Page 9 of When a Highlander Vows (Enemies to Lovers #1)

9

C aitlin held her breath as the laird looked down at her with his frightening eyes. They were steely yet not without beauty. When he touched her skin, she breathed in, afraid of how his touch sent shocks through her whole body. How the feel of his thumb under her lip made her want everything she’d hidden away for so long.

She wanted to be like other people, finding the love of someone and feeling their affection. Their mouths meeting, their bodies coming together. She knew nothing of it, and yet watching the laird as he looked at her made her want all of it at once. It was like a cord was pulling her closer to him, and she sighed with what she thought was relief as she saw his mouth moving toward hers.

Finally, it will happen.

But in the distance, the click of a lock and the screech of a door echoed against the walls of the garden, and just as quickly as the laird had grabbed hold of her as if he didn’t want to let go, his hands dropped from around her, and he stepped back.

“Lucas!” Lottie called, and he stepped back even further.

They stared at each other for a few seconds, Caitlin’s chest heaving for breath, her body trying to recover from her disappointment. But now he was looking at her as if confused, surprised, and angry.

“We need to go,” he said, and he took the back of her elbow and led her back out into the garden to the door.

“There ye are,” Lottie said, hands on her hips, beaming at them both. “Thought we’d lost ye both.”

“Did ye now? Nan, I will talk to ye later.” He dropped Caitlin’s arm, and without sparing her a glance, he walked away, his bootsteps sounding like hammers against the stone.

Caitlin stared after him for as long as she could see him, and she pressed her lips together to hold back the tears.

“Are ye all right, dear?” Lottie asked, concern in her eyes.

Caitlin swallowed and faced the old woman. “Och, aye, forgive me. I think I am simply tired. It has been a long day.”

“So it has. The others have gone to their beds now, and they told me to bid ye good night.” She took Caitlin’s arm and patted her hand as they walked into the long passageway of the castle.

Lottie closed and locked the door behind them. “Caitlin, ye will have to forgive me grandson. He has never been very good with manners, I’m afraid.”

“It is nay concern,” Caitlin said, and her voice was thick with emotion. “I ken he has had a difficult day as well, invitin’ a stranger into his home.”

She did not mention the strange battle, seeing that he’d not told his grandmother.

“Och, he has done what was best, and now ye are here with us.” Caitlin could hear how pleased the old woman was.

She cleared her throat. “I wonder, Lottie, why was the garden door locked? It seemed to make the laird very angry.”

Lottie laughed, and she winked at Caitlin. “Just an old trick I like to play on me young grandson. He is far too serious, and sometimes he needs a reminder that life is to be enjoyed.” She shook her head, and her smile remained, but it softened a little. “He and I have both endured hardship in our lives, but while I laugh, he glowers. I want him to enjoy his youth, ye see.”

Caitlin listened as Lottie led her through the passage, past the main hall, and up the stairs. “I hope ye enjoyed yer first dinner here at the Castle. Pay nay mind to Paige.” Lottie rolled her eyes. “The lass has far too high an opinion of herself. Fashions herself as the bonnie one here in the Castle. Nay doubt she felt a spike of jealousy when she saw yer bonnie face and heard ye meant to stay.”

Caitlin blushed, and she was glad when they stopped outside her door. “Surely ye daenae mean that, Lottie. What a silly thing.”

“Nae at all! I speak the truth, Lass. There is nae a soul who could nae see what beauty ye have. Now, ye go in there and have yerself a bath. There is a maid to help ye, and the water is already in the tub for ye.”

“Thank ye, Lottie. Ye have been very kind.” She could feel the tears coming, and she couldn’t wait to get into her chamber and finally let them free once the maid left.

“Welcome. See ye on the morrow, Lass. We’ll have much to discuss.”

Lottie gave her another smile and then left. With relief, Caitlin turned into her chamber.

The maid, named Arla, was kind and gentle. She helped Caitlin into the bath, poured her a glass of wine and left her on her own. Caitlin sat for a long while, staring into the flames in her hearth. It was summer, and yet it was fading soon. The chill was slowly coming back into the air, and with the stone walls which now encased her, it was chillier still.

But the soapy water was warm, and she felt comfortable and cozy in the chamber she’d been given. Sipping at her wine, she allowed the feeling of warmth to seep through her every muscle.

I willnae think about that almost kiss. I willnae.

But every time she forced her mind away from it, the memory of it came sneaking back. She could still see the desire in his eyes, and the way his body felt against her own. She eventually allowed her mind to sink into the memory, and she laid her head back on the tub and gave into it.

Lucas went to his study right after they’d escaped from the library, and he hadn’t looked back. He could hear his grandmother speaking some nonsense to Caitlin before he found his way to his study and slammed the door behind him.

The dog, Fallows, and the cat, Percy, jumped at the sound. He ignored them. Groaning aloud with fury, he went to sit down. But after only a few seconds, he found he could not sit. Instead, he got up and paced. He had just fought two strange men that night as well as threatened a young lass to come to his Castle.

And ye nearly kissed her. Nearly devoured her with yer foolish desire.

“So what? Is that a terrible thing? She was leanin’ into me as well,” he said allowed turning to the two animals who’d curled up again by the small hearth in his study.

She wanted me to kiss her. I am sure of it.

She did not hide away or cower from the strength of his desire. In fact, she had pulled him close, seeming to want more until the sound of the door opening had broken whatever spell had been cast. For it felt like a spell. She’d drugged him, and he was acting foolish instead of the logical being he usually was.

He groaned again before he sat down and pulled a map toward him, once he rummaged through his pile of papers. He had to focus elsewhere. Thinking about that near kiss would do no one any good, and if it happened again, he was certain his grandmother would find out and think it a proposal.

“Lucas,” his grandmother said, knocking and then opening the door.

“Och, there are me two beauties,” she said, smiling when she spotted Fallows and Percy. “I was wonderin’. Keepin’ yerselves away when ye’ve a guest to comfort.” She scolded them with a pointed finger. “Now, as for ye,” she said, turning to him, and he stood, his fury growing to be too much.

“What? Was I nae a proper guest, Nan? Especially after ye locked us in the garden like we were two fools?”

Chuckling, she picked a seat by the hearth and picked Percy up onto her lap. Petting the cat, she smirked at Lucas.

“It was just a bit of incentive to get ye to start thinkin’ about the future.”

“Nan, this is ridiculous, and ye ken it well! I have a clan to run, to focus on. I daenae need to be plagued with these games! Besides that, ye embarrassed us both. How was I to explain why me grandmaither locked us both in the garden, leavin’ us on our own? What possible bloody reason could I give for that utter nonsense?”

He sighed and sat down again. It was no good to yell, for his Nan would never budge on this matter.

“Lucas,” she said after a few seconds, still petting Percy on the head. “I am sorry for any embarrassment, and I would never wish to embarrass the young lass who has come to stay with us. But there is somethin’ about her. I can feel it. She has the power, Lad. The gift. Somethin’ that makes people look up and take notice. Mark me words, ye will come to see it too. I just needed ye to get out of yer own head so that ye will notice it.”

Lucas looked away and instead stared at the flames in his hearth. He rubbed his jaw in frustration.

Aye, I have already seen it.

“All I ask is that ye daenae embarrass us again, Nan. Caitlin, I will have ye ken, for all yer belief in us bein’ a good match, wants nothin’ to dae with me.”

“What dae ye mean?” She stood, and Percy jumped unhappily to the ground, letting out a low growl of displeasure at being so hastily moved.

Smirking, Lucas realized he had the upper hand. Caitlin being angry with him, and she was surely even angrier after that kiss, would make things all the easier. They would never have to see each other save at mealtimes. And he could sometimes take his meals elsewhere, claiming he was far too busy.

“I mean that she was very happy to hear that she need nae see me at all. That she will only be speakin’ to ye and the others. She doesnae like me after I threatened her to come to the Castle. How I forced her into fulfilling the vow I made with her brother. So, I think all yer matchmakin’ schemes will dae little else but anger and embarrass us all.”

He waited for her answer, watching as she thought of how to reply or thought of an excuse.

“I kenned ye would scare her away with yer gruffness, Lucas. Ye must be kind. I ken ye are a kind man, that ye have it in yer heart, nay matter what ye think. But ye refused to show it.”

He practically growled. “Good night, Nan. We will speak nay more of this for we clearly daenae agree. Now, will ye leave me in peace for the night? I have things to think on.”

“Ye certainly do.” She walked to the door, and Fallows and Percy scampered out. “Just remember. Life is still worth livin’, Lucas. Nae just hidin’ away from.”

He didn’t get the chance to answer before she shut the door, and he was fully alone again. He’d been wanting it all evening, and yet he felt like something was missing.