Page 117 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
“I dinnae think we’ll have any problems with that,” Archer said. “I do love ye, Eileen. I never thought I could love anyone, but ye’ve changed everything.”
“Och, I love ye, too,” Eileen breathed. “Me heart’s been broken since I left yer castle, but just seein’ ye today mended it a wee bit. Bein’ in yer arms again will go a long way.”
“Like this?” Archer asked as he pulled her in an embrace.
“Aye, that’s better,” she murmured.
She looked up at him, and he brought his lips down onto hers. They melted into each other, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
Archer slid his arms under hers and pulled her up against him. He took her lips in a languorous, searing kiss before he let her go.
“Do ye ken that Ivy told me ye were ridin’ off to O’Gunn’s to be wed?”
“And ye believed her?” she asked.
“It nearly killed me,” he admitted. “I rode here immediately.”
“Is it true that ye burst in here shoutin’ me name at the top of yer lungs?”
“Aye, that might be true.” He winced. “I couldnae stop until I found ye.”
“And ye did find me.”
Eileen raised her alluring doe eyes to his, and he leaned down and kissed her again.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked.
“Well, we talk to yer older braither, and I ask for yer hand in marriage.”
“Or ye can just take me back to MacLennan Castle. We will get married, and everyone will just accept it.”
“Aye, we can do that,” Archer acknowledged. “But it’s the right thing to do to talk to yer braither first. Besides, do ye nae want to have yer family at yer weddin’?”
“Aye, I suppose I do,” Eileen relented.
Archer twisted the edges of his mouth as he tried not to smile. “Nay, wait, I have a better idea.”
Her eyes widened a little. “What is it?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him. She was warm, even with the small distance between them. “Ye go and get changed into yer disguise, we leave the castle together as two men, and nay one will ever ken that ye’re gone. How about that?”
“Och, ye are a rotter,” Eileen snorted, pushing his chest. “A braw rotter, but a rotter all the same.”
Archer’s chest rose and fell quickly as he laughed. He grabbed her hand again and pulled her close. She didn't struggle.
“And ye’re marryin’ a rotter, so what does that say about ye?” He winked.
“I dinnae ken,” Eileen quipped, turning away but not letting go of his hand. “We’re just a couple of fools wanderin’ through life.”
“A couple of fools in love,” Archer reminded her.
“Aye, a couple of fools in love.”
35
“Laird McFair,” Archer said as he stood before Thomas. “I ken this will sound… well, a little crazy, but I’m here to ask for yer sister’s hand in marriage.”
“Aye, that is a little crazy,” Thomas drawled.
