Page 21 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

21

L ucas knew his grandmother would not forget her plans. She’d been good enough, not pushing them together while he and she made the preparations for the feast, but now that it was here, he knew his Nan would return to matchmaking in full force.

Caitlin looked terrified at the prospect of dancing with him, for he was certain that was why his grandmother had called him over.

“Here ye are, Lucas. The music has begun, and since ye are the Laird, ye must open the dance, and ye must dance with the Guest of Honor, to welcome her to the Castle.”

Nan grinned, pushing on his back to make him step closer to Caitlin, whose shining eyes were both eager and reluctant. He wanted nothing more than to leave, feasts and dancing being at the bottom of the list of things he enjoyed. But he would not hurt Caitlin or embarrass her for the world.

He held out a hand. “Dance with me, Sunshine. Will ye?” For a moment, he thought she’d refuse him, and he’d be both grateful and disappointed.

But after a few seconds, she slipped her soft, little hand into his and gripped it just as tightly as he’d gripped hers at the funeral earlier. “Aye.”

“Very good.” Nan clapped to herself, and the crowd turned to watch them as he led her to the center of the room.

With his eyes on hers, he nodded. “Follow me lead, Lass,” he said, taking her into his arms as the music began, and he took his first step.

She had been shaking at first, once the first strains of music filled the air, but then her muscles relaxed, and she kept gazing at him while he spun her and then pulled her back. The song was slow and sweet. It would be so as the first song before the drink and merriment grew, and the guests would only be able to dance in a merry, jovial fashion, uncaring about the way their limbs flailed.

“Ye daenae have to do this,” she said softly. “It is nae yer duty to me, although Lottie would make it be so.”

“Aye, so she would. I wouldnae dare to defy her in front of the whole clan. But she is right. It is proper that I dance the first one, with ye in me arms.”

His eyes glided to her neck, where he saw her swallow nervously. He remembered the feel of that skin against his lips. The way he wanted to lick and nip at it even then despite the eyes of his clansmen on him. But before his lust could overtake him, he quickly glanced back at her lovely brown eyes. In them, he saw a little fear but also a kind of comfort or hope. He wasn’t sure which.

The song ended, and Lucas moved her to a stop, his hand in hers. Around them, the others clapped and called out, and he watched as Caitlin’s eyes roved over the crowd, only gathering bits and pieces.

Sometimes, it must be nice nae to see everythin’. The world is nae so overwhelmin’ that way.

A new song began, and Lucas ushered Caitlin to the Laird’s table, and he placed a glass of wine in her hands. His heart was beating madly after the dance, even though the sounds of laughter and dancing might normally have distracted his mind from its inner reverie.

“Drink up, Sunshine. Ye will want the strength. It is goin’ to be a long night, and I daresay ye will be asked to dance more than once.”

“Och, say it is nae so,” she said, her brown eyes wide with anxiety, and he let out a breathy laugh.

“It will nae be so terrifyin’ as it was with me, I can assure ye.”

Caitlin looked like she was about to say something, but he bowed to her and turned to go, unable to be around her for another moment just then without touching her. As he grabbed his own tankard of ale from a servant, he felt like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin.

No woman had consumed him like this one. He had always had barriers, ways to protect himself, and with Caitlin MacLennan, they were failing miserably, and he was not sure why. With every word she spoke or movement she made, she turned his eye; she drew his attention. To his eyes, she was like the sun, and even though he knew it was dangerous to look, he had to just to feel the delicious warmth on his face. To feel happiness he had not known before.

“Drinkin’ yerself into a stupor, are ye?” Archie asked, as he slid in next to Lucas on the wall, knocking against his shoulder.

“Aye, that is the plan,” Lucas said, his eyes not leaving Caitlin as she stood alone for a few seconds before people came to speak to her, one of them being Paige.

“Well, ye will likely want yer senses about ye later this evenin’.”

“Och, why?” Lucas asked, turning to his old friend, and he could see the wicked grin on the man’s face.

“Because after that dance, ye will likely wish to take Caitlin into yer arms in a more private location.”

“Bloody Hell, I should have ye horse whipped,” Lucas said, his fist clenching at his side while he drank the rest of the ale in one gulp.

Archie chuckled, standing up straight again. “I saw the way ye looked at her, and I ken what ye feel. Daenae shy away, Lad. She has the same look in her eyes.” He backed away, an infuriating grin on his face.

Lucas resisted the temptation to throw the pewter tankard at his friend before he disappeared. He waved a hand to a passing servant who filled his tankard once again, and he settled back against the wall. It was going to be a long, bloody night.