Page 16 of The Chief's Wild Promise
Rising to her feet, Makenna sheathed her dirk. Her pulse, which had only just settled, started to thud in her ears once more. The bastard had just shattered her peace.
Ironically though, there was an odd camaraderie in meeting him like this. He too would be licking his wounds. Makenna’s chest tightened then; it wasn’t usually her way to demean others so. She was sorry for it.
“Good afternoon,” she said huskily.
“Afternoon,” he replied.
An awkward pause followed.
“It’s peaceful in the woods, isn’t it?” she murmured lamely.
“Itwas,” he replied, his tone clipped. They eyed each other in silence for a few moments before he spoke once more. “That was quite a performance earlier.”
She swallowed. “Aye.”
His gaze narrowed. “Is that all ye have to say?”
“I’ve said more than enough … don’t ye think?”
He folded his arms across his chest. “Was it worth it to ye then?”
“Worth it?”
“Aye … ye could have rid yerself of me.”
She pulled a face. “I’m well aware of that. But my clan is too important to me. I could see ye were trying to get out of yer bond … and I couldn’t let ye.”
Silence followed this admission before Mackinnon’s frown deepened. “So, instead, ye made the agreement between us ironclad.” To her consternation, he moved toward her then, in a long, stalking stride that made her want to draw her dirk once more. “There’s no escaping me now.”
“No.” Her pulse quickened. “I try not to think about that.”
He snorted. “Well, ye will have a lifetime to repent … I knowIwill.”
Lord, how resentful he sounded. He’d stopped before her now, and Makenna had to raise her chin to meet his gaze. Up close, his glare burned into her.
She started to gnaw at her lower lip then, something she only ever did when agitated. However, when his gaze lowered to her mouth, she abruptly stopped. Heat washed over her. “What are ye doing out here anyway, Mackinnon?” she asked, drawing herself up and lashing out to disguise her discomfort. “Lurking?”
His auburn brows drew together. “Lurking?”He reached up and raked a hand through his hair. A gesture that left it mussed and spiky. “I’m out here trying to escape my fate … if only for a short while.”
Makenna’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. “I didn’t plan for things to go so far,” she admitted, cutting her gaze from his now. “I only wished to prevent ye and Da drawing yer dirks and going for each other … but then I got carried away.”
“Ye did,” he agreed roughly.
Makenna’s cooling temper flared hot once more. He had the gall to blame her for this mess. “It wasn’t all me,” she snapped. “I wouldn’t have needed to intercede if ye hadn’t tried to slither free of the agreement.”
His jaw muscles flexed, high spots of color appearing on his cheekbones. “Yer father tried to deceive me. I’m sick of all the lies. I’m tired of beingused.”
She made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “Do ye have any idea how bitter ye sound?Yemade the decision to come here.” He actually flinched at that, but she plowed on, the bit between her teeth now. “Watch out … or one day that scowl will fix itself upon yer face. Ye won’t be so pretty then!”
He made a hissing noise through his teeth.
“And ye need to get a hold on that vile temper too,” she added, chin kicking up. “I pity yer household. I’d wager all yer servants cower under yer miserable glare.”
“Ye shall find out soon enough,” he said hoarsely. “Although they’ll need to brace themselves for ye … a woman with a mouth that won’t stop.”
She stifled a gasp at his rudeness. “Not everyone is threatened by a lass with something to say for herself,” she hit back. “Arealman wouldn’t be.”
“There ye go again,” he replied with a sneer. “I’m surprised no one’s tried to sew yer flapping lips closed.”