Page 31 of The Highland Heir

Kieran knew Arran hadn’t done anything toearn his fury. In truth, Kieran could even see how the chief andEllie would be well suited, both having a keen sense of humor.

And wouldn’t it be better if Ellie foundsomeone for herself before Kieran married, so neither of them wouldbe alone? The less selfish part of him wanted only for Ellie’shappiness with whomever she found it.

But another part of him, a part he had hiddeneven from himself, wanted to call out, “Mine.”

“You did not tell me your friend was sofetching, Kieran,” Arran said, still not looking at him. “And afair baker as well.”

“It has only taken twenty years of practice.I’ve been forced to sample Ellie’s disast—”

“Ella,” Ellie corrected him, widening hereyes in some manner of communication he didn’t understand. Whichwas an odd sensation since he was always well attuned to everyshift in her thoughts.

“What?”

“Ella. You know I haven’t been called Elliesince I was a lass.”

Kieran blinked and looked about the table.He’d called her Ellie yesterday and every day before that. He’dnoticed her father had taken to calling her Ella, and so had heraunt.

Had he missed her telling him she preferredElla? Perhaps she had and he’d ignored her request. He hadn’tthought of her as Ella before. She’d always been Ellie, thegirl who followed him everywhere in breeches. The lass who daredhim to jump from the stable roof and then ran for help when thathad proved a bad idea.

Ellie snorted when she laughed at hisoutrageous jokes and stood up to boys larger than herself as if shedidn’t realize how small she was. Ellie spit and cursed, and shewas part of him.

Ella sounded like a stranger. Someonewho flirted and giggled.

This woman in front of him now, this alluringvixen, was definitely an Ella. He wanted to go to her and captureher lips with his. She had grown up. He knew as much, he hadwatched it happen before his eyes, but he only now saw her.

Ella.

Rather than risk losing control of himself,he suggested he and Arran carry out their earlier plans to visitthe village. Arran reluctantly agreed, but eventually they were outof the cottage. The fresh air and the distance fromEllie—Ella—seemed to clear his head, but Kieran had seen the beastlurking in the shadows of his soul.

And worse, he was aware of what it was andwhy it had come at that moment.

Jealousy had never risen up in him with suchvengeance before. Taunting him with possible futures where Ellamarried Arran. Grew round, had his children, and gave him hersmiles. He saw a happy life for them, while he wasted away atGirnigoe with a faceless stranger, living out his days wishing Ellawas his.

“Is she promised to anyone?” Arran asked asthey walked about the village. Despite them just having tarts andale at Jenny’s, they made quick work of a few meat pies aswell.

“Nay,” Kieran managed to wrestle the truththrough his lips, though he fought the urge to lie. To keep thisman from moving forward with his obvious plans to consider Ella forhis wife.

“She is lovely,” Arran said.

“Aye. It’s strange, I don’t think I hadnoticed how lovely she is until just recently. She’s been my bestfriend all my life. I have few memories that don’t include her insome manner.”

Arran stopped walking and placed his hand onKieran’s arm, a look of compassion on his face.

“Do ye love her, then? You’re to marrysomeone else, but you want Ella?”

“Nay,” Kieran answered quickly. Mayhap tooquickly. For he wasn’t certain he’d answered correctly.

Arran tilted his head, and Kieran wanted morethan anything for the man to stop staring at him. He didn’t wantthis man who may one day call Ella his to see the truth Kieranhimself had not known.

He wanted Ella for himself.

Bloody hell.

Chapter Twelve

“My, my,” Jenny had said as soon as the doorclosed behind the men. “I will attempt to fall ill more often soyou’ll have need to visit and lure the strapping young warriors tomy cottage.”

Ella still felt the heat on her cheeks fromher aunt’s teasing, which hadn’t stopped since.