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Minutes bled into another until I feared something had happened to him.
Knock, knock.
My heart skipped a beat as I jolted upright. Eek! He was here already? But why had he knocked and not come right in?
With trembling legs, I crossed the room. My fingers shook as I opened up…
Oh my hotness.Awareness infiltrated every cell in my body. Callen was incredible. He’d changed into a tighter T-shirt and a kilt! Finally. An actual, honest-to-goodness kilt.
My hand fluttered to my mouth. A Highland laird. My high school dream man. Okay, yes, even my adult dream man. Also, the main reason I’d waited tables after school and weekends and saved every extra penny I’d ever earned or been gifted to visit Scotland.
“Am I drooling?” I asked, fanning my overheated cheeks.
The corners of his mouth twitched, and he manipulated his signet ring with his thumb. “Yes. You are.”
I hurried to dab at my chin. When I encountered dry skin, I snorted and slapped him on the shoulder. “Will you please be nice to me today? I had a rough start this morning. No sleep and currently fueled by less than half a muffin.”
He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest, sliding his gaze over me. Slowly. “I will beverranice to you.”
His gravelly timbre roused a hot flush in my skin. His flirting only added gasoline to the fire. I should protest. Or roll with it.
Ignoring a pulse gone wild, I mimicked his pose. “Be honest. Are you mad at me for visiting the wall and questioning your protective prowess? Which wasn’t my intention. If anything, I proved my confidence in your strength. I was certain everyone would be too afraid of you to push me over.”
He chuckled warmly, pinched a lock of my hair, and sifted the strands between his fingers, tickling my scalp. “Do I appear upset? I know why you went up top.” His voice dipped low and softened.
I pffed a breath. “I’m listening.”
“You still hope to leave me,” he said, watching me with a near tender expression.
I almost melted into him. What had brought about this astonishing change? Then his last statement registered, and I stiffened. “I’m not saying you’re right, but why aren’t you furious by the possibility?”
“For the first time in our acquaintance, you are responding to me emotionally and physically.” He combed his fingers through my waves and gently tilted my head back. His eyelids hooded. “It scares you, and I understand.”
Our gazes locked, and the most delicious aches erupted in a thousand different places. “Go on.”
Smoldering at me, he said, “Part of you continues to see me as the enemy. That is my fault. For too long, I played the role well. I laid all the blame squarely at your feet, but my brother made his choices, too, and I have learned…” The muscles along his throat worked.
“Yes?” I rasped.
“I have learned that forgiveness has benefits bitterness can’t offer.”
My jaw slackened ever so slightly. What was even happening right now? He’d forgiven me? Or rather, Isobel? Because more and more, this was seeming like an all-out declaration to win me over.
He traced his thumb across the ridges of my upper spine, infinitely gentle. “I’ll prove I can be good to you. That we can be good together.”
I should say no to whatever he had planned. Getting involved with him was a bad idea. The absolute worst. He belonged to the graceful redheaded socialite, his precious firebrand, not the sometimes-awkward schoolteacher. Would he even find the real me attractive? A sobering, sad question.
It was just, he’d bought me books, and it might’ve compromised my decision making. It had certainly coloredmy perception of him, and clearly weakened my resolve to resist his rugged appeal while we remained married.
As if sensing victory, he stepped back and offered me his hand. The one with the scar. “Let’s enjoy the day together.” A soft entreaty. “No expectations. No pressure.”
Longing coiled around me, squeezing. He’d just described Heaven on Earth. No expectations, no pressure? Forget backing out. I should go with him. Both of us needed a little joy. And as the saying went, life wasn’t about waiting for the storms to pass, but learning to dance in the rain. I could resist him, no matter how much charm he dished.
“You’ll find I am a different man now.”
“What changed?” I asked.
He paused. “Everything.”
