Page 18 of Border Lord’s Bride

Lucius's expression darkened. "She's too young to be entertaining thoughts of that kind."

Elizabeth leaned close to him. "They are older than we were when we first—" Kissed. She broke off her words at his dark frown.

"I haven't adjusted to the fact that the girls have matured while I've been away," he said with a frown. His frown remained in place as the meal progressed, making Elizabeth question whether to proceed with her plans. She clutched the small token all the harder as a reminder he was worth the risk. With luck, the keepsake of their past would soften his mood.

By the time the meal ended, her nerves were taut with anticipation. He moved his chair back as though preparing to leave. Her heart leaped. "Lucius?"

He paused and searched her face.

"Before you go…" She reached for his hand, clutching it with her own, passing the item from her warmed palm to his. She pulled her hand away and waited, hardly daring to breathe.

His gaze remained expressionless as he opened his palm and stared at the rock she'd placed there. "You kept this?" He brought his thumb down to caress the surface where years ago he'd scratched You win. L.C. after she'd bested him in one of their many footraces along the length of the loch.

"I treasured it," she said softly.

Any darkness in his face vanished and his lips pulled up into a half smile. "You were so quick footed then."

"Want to see if I still am?" she teased.

His eyes brightened. He flattened his fingers over the rock. "What about the snow?"

"Too much of a challenge for you?"

His grin became devilish. "I never could resist a challenge, especially from you." He took her hand and started from the room. Then he stopped, his gaze moving to Rose and Lachlan. "Perhaps I should stay."

"They are well supervised by Marie and Hadwell, as well as all the other MacKinleys."

Still he hesitated. "I remember my own thoughts about girls at that age," he confessed. "But you're right. They're safe enough here in the great hall if we're only gone a short time." He started forward until they were in the hallway. Grabbing two cloaks from the pegs by the door, he tossed one around her shoulders before he donned the other. "You may regret this," he said, his earlier good humor in place once more as they headed for the loch.

Light from the full moon reflected off what remained of the melting snow, illuminating the night with a silver sheen. The sound of Elizabeth's excited laughter warmed Lucius to his core despite the chill air stinging his face and neck. Elizabeth hurried down the cleared path from the manor to the loch's edge and took up her position. For a moment, he saw the girl she'd been so many years ago—her muddied hem, her hair pulled back, her face alight with laughter. That image vanished and he paused to appreciate the reality before him.

She was still spirited, but as she hitched up the edges of her gown to reveal her stockings and soft leather slippers he realized she'd become a very desirable woman. A woman who could be his wife if he only let go of the past.

He forced his thoughts aside and joined her. "I'll have the advantage over you with my boots, you know."

"The ground is clear of the snow nearest the loch, and I've been known to run far and fast in these slippers. You're trying to divert my attention. Will you never learn?" she teased.

"Ready?" he asked with a laugh. "To the end of the loch."

She nodded. "One. Two. Three."

On the count, Elizabeth flew across the snow. He ran beside her. She made running appear so effortless. She always could run faster than he could on a sprint, but he could take her every time when they ran for distance. The perfection of the moment washed over him. They'd fallen back into the past so easily tonight: the teasing, the memories, the warmth flowing through him, having her by his side. Joy filled him as he chased after her. No one had ever been able to lighten the darkness inside him as Elizabeth had. She made him feel as light as air, as carefree as a boy, as innocent as the first kiss they'd shared that one warm summer night by the loch.

The thudding rhythm of his heart filled his ears as another more fearful sensation gripped him, consumed him. His footsteps slowed. She surged ahead.

He didn't deserve such joy, and he certainly didn't deserve his old life back. He'd hurt too many people. He stumbled, then stopped.

Her footsteps slowed, then headed back toward him. "Lucius?"

He heard the concern in her voice and turned his back to her. "I can't do this, Elizabeth."

"Race?"

"Nay. I can't give in to my feelings for you." The words sounded loud in the sudden silence of the night. He drew a sharp breath, trying to control the surge of guilt welling in his chest. He felt so out of place, like a ghost moving through the shadows of his own life. Where he didn't deserve to love or be loved in return.

Elizabeth put her hand on his arm and turned him to face her. "We can take this slowly." He looked at the pallor in her cheeks, the haunted darkness in her brown eyes. "Don't you see you deserve to have joy in your life, especially after everything you've been through?"

His mouth went dry. His palms grew damp, and his guilt grew with each inward breath.