyway, was disarming.

She took a breath. “I’m almost ready. I just need to fix me hair.”

Kian nodded, his gaze never leaving Elise. “Take yer time.”

The door flew open without warning, connecting with the stone wall loudly.

Scarlett flinched, already halfway toward Kian and Elise with a soft laugh still playing at her lips. But the voice that followed wasn’t Tam or Morag or any other soul who might have had the sense to knock first.

It was Effie.

“Oh saints above, I dinnae think I was this late!” the maid cried. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry — wait! Wait, are ye both — och! Oh me! I’ve interrupted, have I nae?”

Kian shot Scarlett a stern look. He was still holding the baby awkwardly in the crook of one elbow.

Handle this.Was all but implied with that look.