Page 25 of The Rogue’s Redemption

She ran, not looking back to see if he was following.

* * *

Reid leaned past her, reaching forward to open the cracked wooden door. Once they were both inside, he looked around with interest. The circular stone structure was still structurally sound, though it clearly had not been used in some time. Hundreds of nesting holes stood empty.

“Why was this abandoned?” he asked.

Allie looked up, shaking her head. “I only know this was built away from the trees, away from birds of prey, and that it was once used to house doves.”

He’d assumed as much. They stood, wet and silent, listening to the steady rain outside.

“As soon as it slows down, we’ll return to the keep,” Allie said, watching him. “So?” she pressed.

She was waiting for him to finish answering her question.

“I thought perhaps you’d forgotten,” he said.

Though she didn’t smile, exactly, Allie’s lips turned up ever so slightly. She reached back to grab the length of her wet hair and pulled it over her shoulder. Reid watched, mesmerized, as she braided it. Her wet linen shirt clung to every curve now, as snug and revealing as the leggings underneath.

“And I thought perhaps you were being sincere?” she said, noticing his

perusal.

He looked into her accusatory eyes. “Is it not possible that I am both sincere and appreciative?”

She rolled her eyes. “You are incorrigible.”

“I pushed you away because this is dangerous.”

“This?”

“Aye.” He gestured to the space between them. “This.”

When she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, biting down gently, Reid should have wanted to bite that same lip and then taste it with his tongue. With any other woman, it would have been the only thought on his mind.

Instead, he found himself wondering about other things. What did she cherish most? How long did she intend to stay here in Scotland? Would she wish to stay?

God’s blood, Reid.

“Do you miss your home?” he blurted, attempting to steer his thoughts away from such ruminations. As he awaited her answer, he leaned back against the cold stone wall, putting necessary distance between them.

Allie appeared startled by the abrupt change in topic. “I . . .”

That lip again.

“I do, at times. I miss the people, mostly.”

He should not care if Lady Allie wanted to go back.

“But Scotland is my home now.”

Pride, joy, relief flooded his senses. He longed to reach for her, but he dug his fingers into the stones behind him instead.

“You said this is dangerous? How so?” she asked, clearly not understanding.

He could easily show her, though he should not. And yet . . . he’d never had much self-control. Ignoring the warnings of his inner voice, he closed the distance between them.

“Because I’m going to kiss you.”