Page 23 of The Rogue’s Redemption

She looked down at his hand on the dark fabric of her gown. Large and powerful, like the rest of him. It dropped promptly, and she unaccountably mourned the loss of his touch.

“Gillian will be looking for me,” she said without moving.

“Protective,” he said.

She remembered what she had told him earlier that day. “Aye, very much so. Especially, it seems . . .” She stopped, wondering how to finish.

Reid did so for her. “About me.”

Allie felt every rise and fall of her chest. Though the corridor was empty now, anyone could walk by and see them. And they stood much too close to be proper.

“Aye,” she said simply.

Reid looked at her mouth, and she could not resist doing the same with him. What would it feel like if he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers? Allie had been kissed before, once by a man she found quite attractive. Unfortunately, her father had not cared. The match had not been suitably advantageous.

Would it feel the same way with him?

For a wild moment, Allie thought she was about to find out.

“You did well today,” he said instead.

Just when she was about to thank him, he added, “For a woman.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“What is wrong with you?” she asked sincerely. “Are you utterly incapable of having a conversation without causing insult?”

“It appears not.”

“Well then, I congratulate you. If your intent is to make everyone believe you are without sentiment, understanding, or kindness, then you are doing an exceedingly good job.”

When that damn smirk appeared, Allie had to resist the desire to stomp on his foot.

“And if you are instead attempting to mask a deep, very well-hidden bit of humanity for some unknown reason,” she said, trying not to raise her voice, “then you are quite successful there as well. Either way, I will thank you not to speak to me for the remainder of the evening.”

With that, she walked away. Slowing her strides as she neared the entrance of the hall, Allie had to remind herself not to appear angry. The last thing she wished to do was explain herself to Gillian or Aidan. And at the moment, she was not inclined to speak to anyone about the arrogant, insufferable Scotsman, who would unfortunately be training her the next day.

Nay. She would not meet him. If Allie wanted to be insulted, she would go back home to England, to her father. How could she have thought there was any decency in him? She was always too easily swayed, but this time she would learn her lesson.

For the remainder of the evening, and until the council was over, Allie would pretend Reid Kerr did not exist.

8

Allie might not want to train with Reid, but that did not mean she did not wish to train at all.

After a long morning of introduction to the various visiting chiefs, and the Lord Warden himself, she made her excuses and her escape. The timing was perfect—the men’s training had been cancelled for the day in favor of a daylong feast and celebration that would not end until darkness fell and supper turned to dinner. It would seem the Lord Warden had arrived just in time. According to Gill, disagreements had begun to turn into arguments. All agreed there was a problem, but none could come to terms on a solution. They needed the fierce man’s input and experience. To Allie, the celebrations meant one thing: no one would be roaming around. No one would find her practicing. After pleading a headache, she hurried to her chamber to change into her shirt and breeches then snuck out the side door of the tower, which led directly to the gatehouse. When Lawrence handed her the sword, she thanked him and made her way down the hill.

Though Allie had considered telling Aidan about her argument with Reid, she’d decided to train alone instead. Her brother-in-law would not be pleased with the risk she took, but she could not bear to sit idle, even on such an overcast day. Much like yesterday, a mist blanketed everything around her, the gray sky not allowing for any glimpses of the sun.

Moving into position, Allie began the session just as Aidan had instructed her to do. Left foot forward, arms at shoulder height. She swung the sword and pulled back, feeling more and more at ease with each movement.

“Remember to bend your back leg.”

She swung around and groaned. “No,” she said, dropping the sword to her side. How unfair was it for her heart to always beat so rapidly for a man she should hate? “I did not invite you here for a reason.”

There it was again.

For the second time since they’d met, his cocksure grin was replaced by an almost sorrowful expression. As he moved toward her, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes was replaced with an honesty she found hard to ignore.