Page 35 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

She sighed. “I only wanted her to have a proper day.”

“I ken.” Stephen grinned. “He’d walk through fire for that lass. Always has since the day he brought her home. Never seen a man so gentle with anything as he is with her.”

“He hides it well.”

“Aye, he does, but it’s there as plain as day, lass. If ye ken how to look, and ye clearly do.”

Skye said nothing, her cheeks warming. She turned back to watch as Lily’s laughter filled the yard, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Dougal.

The entire day had been about Lily, but Skye kept thinking about Dougal, from their talk after he had called her over to his promise that he would speak to her later. She had wandered back to Lily and Kenna, who kept asking if she was all right.

“Are ye sure?”Lily asked, concerned.“Ye are all red!”

That only made Skye blush harder.

“Aye, I am fine, Lily.”

Kenna smiled knowingly.“I promise Skye is fine, Lily.”

It seemed to satisfy the little girl, and she dropped it. Skye had ducked her head, trying to avoid Kenna’s gaze.

Dougal was gone for nearly an hour after his brief talk with Stephen, heading inside likely to his study. When he returned outside, his cool gaze immediately found hers. The glare vanished from his face, but there was an unreadable look in his eyes.

Later.Dougal had promised they would talk later.

She almost trembled with anticipation.

There had been a promise of something when he spoke. She wasn’t sure what she would find when they spoke, but she wanted to see. That much she couldn’t deny.

With Dougal, there was always this curiosity he brought out in her. Skye had always been curious, never particularly brave. Not until now, at least. Not until she had started writing.

Time passed slowly.

Skye had been at the wall for the better part of an hour, waiting in the attic for him near the one, large window. She knew them by now, the weight of his strides, unhurried even when the matter was important.

Her heart started pounding so hard that she feared he would hear it the second he stepped into the room. She gently cupped a hand to her cheek, finding warmth there.

It was as if a fever had taken hold of her body, but it was no fever she had ever experienced before. The only cure for this was something she did not quite understand, but Dougal had something to do with it.

She didn’t turn when the door opened. Better not, she’d decided somewhere between the treasure hunt and now. If she looked at him too soon, she would lose whatever careful resolve she’d spent the evening building.

She felt uneasy about this talk. She did not know what would come of it. The memory of the way he had touched her so intimately flashed through her mind, threatening to undo her right where she stood.

Dougal was able to unravel her with a single look. He always had from the moment she had followed him out to her brother’s garden and admitted that it was she who was writing the stories about him.

Did he understand the effect he had on her?

Her cheeks burned, the feverish feeling returning. She was becoming accustomed to it now, and shehatedit.

Before Dougal, Skye had never experienced this. Now it was constant, gnawing at her nerves in a way she didn’t understand.

“Ye said ye would meet me tonight,” Dougal stated, his eyes boring into hers. “Did ye forget?”

Skye couldn’t hold back the shiver that ran down her spine, even if she tried.

“Nay, I didnae forget. I said I would, and here I am.” She kept her eyes on the flames, though every part of her ached to look at him. “I just didnae say when.”

Something flashed in his eyes.