Page 39 of The Icy Highlander's Virgin

But patience, he was beginning to realize, was a luxury he could no longer afford.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ineed to speak to Erica right now.

Lachlan rode back to Castle Kinnaird with purpose burning in his veins. He could no longer afford to dance around his wife's fears. Too much depended on securing his line, and he'd wasted enough time being patient.

The lake. His sanctuary, the place where he went to think, to find peace. If he could get her away from the castle, away from the reminders of her fear, perhaps he could finally reach the woman beneath the terror.

Just the two of them in the wild would make it easier for them to talk, to break through whatever walls she'd built between them.

He dismounted in the courtyard and strode through the castle corridors with focused determination. He needed to find Erica, and he needed to make this happen today.

The sound of laughter drew his attention toward the solar. He found her sitting inside with Hayden, Mairi's young son.

The boy was chattering animatedly about something, his small hands gesturing wildly, and Erica was listening with genuine attention, a soft smile on her face.

It was the first real smile he'd seen from her in days.

"I see ye've met little Hayden," he said as he approached, his voice cutting through their conversation.

Both Erica and the boy looked up, startled. Lachlan was satisfied when he saw a blush creep across Erica's cheeks, the way her breath caught slightly at the sight of him. Good. At least he still had some effect on her.

"Laird Lachlan!" Hayden jumped up excitedly. "Lady Erica was tellin' me about the flowers at her old castle. She says they have roses bigger than me head!"

"Does she now?" Lachlan's eyes never left Erica's face, watching the way she ducked her head under his scrutiny.

"Aye! And she's very pretty," Hayden announced with the blunt honesty of childhood. "I'm goin' to marry her when I grow up."

"Are ye?" Lachlan's mouth twitched, though his expression remained stern. "I'm afraid ye're too late, lad. Lady Erica is already married. To me."

Hayden's face fell. "But she's so pretty..."

"She is. Which is why I married her first." Lachlan's voice carried just a hint of amusement. "Ye'll have to find yer own bonnie lass to wed."

The boy sighed dramatically, then brightened. "Will ye help me find one?"

"When ye're older, perhaps. Now run along—I need to speak with me wife."

Hayden nodded and scampered off toward the kitchens, probably looking for his mother or, more likely, some sweets to console himself.

Erica watched him go with obvious fondness, then turned back to Lachlan with renewed wariness. "Should we leave him by himself? He's so young..."

"Hayden kens this castle inside and out," Lachlan dismissed her concern. "He's in nay danger here. Besides, I have more pressin' matters to discuss."

"Do ye?" she asked carefully. "I dinnae expect ye to come lookin' for me. We've barely spoken in days."

"Because ye have been purposeful in avoidin' me."

He watched her eyes widen, but she didn't deny it.

"I want to take ye somewhere."

The change in her demeanor was immediate. Her shoulders tensed, and she stood from the bench, putting distance between them. "I'm nae ready for an outin'. Perhaps another day?—"

"Lass," his voice cut through her protests like a blade, "I said ye're comin' with me, and ye will. Ye cannae say nay to me."

Before she could retreat further, he reached out and grasped her wrist. The moment his fingers closed around her delicate bones, she flinched—a violent, instinctive recoil that he felt like a physical blow.