Page 46 of The Blacksmith’s Wish
She waited. “And?”
“I did leave to avoid ye.”
Another heartbeat.
“But only because…” He exhaled heavily. “Only because ye vanished first. I thought…I thought ye regretted what happened between us.” His voice dropped to little more than a whisper, “I was hurt, Effie. I needed to clear me head before I made a fool of meself.”
Her fierce expression melted into complete bewilderment. “I disappeared?”
He nodded.
“I was home. Me brother, Beitris, and their wee babe came to visit.”
He wasn’t sure what to think, so he remained in silent confusion.
Understanding swept across her face. “Oh…” she breathed.
Gowan blew out a breath, feeling rather ridiculous. “I thought ye wished never to see me again.”
She stared at him for the span of several heartbeats and let out an exasperated groan worthy of a woman dealing with an especially stubborn mule. “Ye great daft oaf.”
Before he could react, she snatched a drying cloth from the back of a chair and smacked him smartly across the arm.
Whap!
He jerked more from surprise than pain. “What in blazes?”
“That,” she declared, raising the cloth threateningly again, “was for hiding.”
Whap!
“Ouch.”
“And that was for making me spend the past days wondering whether I’d imagined the whole thing.”
He lifted an arm to shield himself, fighting the ridiculous urge to laugh. “I’ve survived battles with MacKinnons, and yet I feel helpless in this moment,” he muttered.
The cloth hung threateningly from her hand, but she didn’t swing again.
“I fear ye more,” Gowan admitted.
The corners of her mouth twitched.
“Have I earned mercy?”
“Nae even close.” A tiny smile escaped.
It struck him then that he’d gladly endure another dozen blows if it meant seeing that smile again.
The lightness of the moment faded, replaced by a silence far heavier than before. Effie lowered the cloth.
Gowan’s own smile disappeared.
She watched emotions chase one another across his face as plainly as clouds racing across a highland sky. Relief gave way to uncertainty. Uncertainty yielded to fear. Then came resolve.
Her heart squeezed. She knew that look.
He was gathering every ounce of courage he possessed.
