Page 28 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

28

T hat morning, Lucas had had to settle yet another dispute with the men before things were set fully to rights. After, as if fate was fully against him another hard storm had rolled in, so he and Archie had had to stay one more night, grumbling as they were, in order to set off early the next morning.

He’d hardly slept a wink the night before, thinking of what Archie had said, about giving himself a chance. But as soon as morning hit, he knew he couldn’t risk it. Even if perhaps he did not have the same evil blood as his father, he didn’t want to take the chance in hurting Caitlin like his father had hurt his mother, and how both his parents had hurt him.

“We’ll ride hard, Archie. I want to put this bloody place behind me,” he grumbled before setting Searbas into a rapid pace.

A few hours later, Lucas was starved and sweaty, and the sun was hotter than usual. “I will take meself to the sea, Lad,” he said to Archie once they’d slowed.

Archie nodded, and Lucas raced off toward the line of gray calling to him from afar. He thundered along and only stopped when he reached the shore.

Jumping down from Searbas’ back, he began to tear at his clothes, sweat and dirt covered as they were, until he was bare. He stalked into the sea and dove under the first wave which threatened to crash over him. The coolness of the seawater soothed his aching muscles as well as his aching heart.

When he was out far enough, he treaded water, staring out into the distance, listening only to the sounds of the sea as it ebbed and flowed. It was just what he’d needed after a long frustrating ride as well as a frustrating experience with the men at the border. He would have to send a message to Laird MacGregor to make sure the man knew he was not to be pushed around in this way. He had much better ways to use his time.

Such as kissin’ Caitlin, nay? And more?

To push aside that thought, he ducked under the water again. A few minutes later, he walked up on shore, feeling a bit better and ready to face his Nan and Caitlin in the castle again. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

He was just picking up his clothes when he spotted Caitlin, Paige, and two young men walking along the shoreline. Quickly, he dressed in his kilt and boots, hidden behind Searbas, but he didn’t have time to put on the rest of his clothes before the foursome walked right by him.

“Lucas!” Paige cried with a big smile. “Yer home.”

“Aye,” he said in a gravelly tone, his eyes moving from Paige to the man she walked with and then to the one who walked next to Caitlin.

He didn’t look familiar, but that was not a surprise, seeing as Lucas did not care to leave the castle too much. But a strong pang of jealousy poked at him when he saw the man’s smug smile as well as how close he stood to Caitlin.

Finally, when Lucas looked at Caitlin, she appeared a little pale and surprised, and he saw her eyes move from his face down to his feet. He felt very exposed, with no shirt over his torso, but it didn’t matter, as long as Caitlin would look at him like that. When her eyes returned to his, he could see a heat in them, a desire, just like when he’d kissed her the very first time.

“Welcome back,” she said in an unsteady voice, and his gaze darted to where she held the young man’s arm.

“Thank ye. Just arrived.”

Bloody bastard.

Lucas had never before been so jealous of an arm.

“Laird McDougall,” Caitlin’s young man said, a cheeky grin on his face.

He bowed his head, but Lucas still felt offended. “And ye are, Lad?”

“Bram. Bram MacIntosh.”

“Aye.” He knew the name, and his eyes slid to the other man.

“And ye?”

“Martin, Laird. Martin Scarleton.”

At least the other young man had the decency to look embarrassed. But he looked besotted with Paige, and that eased at least some of Lucas’ frustration. There was another man to distract Paige from her ill-conceived interest in him.

“Aye, I see.” He rubbed a hand through his wet hair. “Well, what are ye doin’?”

“Just strolling along the shoreline,” Paige said. “Bram is the baker’s son, and he’s brought us sweet treats. Did yesterday as well.”

Yesterday?

Lucas was now growing surly. He grew even moodier when he saw Bram look at Caitlin when she wasn’t looking at him. He didn’t like the look in the man’s eyes. It was a hungry look.

Just like the one ye give her.

Clearing his throat, he picked up his shirt. “Well then, me thanks to ye, Bram. I am sure me grandmaither appreciates it.”

“So she does. Said the honey bread was the best thing she ever tasted,” Bram said with another annoying, confident smile.

Lucas just nodded and jumped up on Searbas’ back. “Good day to ye all, then.”

“Good day, Laird,” Bram said, echoing Martin’s words.

“Good day, Lucas,” Caitlin said softly, and he glanced at her another time before he kicked Searbas’ sides and rode off toward the castle.

Caitlin’s mouth was dry as she watched Lucas ride away. She’d hardly been able to think when she’d first seen him come out of the sea. His form had been blurry, of course, but she’d been able to see he was naked, and then when they came up to him, his chest was bare.

It wasn’t fair that a man could be handsome enough to make her unable to think straight. And with water droplets sliding down from his hair and beard and over the great planes of his chest and stomach muscles, it was enough to nearly make her faint.

It was a good thing she held tightly to Bram to keep her legs straight while her eyes had feasted on the male beauty that was Lucas Murdoch. He did not seem pleased, however, and she had seen his angry eyes glance at Bram more than a time or two.

Why should he care who I spend me time with? He has made it quite clear that he cares nothin’.

“Stoic man,” Martin said, as the four of them began to walk back to the castle.

“Aye, serious too. Good fighter, so I hear. I wouldnae wish to find meself on the other end of his blade,” Bram said with a chuckle.

“Nay,” Caitlin said, her voice barely audible.

But ye would wish to find yerself on the other end of his kiss, she reminded herself and then blushed.

“Are ye all right, Caitlin?” Bram asked, dipping his head to look at her.

“Aye, well enough,” she said quickly, annoyed that her blushing was becoming a constant habit. “But I think I would like to return to the Castle.”

“Aye, me as well,” Paige echoed, and Caitlin wondered if her new friend was going to attempt to flirt with Lucas again.

Daenae think of that. Why should ye care?

That thought unsettled her as they chatted amiably on their way back to the castle. When the men left, Paige took her arm and led her through the gates.

“I think Bram is quite smitten,” Paige said.

“So is Martin.”

Paige sighed. “Och, he shouldnae be. We are only friends. I daenae care for him in that way. What about Bram?” she asked in a girlish whisper. “Dae ye care for him in that way?”

“I,” Caitlin stammered. “I daenae ken. I am so unused to things like this.”

“Of course. And I suppose if ye did, ye would ken it. It would be right there on yer heart, showin’ ye.”

Caitlin nodded, wondering if that was true. If it was, then she had her answer, but it was not one she wanted to think about.

“I must return to the healer’s chambers. Sarah needs me help, for her babe is soon to come, I think. Her discomfort rises.”

“Och, dae give her me best. I will go to visit her in her chamber later.”

Paige grinned. “Aye, I will tell her, Lass.” Paige squeezed her arm and then turned away to the stairs which led down to the healer’s chamber.

Caitlin was on her own, and with a fear that she might run into Lucas, she went to the library. Reading would calm her nerves as well as steady her after seeing Lucas like that. When she reached the library, she stole inside quietly and shut the door behind her. Books were sacred things, and the room which held them was a sanctuary.

Walking as if she was in a church, she entered the library to find her favorite seat by the fire taken. By none other than Lucas.

“Och, Lucas,” she said, a sudden heat coursing through her veins. “I dinnae realize ye would wish to come to the library after yer journey.”

“Aye,” he said, standing, a cross look on his features.

He was fully clothed now, but Caitlin couldn’t help but imagine him without, his perfect, masculine body bared to her view.

“And who is that bastard ye were holdin’ ontae so tightly out there?” he asked suddenly, without preamble.

Her mouth opened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. “Ye met him and heard his name. Why does it matter to ye? He is a friend, and he enjoys visitin’ us here.”

“Us, is it?” Lucas asked. “I am certain he comes to see ye and ye only, the way he was lookin’ at ye as if he wished to devour ye.”

With a huff, Lucas turned away and began to pace, a hand passing angrily through his dark hair and then over his beard. “I dinnae like the look of him.”

Caitlin lifted a brow, and she pointed at Lucas when he turned around. “Ye cannae tell me who I am to befriend. I am just residin’ in yer castle. We are nae beholden to one another, nor will I remain if I am to be cowed into submission by ye. I will dae as I please.”

Lucas eyes darkened with fury. His hands moved from his waist to hang at his sides, and they clenched into fists.

“And if I think that the man ye spend time with is a rogue and a cad, ye willnae listen?”

She crossed her arms and took a step back. Despite their anger with one another, she could still feel the draw of him. His possessive gaze, his towering body, the way he smelled. All of it threatened to weaken her resolve. But right then she needed to be focused. He was in the wrong.

“Ye may tell me what ye like. But I willnae simply obey ye because ye are used to it, or because ye speak angrily and expect others to bow down to yer will.” She moved her hands to her slim hips. “Besides,” she said, lifting her chin, gaining courage quickly, “Bram looks at me the way ye dae. With eyes like fire as if ye wish to—” She didn’t finish. After another breath, she said, “I daenae see how ye could judge him for—”

This time she wasn’t able to finish for Lucas’ hand had slid around her waist, and his mouth came down to meet hers.