Her breath caught. Warm, thick. Bare. His shoulders were always bare, begging to be touched—and now she was touching them. Her fingers dug into his skin as he held her up, slowly setting her on the ground.

Their bodies didn’t have an inch of space between them.

When her feet were on the ground, she backed into the horse. He didn’t take his hands from her waist. Instead, he came forward, walking till he was against her so that she had to brace her hands against his chest to feel a semblance of balance.

It didn’t help as she’d thought it would. If anything, the sensation of her hands on the hard planes of his body only worsened her disorientation.

She lifted her face to his, and her hands fisted. God, he was so fierce. His body, his face, his eyes. He gazed at her as if he were remembering everything about her and storing it away for later. It was discerning and exciting at the same time.

Blaine, her mind snapped. Just like that, with that one name, the spell broke for her. She cleared her throat and ducked out of his arm, giving him a falsely bright smile.

“My lord, I would appreciate it if—”

“Kane,” he said, swiping a hand over his face.

“Pardon?”

“Ye’ll call me Kane, no’ ‘my lord’.”

“My lord, I cannot call you—”

He surged forward, taking her jaw in his hand, much like he had when he’d been close to kissing her the night before. Her heart jumped to her throat, but she didn’t move. She held his eyes, an odd sense of warmth blanketing her.

“I donna want to be called lord by you, Alice. We’ll be on a first-name basis and that is that. Do ye’ understand?”

She swallowed. “I do not think you understand. This is improper and only Blaine should—”

“I donna want to hear about that woman,” he growled, leaning close to her. “I am with ye’ right now, no’ her.”

“The whole reason we are together right now is because of her! My lord, I do not understand why we cannot remain proper. This is a simple arrangement so that you will form a relationship with Blaine.”

“‘A simple arrangement’?” he echoed, eyes narrowing. “Nay, my lady. This is no’ just a ‘simple arrangement’.”

“Of course it is,” she snapped, starting to get irate. People were too often trying to make decisions for her, and though this man was the laird and her protector, he could not order her about on lessons about being proper.

He was meant for Blaine, and he would stay that way.

That meant no touching, no heated stares, and no demands. She was here to gauge what kind of man he was while urging him closer to Blaine.

“I won’t allow it to be anything other than that. You are meant for another woman,” she hissed, pulling away from him sharply. “That is all there is to it. You said you would entertain Blaine if I did this. That is the whole reason for everything right now!”

“The deal was only for one evening with Blaine. If ye’ want me to have more with her, I’m going to need to see ye’ more.”

Saeran ground her teeth together. It was so hard not to say something, to curse or to stamp her foot. She would retain the composure of a lady, no matter how hard she wanted to slap his hard, sculpted jaw.

“I have faith that after tonight, you will not require any urging from me.”

He made a rough sound. It was part laugh, part groan. “Have ye’ not seen the woman? Or heard her? Lass, yer naivety is starting to wear on me. Blaine is the last woman I’d want to have dinner with willingly.”

She gasped. How rude of him! He didn’t even know her sister! “Oh, really? Then who else? Name one woman you’d having dinner with, with no urging. You avoid them like the plague! Blaine is the opportune woman. She has a dowry, influence, charisma, all of the things you should admire.”

“Ye’.”

“What?” she asked, drawing away from him. His brows dropped over his eyes and he came forward, stalking her as a lion stalked its prey.

“Ex—excuse me?”

“Ye’ asked me to name one woman I’d have dinner with. I choose ye’.”

“I never made myself an option,” she said thinly. Her eyes widened when her back hit the post. He kept coming, even when she raised her hands to fend him off. They landed on his chest for the second time that day. His heart was pounding as wildly as hers, and she knew it wasn’t because he was worked up over their miniature debate.

“Aye, well, I did.”

“You cannot just do that!” she exclaimed, pushing at his chest. “What if I’m married? You don’t know me from high heaven, my lord. You cannot possibly think this is alright. Especially when Blaine is in the picture.”

“I donna see her here, and I know yer not married.” He smiled down at her, and it was so sensual that her legs turned to liquid. She caught herself on the fence before she could fall.

“She doesn’t have to be here to be in the picture, you brute!” she snapped, furious over this man’s stubbornness. He was not as ignorant as he was sounding—she knew it, felt it, but couldn’t understand why he was throwing caution out the window. Her hand itched to slap him. Then she stiffened. “How do you know I’m not married?”

One corner of his mouth went up. She wrapped her arms around her chest, keeping her shiver to herself. He had to stop doing that, he really did. His face was too harsh to seem attractive when he smiled, but it was, and it made her feel something she’d never felt, right in the pit of her stomach.

“It’s in yer eyes.”

She frowned. “It’s in my eyes? What does that mean?”

“It means,” he growled, catching her chin between his thumb and forefinger, “that I can see the innocence in yer eyes.”

Her face flamed. “My ‘innocence’ is my own business, and I mean to keep it to myself.”

Kane chuckled. “Aye, I’m sure ye’ do.”

She sighed heavily. “My lord—”

“Kane.”

“Kane,” she started, hoping that the small appeasement might make him more willing to listen to her. “Blaine is your intended. We must keep it that way, meaning whatever….whatever was happening a moment ago, must not happen again.”

“What if it does?” he asked, raising a brow.

“It will not.”

“But—”

“It will not,” she said firmly, jabbing a finger at his chest. He caught her wrist in his hand, stared down at her, then dropped it. He backed away.

“I have a question for ye’, lass.”

She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. At least he wouldn’t press the silent issue of their personal space.

“Why is Blaine so important to ye’?”

She froze.

“She…”

Saeran avoided his eyes, unable to finish the sentence. Blaine wasn’t important to her—at least, that’s how it felt. Blaine was more of an excuse to hide behind than anything. But he couldn’t know that—and neither could he know about their relation.

“Do ye’ know her?” he asked, raising a brow.

Saeran shook her head. “Nay. I told you before; I am visiting a friend—”

“Blaine?”

“Someone else. I only know Blaine because of the impending nuptials that should be happening. I noticed the way you avoided her,” Saeran said uneasily. “It made me feel terrible. If I can help her, I should… Shouldn’t I?”

His eyes softened for a fraction of a second, then he scowled. “Who is it that yer visiting, then?”

Her stomach tightened. She was a terrible liar—everyone knew this. The lie stuck in her throat like molasses, thick and unmoving. She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “My brother. He’s...he’s been there for some time, and I came from Abernethy to spend time with him.”

“Really,” he said dubiously. Obviously her lie had not been said with much conviction. “What is yer brother’s name then, lass? I donna remember agreeing to any guests staying with me.”

Her mind raced. She didn’t know a single person that would willingly cover for her. “My brother asked Lady Blaine—she said it was okay.” She pressed a hand to her forehead, hating the corset that was choking her just as much as her lies were. “My lord, I am starting to feel faint.”

All of the suspicion dropped from his face, concern taking over. He gently took her by the elbow, so at odds with the brute strength he exuded.

“I’ve brought water. Do ye’ need to sit down?”

She nodded tiredly, relieved he didn’t notice she was more exhausted with everything, rather than faint because of the weather. Still, she felt bad when he led her to her horse, quickly setting her on top of it.

He retrieved a skin and held it to her. She took it, meeting his eyes.

“I think we’re done here for today.” He mounted his horse and took her rein. She finished taking her drink, then handed the skin back to him. Their fingers brushed. The sensation made her quickly retract her hand

“Are we done now? Can we go back?”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Nay, I’m going to make this as unpleasant as I can for ye’, lass. Yer going to have to stomach my presence awhile more before I let ye’ go.”

She shivered at his words. Let her go... As if he wanted to hold onto her.

Saeran made herself smile. “Where are we off to, then?” Please do not say the keep, pleeeease do not say the keep. She might have gotten lucky by missing Blaine the first time, but her luck could only do so much. It would figure that after the flirtatious way the laird and her had acted, that her sister would catch sight of her.

“There’s a creek that runs behind my keep. I’d like to take ye’ there.”

She knew exactly what he was talking about, and the way he said it... Saeran didn’t know what to do. There was a soft gleam in his eyes, like he knew something she didn’t.

“A creek? In this weather? What for? It’s quite chilly, and there is not much to do at a creek.”

“O’ course there is, lass. Have ye’ never taken a dunk in one?” He gave her a knowing look, like they shared a secret.

“We’ll not be taking one now,” she said, relieved to have avoided a lie. She hated to be untruthful.

“Aye,” he said, chuckling. “We wouldn’t want to hurt yer womanly sensitivities now, would we?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked, frowning at him. She wasn’t womanly at all—for the past month, she hadn’t been allowed! The only thing she was doing right now was trying to keep the man at a distance, since he was meant for her sister!

“Nothing at all.” He smiled in her direction, and then kicked his horse into a gallop. Hers followed suit, forcing her to simmer in silence. He was making fun of her, she realized angrily. He was making fun of her for acting like a lady and keeping her distance! Not only that, but he was avoiding all and any conversation of Blaine. That was the exact opposite of what should be happening!

She should subtly try to reveal traits that he would admire, implanting the idea that she would make a good wife for him. That was the goal of her mission.

So far, she was failing and being teased for it in the process!

The realization forced a blush into her cheeks. He was making it hard for her to stay indifferent, as well. Indifferent and distant was how she needed to be, and it seemed he was doing everything he could to make that impossible!

Just like that, Saeran became furious. So furious that she wanted to reach over and shove him off his horse. How dare he not be as she had thought he was? He was meant to be a barbarian, The Lion of the Highlands. Brutal and merciless, with not a funny bone in his body. Yet...here he was. Teasing her. Not beating her to death like she had been prepared for—

He drew them to an abrupt halt. They weren’t even near the creek.

She frowned, confused.

“What is—”

“Quiet,” he growled, holding up a hand. Saeran didn’t need to be told twice.

She watched as he scanned the surroundings, and a chill took over her. Not because she was frightened of what was wrong—but because of the deadly calm that came over his face. The deadly calm that was mixed with the promise of death.

She heard it.

The pounding hooves, the clatter of metal, and war cries.

“Go,” he commanded, turning toward the attackers. She couldn’t see them, but they were coming up the hill—and fast.

“I cannot just leave—”

“If ye’ donna leave, ye’ll only be a burden. Do ye’ want to die?” he snapped, not even looking at her. She trembled, shaking her head. Her stomach roiled at what he wanted her to do, at the fear that was lacing itself around her heart.

“No,” she whispered, taking her reins tightly in her hands. “But I cannot just leave you here.”

“I’m no’ going to tell ye’ again, lass. Go.”

He didn’t give her a choice over the matter. One second she was staring at him in mute horror, then the next he was slapping her horse’s rear, sending her racing to the keep.