Page 102 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
“I still cannae believe that ye ran into a fire to save Reid and then rode out of the castle to kill three men and save me,” Eileen murmured. “Ye’re earnin’ yerself quite a reputation. In me eyes, anyway.”
“I hope to nae make a habit of it,” Archer admitted. “I mean, savin’ one life a night is usually me limit.”
I need to tell him. I have to come out with it afore I leave this place.
“There’s somethin’ I need to tell ye,” Eileen said.
They stopped walking, and Archer took both of her hands in his. “Aye, what’s that?”
That I have feelings for ye and I dinnae want to go home!
Eileen looked into his eyes, willing him to say it to her first so she would know for sure. She could see in his eyes that there was more than just desire, but he held it back, and he did so for a reason.
She wanted to scream out her feelings, but she didn’t want to embarrass herself.
If she never knew what he felt, then she could pretend that he had feelings for her instead of learning the truth and living with the knowledge that he did not feel the same way.
“I, uh…” Eileen stammered before losing her nerve. “Did ye ken that Ivy likes Calum? I mean, likes-likes him.”
“Och, I think everyone in the castle kens that apart from Calum,” Archer said. The corner of his mouth quirked up, and he chuckled. “Ivy wears her heart on her sleeve, but when Calum is around, she wears it onbothsleeves. I hope he’ll notice one day. It’s nae for me to step in.”
“Nay?” Eileen asked.
“She doesnae like that,” Archer explained. “She’s very independent, though I might have to give Calum a nudge. He’s a braw man but a little dense sometimes.”
“Some women like it,” Eileen said. “Havin’ a man step in, I mean.”
“Aye?” Archer asked.
There was a twinkle in his eyes, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it. He released one of her hands and resumed their walk.
Eileen felt like a little girl again—walking with a boy she barely knew, even though she knew Archer well, and she’d never goneon many walks with boys in her youth. Her mother had never pressured her to wed because her elder sisters were already married. There was no need to have more grandkids when she would already have a whole litter.
Eileen opened her mouth, but the words struggled to come out. They were all there swirling within, and when she thought about them fleeing the nest and flying across to the Laird’s ears, they disagreed.
“Have they repaired the damage from the fire?” Eileen asked. She bit her bottom lip.
“Aye, the damaged furniture has been cleared out, and they’re cleanin’ the soot off the walls. There wasnae so much damage when all was said and done.”
Eileen smiled as she walked. She was annoyed by her reluctance to tell Archer what she really felt, but she was still with him, and that was all that mattered.
“This is nice,” she said.
She almost kicked herself for saying that. As the words came out of her mouth, they sounded so… bland.
Archer stopped again and faced her. “I ken what’s goin’ on,” he said.
“Aye?”
“Why ye’re so quiet and hesitant.”
“Aye?” she repeated.
“Aye. Ye’re wonderin’ why I havenae kissed ye yet. I’ve been wonderin’ meself ‘cause I’ve wanted to kiss ye from the moment I saw ye walkin’ in the courtyard with yer braither.”
“Aye, that’s what I’ve been waitin’ for,” Eileen said. “Ye’re takin’ yer sweet time givin’ me what I want.”
His kisses always buoyed her, enough to keep her feelings hidden.
