Page 99 of Hard-Hearted Highlander

“Ellis,”Rabbie repeated dubiously.“AndAvaline?”

Bernadette burst into laughter. She tossed the parchment asideand crawled over her husband. He settled his hands on her hips, smiling up ather. “What are you doing,leannan?” he asked.

“I don’t know! I’m delirious,” she said, and kissed him.

His hands began to move on her, sliding over her hips, then upagain, beneath her nightgown. “Delirious, are you?”

“With happiness,” she said. “I still wonder if this is alltrue, Rabbie. I have yet to fully fathom that my heart’s joy was revealed to meby a man standing on the edge of a cliff, preparing to jump.” She laughed.

Rabbie smiled. That man had jumped a long time ago. But he’djumped instead into a marriage with this woman and it was a far superiorlanding.

“Neither can I fathom it,” he said.“Thagaol agam art, mo graidh,”he murmured.

“Oh, Rabbie. I love you, too,” she said, and sank into hisarms.

* * * * *