Page 7 of The Highland Heir

“I would like a husband and children. Same asany other lass.”

His eyes widened. “You’ve never said so.”

“You’ve never asked.”

He blinked and stared at the woman hoppingfrom rock to rock, and tried to see her with a man at her side andchildren clinging to her skirts.

The vision brought a stinging sensation tothe back of his throat. Of course, he wanted only happiness for hisbeloved friend. Which made it more difficult to explain his intensereaction to her desires.

He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

*

Ella carried another full pitcher of ale outto the high table. She rarely served in the hall, but with theirextra guests with the MacKenzies visiting, Ella had offered tohelp. She made a face when only Kieran was looking at her, causinghim to smile as she knew it would.

He was lovely when he smiled. The fact thathe rarely smiled in the presence of others made those moments evenmore precious to her.

“Lass, I’m parched,” the man at the end ofthe table said. He was with the Mackenzies, but from his placementat the table he was not related to the laird. A retainer mostlikely.

“I believe I’ve filled your tankard threetimes already this evening,” she answered as he held it out yetagain.

“Perhaps I’m drinking it all the faster soyou’ll come close and fill it yet again, lass.”

He was a handsome man, but she’d noticed theway his gaze flicked down her body when he thought she wasn’taware. His thorough inspection had nothing to do with her as aperson. He only wished to sate his desires with a serving maid andmove on to the next.

She’d seen such a reaction on occasion withother men and had managed to avoid such entanglements. When she wasready to give her body to a man, it would be someone she loved andsomeone who loved her in return.

She’d long cast off her silly fantasies aboutKieran being that man. She assumed it was normal for her to thinkof him like that, him being the only man she was close to who wasnot related to her.

But Kieran had never looked at her in such away. And she knew they would never be allowed to marry, even if hehad a mind to. He was the laird’s heir after all. He would beexpected to marry well.

Not the daughter of the war chief. She wasrespectable enough, but such a marriage wouldn’t bring anything ofvalue to the Sinclair clan. The Ross and Sinclair clans werealready allied.

Odd how that thought brought a tug ofdisappointment to her chest. Of course, she didn’t wish for Kieranto lust after her. She’d have no choice but to kick him in thecods. But the fact that he didn’t think of her as a woman, or feelany attraction to her whatsoever, was somewhat disheartening.

If he didn’t find her attractive, whowould?

Shaking her head, she turned to leave the manto his drink, but he reached out and snagged her arm, nearly makingher drop the pitcher. Before she’d realized how she’d gotten there,she was seated in the man’s lap and his face was much too close tohers.

She struggled to get out of his hold, but themovement seemed to please him more.

“That’s it, keep up your wiggling. You’ll bea sweet bit.”

“Let me up,” she demanded, pushing his faceaway as he came closer. But he only held her tighter.

Letting out a breath, she knew there wasnothing for it. He’d given her no choice but to haul off and hithim. She’d worn her favorite kirtle this evening, and it would be apity to have it stained with this oaf’s blood.

Maybe if she hit him somewhere other than hisnose, she wouldn’t have to manage the river of blood such a woundcaused. But the rest of the man’s face would be too hard and notcause as much pain.

Clenching her fist, she prepared for thesickening crunch and drew back to deliver a strike that wouldensure her freedom. But the blade of a dirk against the man’s neckwiped the predatory grin from his face.

“Let her go.” Kieran’s already low voice wasso deep it was more rumble than anything. “Now.”

The man lifted both hands, and Ella didn’twaste a moment. She made a point to press her knee into thesoftness between his legs as she maneuvered away from him. Hegrunted and hissed a curse.

“I didn’t know she was yours,” the mansaid.

Ella expected Kieran to say she wasn’t his.Perhaps he would even give the man a firm lecture about thetreatment of women on Sinclair lands or explain how Ella belongedto no one but herself.