Page 53 of A Virgin for the Stone Highlander
“That thing is one stone away from collapsin’.”
Aaron glanced over. “Aye. Any moment from now.”
Right on cue, the cart lurched, one of its wheels popping off the side.
Edith covered her mouth, her eyes widening as she glanced at Aaron. “Ye planned that,” she teased.
“Nay.Yedid.”
“I didnae.” Her voice rose slightly as Aaron laughed again. She drew her brows together and folded her arms across her chest. “Ye ken I didnae.”
“’Tis an empty cart,” he murmured once his laughter died down. “It would be terrible if it were packed with grains.”
Edith nodded, her face softening again. “Aye, it would.”
She reached into the basket then. Her hand brushed against his as he reached for the cheese at the same moment, and she almost jumped, pulling back as though she had just touched hot iron.
It was impossible to hide. Her reaction was so abrupt that Aaron straightened, looking quickly into the basket.
Oh my.
His brows drew together once he realized what had happened. There was nothing in the basket. Nothing that would have caused a person to startle.
“Are ye alright?”
Edith bit her lip. “Aye.” Her voice was thinner than it had been only a moment ago. Her fingers tightened around the cheese in her hand, but she did not look at him.
Aaron leaned back slightly, watching her with narrowed eyes. “Ye arenae.” Then he seemed to hesitate before adding, “Ye’ve spent the last two days runnin’ from me.”
Edith’s brows drew together.
He noticed?
Her gaze sharpened as she looked at him, her hackles rising. “I havenae been avoidin’ ye.”
“Aye,” Aaron countered. “Ye have.”
Her jaw tightened at the certainty in his voice. “Ye cannae accuse me, me Laird. Ye daenae have proof.”
“I daenae need proof when I have seen it with me own eyes. Ye fled. From breakfast, and from the healer’s chamber.”
Edith’s breath caught in her throat. She set the cheese down a little too carefully, lifting her chin.
“Do ye have a problem with where I go or what I do?”
Her question was an attempt to throw him off, but his expression did not change.
“That isnae what I said.”
“But it is what ye mean,” she shot back.
Aaron paused. The wind shifted between them as he leaned closer to her, and his voice dropped to a dangerous murmur.
“Ye are still me betrothed.” His words sent a shiver down her spine. “And for as long as ye remain so,” he continued evenly, “ye cannae behave like ye are free to do as ye please. Ye must behave as I—” He stopped abruptly, his throat bobbing as he swallowed the rest of his words.
Edith’s eyes lifted slowly to his.
He kens. It bothers him as much as it bothers me.
