Page 84 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Her father let out a groan. “I hope you’re not talking of physical pleasure, Harriet. I don’t want to think of such things.”

Dorie heard Harriet chuckle. And to her surprise she heard the sound of a kiss. In the months she’d lived with her father and his wife, she’d never seen any physical contact between the two of them.

It was clear there had been. Four children didn’t come from the fairies. But listening to Dorien and Harriet now, knowing they’d shared a kiss, made her think there was more between them than she’d originally thought. Perhaps there was even a chance they were in love but didn’t realize it. Could it be that her father only had the one love with her mother to compare? Maybe there were different kinds of love. Such as familial love, and the love she felt for Rascal. Perhaps there were different levels of romantic love as well. A first love might be stronger or more passionate than a more mature love.

She stepped into the parlor to find them in an embrace with smiles on their faces. It was clear to her that her father loved this woman in some way. It might not be the fiery emotion he’d felt for her mother, but there was love.

For a moment Dorie thought there might be hope for her to find the same thing with Bryce. But then she remembered he’d not come for her, nor had he written. Chances were he was glad to be alone again.

She appreciated her father trying to make her happy, but she was beginning to realize that might be an impossible task.

…

“The laird’s not available. He might be able to see you in a few days.”

“Bloody hell,” Bryce complained. He just wanted to get the task done and go back home. He didn’t like being here. It churned up too many memories.

Good and bad.

“What do you mean, unavailable? Is he here or no?”

The man smiled. “Oh, he’s here, all right. But he just got married and he and his bride are tucked away in their chamber, if ye ken.”

Bryce understood perfectly, but in case he didn’t, the man pumped his hips to make it disgustingly clear.

Disrupting the laird’s activities with his new wife was a sure way to be sent away with no men to aid their fight. “Who’s in charge while he’s away?” he tried.

“His son.” The man nodded toward the hall. “Might as well get something to eat until he wakes.”

“Wakes? It’s near noon.”

“Aye. The lad likes his drink along with tiring himself with the lasses.”

“Christ,” Bryce cursed and wiped a hand over his face. “Where’s Thomas Campbell? He’s the war chief now, I understand.”

“Aye. He’d be in the hall as well.”

Bryce stepped into the crowded hall and looked toward the main table. He saw his father right away.

His father saw him, too, and jumped up in surprise. “Bryce, my son!” he yelled, bringing everyone seated to abrupt silence and stares.

Bryce frowned and made his way to the front table. “Father. How do you fare?”

“Well, well. And you?”

“Good.”

“What brings you here? Are you planning to join us?” The hope in his eyes made Bryce uneasy.

“Nay.” His father had sent him away when he was fifteen. He was no longer a Campbell, even though he claimed the name. His loyalty belonged to the MacKinlays. “I came to speak to your laird and ask if you would join us.”

His father looked at the other men around the table in confusion.

“The MacKinlays plan to take over the McCurdy clan, and we’d like to have the Campbells by our side when we do,” Bryce explained.

Thomas smiled. “We’ve been waiting for the bastards to grow weaker from lack of coin, but so far they aren’t yielding. They put all the money they have to keeping their warriors fitted out and ready for defense.”

“Do you think our two armies could take them if we joined forces?”