Page 22 of The Scot’s Secret

She reached up and pulled out the slim ivory pins that Gilbert had purchased for her at great expense.

One by one, she took them out from beneath the fabric that had been made just for her. Finally, her fingers trembling, she pulled the hat from her head.

“All of them,” he said.

She stood, her legs aching from bending, and Alex did the same.

With every pin she removed, Clara tried not to think of what this would mean. What he would do or say. Where they would go from here. Instead, she focused on the delicious feeling of her hair flowing loose around her shoulders.

She was, once again, a woman.

Shaking her head, Clara took a calming breath and waited for him to speak.

“Remarkable.”

Clara shivered despite the warm August day.

“Why? How?” he asked.

She had no answers for those questions. Except for the truth, and that would not do. So she asked her own question instead.

“How did you chance upon me?”

Alex crossed his arms.

“I grew suspicious after the way my brother coddled you during training the other day. After that, I simply waited and watched. I didn’t expect for you to reveal so much so soon.”

“So Toren didn’t tell you?”

“Nay, he did not.”

“And you watched me here?” The question was a bold one, but she did not regret asking it.

“I did.”

The look in his eyes. . . He looked as if he would devour her, and she would be lying to herself if she pretended not to enjoy it. The sensible thing to do would be to back down. To step away from him, but she found herself saying instead, “So you saw. . .”

“Everything.”

This time, she held his gaze. Clara lifted her chin.

“You want to know if I liked what I saw?” he asked.

She gasped. “I said no such—”

“You didn’t have to.”

His insolence should not have surprised her. Alex Kerr was a man who took what he wanted. One who worked hard but enjoyed life. And right now, he wanted her.

Of that, she had no doubt.

Neither could she deny it was a feeling she shared. It was absurd, really. Her fascination with this Scots warrior was most unwelcome. But he was unlike any man she’d ever met.

He answered the question she’d not asked. “Once the shock wore off, I enjoyed it very much. You are a beautiful woman.”

Words she’d never thought to hear. The rush of pleasure at his compliment was shameful.

Why was she not more scared? Gilbert would have told her to run away. Fast. And yet her feet stood rooted to the spot.