Chapter Fifteen
The sun peeking through the curtains to signal the new day, birds chirping in the tree just outside the bedroom window, pulled Skye from a peaceful sleep. Stretching, she glanced over to see Brodie awake, but his gaze was fastened on the window, not her, his forehead creased with worry. His muscles were tense, and his boyish charm had been replaced by the steadfast resolve of a warrior.
She stiffened. “Do ye see something outside?”
“Nae. All looks well. We should just keep our guard up.” But his casually dismissive tone made the hair on her arms stand up, and she surmised that something had raised his suspicions and he was attempting to soften her concern. He was not the kind to bring up an unfounded fear.
“Ross has no’ yet made an appearance. He doesnae give in easily, especially if I am involved. We have a bit of a history. But what worries me more are Argyll’s orders.”
“Did ye talk to Lachlan? Had he seen them or heard anything?” She was surprised at how easily the man who had kidnapped her in Stirling and the Covenanter earl had slipped from her mind. She had been so focused on Brodie being ill, and then on savoring every moment they had left together, that she’d pushed all else to the back of her mind.
“Nae, he has not. But that doesnae mean the threats arenae nearby. Ross is a crafty bastard, and Argyll has men everywhere.” The lines on Brodie’s brow deepened.
“Mayhap they gave up and went home. It’s been too cold to skulk around looking for me.”
“I heard some odd noises last night. ’Twas probably nothing, but we should be vigilant. Lachlan has assigned men to keep watch over the house until the MacDonald arrives, but ye can never be too careful. Do ye have a dog on the Isle of Skye? They sense danger before people can.”
“Nae, dogs are too much work. Truthfully, I have always wanted a cat.” Despite the sincerity to her words, she couldn’t help but smile inwardly at what she knew his reaction would be.
He scowled, and a satisfied smirk spread across her lips. Brodie had never liked cats. Once when they had been at Donella’s, Skye had picked up a wee baby kitten and tried to get him to hold it. He had backed from the room and disappeared. Since then, she’d teased him about his aversion to the small animals that she found warm and comforting.
“What do ye want one of those creatures for? Their claws are vicious, and they smell.” He shuddered and she laughed.
“The wee things are irresistible.”
“Ye are irresistible.” He rolled on top of her and tickled her. She laughed, and her bare body rubbed against his, reigniting the fire for him that burned deep and hot.
…
After spending the morning visiting with Brodie’s mother and father, Skye found herself sprawled on the floor of his parent’s stables inspecting a new litter of puppies. She giggled as a scruffy little collie with deep soulful eyes jumped into her lap. The others rolled and tumbled as they played and yapped. Nipping at each other, they rustled the hay, kicking up a slightly earthy mildew smell.
The only pup that had stopped to investigate her wore black and white on its face like a mask. It pounced up and stretched its paws onto her chest, and its silky black nose pressed into her neck before it licked under her chin.
“He likes ye.” Brodie’s deep voice sent chills through her as he knelt behind her, his face so close she could almost feel his breath on her neck.
The pup licked again, and she pulled back, right into Brodie’s hard body. It was warm and solid, reassuring. Turning into him, she was met by his warm brown gaze. He took a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger.
“Brodie.”
“Aye, love.” His lazy, hooded gaze heated her as her breath became shallow, and she suddenly didn’t want the moment to end, didn’t want her uncle to come for her. This was the life she was meant to have.
Was there any way to bring it back? Was there any way her uncle could or would release her from her obligation? Would she face the chance of being alone for just a little more time with Brodie?
“Kiss me.” Licking her lips, she inched closer to his warmth, determined to enjoy every second she had left with him. Her hand slid under his plaid and inched higher, caressing his leg and eliciting a soft moan from deep in his throat.
Brodie’s fingers forked through her hair to grasp the back of her head. Pulling her in, he said, “Ye are going to drive me mad, love.” Then his lips were crushing hers.
He tasted of sweet honey and wine, of the promise of more to come. This was where she belonged, in his arms, with the man who had always held her heart in the palm of his hand. But it might destroy her if she stayed.
A soft scratching on her arms startled her. She pulled back to see the rest of the pups had stopped playing with each other and were now bouncing around them looking for attention.
“Och, love.” He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I was about to take ye on the stable floor. I think ’tis time we get back. I’ll go tell Mother that we’ll come back for the late meal.”
“Aye, dearest. I want ye in my bed.” She gave him what she hoped was a take me there and ye will not regret it look. She must have succeeded because his eyes dilated, and he pinned her with such a hungry gaze that she thought he would lay her down and finish what they’d just started.
He stood and turned to walk from the small space as she leaned back on her palms to watch him leave. His muscular legs were at eye level, and she could almost feel the silky steel of them rubbing with hers as they lay tangled together.
She sat up then cradled the pup in her arms and stood to watch his powerful legs carry him toward his parents’ home. A chill breeze blew through the stable. She shivered. The snow had melted out in the open, but patches of the white stuff remained in shaded areas, and a bitter cold had moved back in.
Scampering around the corner, a dark haired boy who looked to be all of about four years appeared. His inquisitive eyes landed on Brodie, then he squealed and ran toward him. Brodie picked up the smiling child and twirled him around in circles. The wee one smiled up at him with matching dimples.
Skye’s heart started to thud. The slant of his nose and the slightly larger tip at the end were identical to Brodie’s. It struck her like a blow to the chest when she had a flashback of Brodie as a child. The lad could have been Brodie’s twin. Nora Stewart appeared from around the corner of the house holding a babe, and Skye realized these were his brother’s children.
Brodie’s head dipped as he lovingly smiled and placed a kiss on the wee babe’s head. Her heart stilled, but at the same time, it beat out of control. Erratic, irrational, terrified.
Her gaze locked on the boy still in his arms. Brodie’s face glowed with the love he held for his nephew—the one thing she wanted so desperately to give him and knew she couldn’t. A strange resignation flooded her senses—she had been wrong. She didn’t belong here. She couldn’t give Brodie the family he deserved, and she couldn’t stand the heartbreak of not having a family to keep her company when he left her alone.
With numb arms, she lowered the puppy to the ground. It peeked through heavy lids and yawned, but went right back to sleep as she laid it tenderly with its siblings. They had curled up in the straw and stilled. At the loss of its warmth she shuddered again. It belonged here, warm and safe with its family. She had no family here.
The small space had become stifling. She needed air, but didn’t want them to see her, so she pivoted and walked in a disoriented haze to the door at the back of the stables. The air wasn’t enough to give her the clarity she sought.
Heavy feet carried her toward her old home. Breathing became difficult as each inhalation became lodged in her throat, and no matter how she tried, her lungs would not fill. It felt as if a heavy object pressed against her chest, crushing her along with any dreams she harbored that she and Brodie might still stand a chance.
It was for the best. She should be happy knowing that once she left he would be able to find a woman and have the family he dreamed of. After all, it was what she should wish for him as she moved on to take her place with the MacPherson clan.