Page 65 of Ruined By the Ruthless Highlander
Finn went ahead to gather the appropriate tools from a small box they kept at the end of the field, and Lachlan stopped near one end of the broken fence, his gaze sweeping over the damage.
He raised his head, about to ask for a pair of pliers, when Marian stepped up beside him, her attention drifting somewhere beside the fence in front of them.
Lachlan followed her gaze.
They were only a few paces ahead—Lilly, kneeling by a fallen rail, and Finn crouched beside her, saying something to her that neither Lachlan nor Marian could hear. They laughed together, the sound carrying easily in the open air.
Lachlan’s eyebrows arched slightly.
How long has this been goin’ on?
Finn handed Lilly a rope and guided her hands as she attempted to tie the Highland knot. Their heads bent closer together, shoulders nearly touching as he showed her how to loop and pull.
Lachlan’s jaw tightened. He glanced at Marian briefly before returning his gaze to the two oddly matched lovebirds.
I cannae believe this.
Lilly got the knot wrong for the second time, and Finn smiled, more patient than Lachlan had ever seen him.
Lachlan tore his gaze from them, instead watching Marian watch them. Her expression was softer than he’d ever seen it, almost serene. The wind lifted the hem of her dress slightly. The breeze blew softly against her curls as she stood transfixed in place.
As though she craves what she sees in front of her.
Lachlan frowned at the thought.
His chest suddenly felt heavy as she turned her head, catching him staring at her. He did not look away.
For a moment, they held each other’s gaze, both suddenly aware of the easy affection unfolding a few paces away. Something neither of them possessed with the same simplicity.
Marian broke their stare, and he cleared his throat, the sound rougher than he had intended. He turned back toward the broken fence.
“Let’s get to work,” he said.
And for once, neither of them had anything clever to say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Marian avoided Lachlan for the rest of the evening.
It was quite easy, given that he seemed to be avoiding her too, turning right whenever she turned left, as though being near each other had become unbearable.
It was almost as though they both had an unspoken agreement. Neither of them spoke a word about Lilly and Finn, not even to the lovebirds themselves.
Marian held onto a long piece of twine, wrapping it gently around her hand as she stood next to the fence, unsure of what she was supposed to be doing.
It was difficult not to look at Lilly and Finn.
Her fingers moved mechanically, winding and unwinding the rough fibers. Her eyes followed the sound of their laughterwhenever it carried to her ears, and her chest tightened as she watched them mend their portion of the fence together.
She could hardly work with Lachlan.
She spotted him near the toolbox, a frown creasing his forehead as he searched for a tool. His shoulders were tense, and his movements were sharper than usual.
Good. At least I am not suffering alone.
The soft wind blew against her hair as she walked toward him, and his frown deepened the moment he spotted her.
He straightened, turning toward the other side of the fence, even though they had no business there.
