Page 51 of Deception of a Highlander

She glanced at him as they exited the narrow building, noting the lazy, lopsided smile and the flash of a dimple.

Almost two months had passed, and she had made little progress with Kieran. That he was no longer speaking to her only exacerbated the issue. Colin, however, seemed willing and eager to accommodate her in any way possible.

Guilt churned in her stomach and left her palms damp. She did not have the luxury of being fair. Time was running out, and Jack was counting on her.

If she could not use Colin to make Kieran jealous enough to speak to her again, then perhaps she could glean the information from Colin and bypass Kieran altogether.

If neither plan worked, she would be on her own to save Jack.

Mariel rested her hand on Colin’s bulging forearm. “You’re very strong. I’m sure the basket weighs nothing to you.” She tilted her head to the side so he could glimpse the smooth expanse of her neck.

The proud puff of his chest let her know the seed of seduction was already beginning to grow. Certainly, it took almost no encouragement.

Mariel swallowed the bitterness of her shame and pressed her control. “I’ve never told you before, but your friendship means a lot to me.” Her hand lingered on his arm, a quiet indication to let him know that by friendship, she referred to something more. “I don’t have many friends here, but I’m glad I have you.”

He eased the basket into one arm and slid his free hand around her waist. “My friendship is always yers to be had, my lady.”

They stepped into the courtyard, and she allowed herself to be pulled closer to him. “I look forward to seeing you at supper tonight, Colin.” She lifted the weight of the basket from him and let her hands caress his.

His green eyes burned a path of interest down the length of her body. “No’ as much as I do.”

* * *

That evening at supper, Mariel positioned herself beside Colin and in the direct line of Kieran. By the end of the meal, Colin’s eyes were bleary, and his speech garbled with drink. It had taken a considerable amount of whisky and persuasion to get him to such a state. He leaned the side of his head against his fist with his arm propped against the table and gave her a crooked smile. Doubtless, many a woman had fallen for that charming grin.

But Mariel was not interested in love or flirtation. Her prize sat at the head of the table, silent and brooding—and completely oblivious of her presence.

“Ye’re beautiful, Mariel,” Colin slurred.

She smiled in response to the compliment. Considerable care had been taken with her appearance. A simple violet gown of silk had been chosen for the way it hugged her body and complemented her smooth skin. Her hair was left unbound and cascaded down her back in glossy waves—the way Kieran liked it.

“And you are a handsome man. So strong, intelligent,” she purred, “important.” She waited for her words to take effect through his whisky-infused haze. “I bet you know everything there is to know about Skye…even things you shouldn’t.” A well-placed giggle took the stark questioning from her words. Men were more apt to disclose information when they assumed a woman was harmless and silly.

His eyebrow cocked arrogantly. “That I do. I help Kieran with all of his private business. There’s no one who knows more, save Kieran himself.”

Her heart flinched at Colin’s obvious pride. She swirled the remnants of wine in her cup but did not drink it. Everything soured in her stomach, churned into bitter disgust. She hated this questioning, the use of people’s trust. She wanted to run away from the hall and not stop until she was somewhere dark and cold. Somewhere her skin could prickle and ice the way her insides did.

But she could not. Instead, she smiled at Colin and pressed further. “Then you are the perfect person to help me understand things here. Does the entire clan live here in the castle?”

“Ach, no! There are many more people living throughout the island, just no’ so easy to find.”

That was exactly what she had assumed. “I bet you know where to find each and every one of them, don’t you?” She leaned closer, her leg brushing his beneath the table.

His hooded gaze dipped to the low neckline of her dress. “We should go somewhere more private, aye? There are more important matters I’d like to…discuss.”

“If we prolong it, you will enjoy it more.” The caress of her lips against his hair added intimacy to her whispered words. The drink would see him to dark oblivion before he ever had a chance to touch her.

Her gaze flicked back to where Kieran sat at the head of the table, and her heart sank. He was locked in deep conversation with Alec; his face turned away from her.

Jealousy, it appeared, did not work on him after all.

* * *

“If ye dinna get Colin out of here right now, I’m going to kill him,” Kieran growled at Alec.

“Ye never laid claim to her.” Alec rose from the table despite his words. “I’ll find Bess to see to him.”

Before Kieran could bark a scathing reply, Alec was already walking out the great hall. Mariel’s laughter drifted to where he sat on the dais—alone. The feminine, melodic tinkle pulled his attention toward the couple. Mariel’s slender fingers touched Colin’s forearm, and Kieran’s hand knotted into a hard fist. To those around them, their conversation did not appear out of the ordinary. From the way her eyes slanted in Colin’s direction to the subtle touches shared between them, Kieran knew better. He took a swig of whisky, his knuckles white against the stem of his goblet.