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K eira stared at him, as if what had just happened was anyone’s fault but her own. Disbelief flashed across her face.

Nay. Nay. Absolutely nae.

Time seemed to stop, and for what seemed to be the next minute or two, she couldn’t think of anything else. Anything except the way her heart continued to thump in her chest, as if any slight movement would yank it out almost immediately.

She looked around the apothecary, desperately searching for something that would pull her away from him, permanently .

That was her first kiss—and she had it with the enemy! She would know that because this was the first time she recognized how it felt.

Was this what it felt like to be kissed? To feel a hand roam over her body and pull her closer in the throes of desire?

The distance between them was still unnervingly small, and she could tell from Evander’s dark gaze that he was ready for more.

Except she wasn’t.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was supposed to be a mild confrontation. It was all a joke she had started in order to vex the Laird so much that he would decide to leave her castle. So why had she just locked lips with him?

This was bad. This was so bad.

Her eyes darted to the door, and she wondered for the briefest of seconds if her friend and man-at-arms were still behind it.

Had they heard the groan that had escaped her lips and the low, rhythmic hum Evander made?

Were they just waiting for her to come out of the room so she could be properly challenged for what she had just done?

“I need to leave,” she finally managed to say and turned around.

“M’Lady—”

“Dinnae stop me. Please.”

“Are ye just going to leave without saying anything?” Evander asked, throwing his hands up in the air.

“There’s nothing to say,” Keira muttered, her eyes scanning the untidy tables.

“Is that it? Ye plan to take the easy way out?”

She shook her head. “There is nay easy way out.”

Her hands began to sort through the items on the table of their own accord. A teapot there, a gourd there. She lifted every dry herb and looked into every box.

She could feel the despair in Evander’s gaze as he continued to stare at her.

“Oh, but there is. And that is what ye’re doing right now.”

“What would ye rather have me do? I am the widow of the former Laird. Ye attacked this castle and took it by force?—”

“By force?”

“Ye ken what I mean.”

“Nay, I dinnae. Perhaps ye would like to explain further?—”

Keira walked to the giant cupboard tucked against the wall and pulled the doors open. Just as she had scanned the tables, she looked inside the cupboard as well.

Again, she could feel the heat of Evander’s gaze intensify because the back of her neck burned as her hands worked.

“Is that how ye have handled yer men so far? Sweep things under the rug when it is time to talk?”

“I’ve never had to sweep things under the rug.”

“Well, for someone who has never done that before, ye seem to be an expert at it. Ye’re doing it perfectly now.”

“That is nae what I’m doing.”

“Are ye certain? Because that is exactly what it looks like to me—and what the devil are ye even looking for in that cupboard? Am I really such a bore that ye dinnae want to talk to me?” Evander pressed, raking a hand through his hair.

“I dinnae find ye a bore. I am looking for something.”

“Is what ye’re looking for a way out of this conversation? I can easily provide that for ye.”

“Again, I am looking for something.”

Evander crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch her rifle through the items in the cupboard. Time seemed to pass so slowly as she worked, nothing occupying her mind except for the kiss they had just shared.

Where would she even start if she wanted to discuss something like that? Would she have to talk to him about it later? Would that be necessary? Was this just something that happened once and was never bound to happen again?

No, she couldn’t think to that extent. He had promised to help her find a husband, and she was certain he would deliver on his promise as long as she made it clear that she wouldn’t remain in the castle longer than necessary.

“Ye havenae found what ye’re looking for yet?” he asked.

She could tell from the tone of his voice that he was growing more exasperated. It was only a matter of time before it turned into annoyance, and she wasn’t sure what he would do when he was annoyed. She was not particularly keen on finding out, either.

“Just give me a few more seconds,” she pleaded, kneeling before the cupboard and looking through the lower shelves. “I am certain it is here somewhere.”

“What is?” Evander asked.

He was still certain—at least from the way she spoke—that she wasn’t looking for anything. She just wanted to avoid a much-needed conversation and do it as peacefully as she possibly could.

“Again, if ye plan to just avoid this conversation, I promise ye I can do it for ye. All I have to do is?—”

“I found it.” Her voice was calm and gentle, but for some reason, it rang out like a bell, signaling that the line of conversation was dead.

The smell of herbs and tinctures filled her nostrils as she pulled something out of the cupboard, her hand curled tightly around it. A vial.

“A vial? Is that why ye cut me off? Because ye wanted to take out a vial?”

“If ye let me talk, I will tell ye why this is quite important,” Keira scoffed, rolling her eyes.

She rose from the floor and walked to him, dangling the vial filled with what seemed to be shiny purple liquid before him.

“This is for ye.”

“For me?” Evander echoed.

Keira nodded and handed it to him.

Evander’s eyes darted between her and the vial for the briefest of seconds, and she could see it on his face—the calculation.

“’Tis nae poison, Mr. Kincaid.”

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“If I wanted to kill ye, I would’ve done it the day ye trampled on me flowers in the garden.”

“I dinnae remember that.”

“Certainly, ye dinnae,” Keira drawled. “Now, take the vial from me hand before I change me mind.”

He nodded and grabbed the vial.

“’Tis a bathing oil. For ye. I just remembered I asked me maid to take the ones I use out of me room?—”

“Ye mean the Laird’s quarters.”

“ Me room,” Keira emphasized, her voice thick. “This must be quite fun for ye. Interrupting me whenever ye feel like it.”

“I can say the same about ye. Ye seem to do it effortlessly. Ye dinnae give a care as to whether I am the Laird or nae. Ye interrupt me, ye call me Mr. Kincaid, kennin’ full well?—”

“Do ye need me to tell ye how the oil works or nae?” she cut him off.

“And there it is,” he muttered.

A tense silence descended between them, where one waited for the other to speak—to say something .

“Do ye?” Keira finally spoke, unable to bear the suffocating silence.

“Do I what?”

“Need me to tell ye how the oil?—”

“I am certain that I ken how bathing oils work, Lady Blythe. ‘Tis nae me first time taking a bath.”

“I see.”

Another moment of silence passed between them, one Keira was determined not to suffer this time around.

“I need to go to the village. There are some things I need there.”

Evander narrowed his eyes at her. “Things?”

“Aye,” she responded, her voice curt.

She then made her way to the door, half hoping he wouldn’t stop her and half hoping he would.

Why did she secretly pray that he would grab her wrist and let her push him against the door one more time?

No, this is not normal.

Yet the thought lingered, and she hated it. She hated the power he had over her, and she prayed fervently that he couldn’t see it.

“And one more thing,” she added, turning around as she reached for the doorknob. A strained, wan smile curved her lips as her eyes met his. “If ye ever touch me like that again, one baby goat will be the least of yer worries.”

“Huh?”

“I will stuff yer room with so many baby goats that ye willnae have space to even breathe.”

A flicker of amusement flitted over Evander’s face, but she chose not to address it. She had done enough.

They had done enough.

She pulled the door open and walked out, refusing to say anything else. She could still feel his eyes on her as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her. It took everything in her not to cast one last glance at him.

The hallway was empty, thank God. However, as she made her way to the new room her maids had set up for her the previous day, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was because she had remained in the apothecary with Evander for so long, or if it was because Lesley and Hudson both retired to their respective quarters.

But the apothecary belonged to Lesley, who could have gone in there at any moment.

Now wasn’t the time to think about that.

Maids greeted her as she continued to walk, the smell of fresh earth filling her nostrils. Everything felt new to her, different, and part of her hated it. Keira hated what this represented, and she hated the fact that he had stolen her first kiss .

Her very own mortal enemy. The man who had swooped right beneath her nose and stolen her castle.

What she hated more than that was the fact that she had enjoyed it. She had enjoyed every minute and had been reluctant to stop. As she stumbled over one of the stones in the yard that led to her door, part of her wondered what the kiss would have led to if she hadn’t put a quick stop to it.

She stopped before her door to take a few deep breaths. Her room was just a floor below the Laird’s, which was only proper because she was still widely respected. So respected that she was still called to settle matters instead of him.

After gathering her strength, ready to put what had just happened behind her, she pushed her door open and walked in. But the sight that greeted her caused her to halt abruptly. She swallowed thickly.

Lesley was sitting on her bed, a sharp, inquisitive look on her face.

“Ye look red,” she noted, staring at her.

“Nay, I dinnae.”

“What did he want? Was it to torture ye again? I have told ye to find a way to stand up to him.”

Keira was rooted to the spot, part of her wondering if she should tell her friend what had just happened. Would her friend understand? Would she give her some advice and steer her in a different direction?

“Are ye going to say anything or nae?” Lesley’s voice had come like a giant horse, barging into her thoughts.

“Get ready,” Keira said instead, ultimately deciding to keep the kiss to herself—for now. “We are going to the village. There are some people I need to meet, and ye will be coming with me.”

“Are ye certain?”

“Aye.”

“Is he still in the apothecary?”

“Nay, I dinnae think so,” she answered. “Come help me with this dress.”

As her friend rose from the bed and walked toward her, Keira couldn’t help but wonder if she was handling her new situation the way she should. It wasn’t like she had any model or lessons about this growing up.

As her friend loosened her corset, she prayed desperately that when she returned, this would all be an old story and she would be able to properly put it behind her.

Hopefully, Evander would be able to do the same.