Page 85 of His Secret Highland Bride

“Lindsay,” he said and took the first step to bring them together. To his relief, she stayed where she was. When he was close enough to reach out, he lifted his hand to touch her but let it drop before making contact, unsure if she’d want him to pull her into his arms and kiss her as he wished to do. Things were broken between them. He needed to fix them but wasn’t sure how to start.

“You’ve come for your money. I’ll have it brought down so you may return home.”

“My money?”

“I was able to recover it from Deirdre’s room after she ran off. She got away with some of the coins she’d hidden in the woods, but it appears most was left behind.”

He watched her, feeling like he was getting a rare gift to just see her again. He knew how silky her dark hair was. He knew how soft her lips were, how she fell apart in his arms when he made love to her. The sounds she made when she reached her release and held on to him so tightly, he’d thought she’d never let him go.

But she had, because he’d been willing to give her up and she knew it. He didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know any words that could tell her how sorry he was. Instead, he watched her as she spoke, telling him the story of how they’d set up a trap for Deirdre so the laird would know if she was unfaithful.

Women came in from the kitchens, bringing food for them. Lindsay stepped back and turned as if she planned to leave.

“Please stay,” he begged and didn’t care who knew.

She shook her head. “I should get back to the solar. When you’re done eating, please send your men to carry the bags down.”

He nodded and watched her walk away. When she was gone, Shane slumped back in his seat and let his head rest on his fists. The pain of seeing her was more than he could bear. If he’d had any question before of what he was to do, he knew the answer now as clearly as he knew his own name.

“I’ve lost her.”

“I can’t turn her out of my keep. For what she was willing to do to spare me and my people, she will always be welcome here. But I hope for your sake you can win her back.”

The laird waited a moment before whispering, “Tell me your plan.”

Shane explained that he’d thought Lindsay had left because he had no money.

The man laughed. “Did you really believe that?”

“After months of failing, it seemed reasonable, until I looked in her eyes just now. Now I’m certain it wasn’t about the money.” He shook his head.

“No. It wasn’t,” Gillen said. “So, what will you do?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Shane was there. Lindsay couldn’t believe the pain she felt when she saw him standing in the hall. He’d come for the money, not for her. She knew that, but still she’d had to fight her body’s instinct to run to him and allow his arms to protect her from everything that caused her pain.

The way he looked at her didn’t help. He reminded her of Gillen. A man trying to get through his pain the best way he could. To her surprise, it was the other man who’d arrived with Shane and Alec who entered the solar first.

“I’ve not had the honor of meeting my brother’s bride. I’m Ronan, his better-looking stepbrother.”

Lindsay couldn’t produce more than a small smile at the man’s jest.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make light. He told me what happened. It bothers him.”

She nodded. The situation bothered her as well. She didn’t know what to do.

“You’ve come for the money. It’s in here.”

She led him to her room and pointed under the bed, where she’d hidden the MacPherson and MacColl coins. Though with Deirdre gone, she knew it was safe enough now.

Ronan glanced at the small coat she’d been knitting for a babe. He looked back to her, startled.

“Are ye…?”

She waited to see if he’d be able to form the question. When he simply stood there, red and unable to meet her eyes, she realized her brother-in-law couldn’t manage the words “with child.”

“I think I might be,” she answered. She had planned to tell Shane when she knew for certain. She didn’t know how he’d respond, but she knew she couldn’t keep their child a secret from him. If there was anything she’d learned over the last few months, it was how damaging secrets could be.