Page 27 of Laird Of Her Heart

“Look at you. First chance you have and you’re mounting her.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Hardly the first chance.”

“That’s true. He hardly touched me at all last night.”

Declan gaped at her, sputtering his consternation. He whirled on his brother. “I ask you, nae, I beg you. Show some restraint. Until we discover who and what she really is, you must assume she is our enemy.”

“She is no’ our enemy. I know it. In my heart.” He thumped his chest.

Declan reared back and stared at his brother, taking in the tautness of his features, the bunch of his muscles, his conviction. “And if she is? If she betrays us?”

Maggie didn’t realize she was holding her breath, awaiting Dominic’s response until her lungs started to ache. But still, she could not move, could not relax. Not until he glanced at her, his eyes glimmering. He held out his hand and took hers in it. Squeezed.

“She willna betray us, will you Maggie-mine?”

Maggie-mine. God. Her heart flipped over several times at those words, at his deep, steady tone.

She stared back at him, her soul in her eyes. “Nae,” she said, unconsciously mirroring his brogue. “I willna. I will never betray you.”

With a growl, Declan spun on his heel and ducked out of the tent, but he poked his head back in and snapped, “Oh, and in case you were wondering why I invaded your little love nest to begin with, Liam has arrived. There is news from Dar.”

She had no idea why this announcement made Dominic snap to attention, why it made his expression darken. He merely nodded to his brother, who, with one more disdainful glance at her, quit the shelter.

Dominic blew out a breath and scrubbed his face. Then he bent and collected her clothing. “You should get dressed,” he said. “If Liam has come all the way from Dar, the news must be important.”

Apparently their tryst was over.

But then, Declan had completely spoiled the mood.

Maggie dressed quickly and then took Dominic’s extended hand; he lifted her easily to her feet. He met her gaze and then pulled her into his arms again for another kiss. Though it was quick and far too brief, it was intense.

“You did promise no’ to leave,” he said.

She quirked a brow, unsure of his meaning. “I did.”

“Good.” Another kiss. “I really doona want to have to tie you up.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” she quipped. “Because I really don’t want to be tied up.”

With a grin he took her arm and led her out of the tent to the fire where the other men were waiting.

A tall, sandy haired stranger stood among them. A strange shiver shot through her as she studied him. She’d certainly never met him before, but there was a familiarity about him she could not deny. He turned to her and their gazes clashed and the certainty grew.

“Liam,” Dominic called, and greeted his vassal with a manly hug.

“My laird.” He nodded to Maggie. “And who is this bonny lass?”

“Maggie Spencer, of Seattle. A visitor from our clansmen to the west. Maggie, this is my cousin Liam MacBain.”

And suddenly, it hit her. Why he seemed so familiar. He looked much like the portrait of her grandfather’s grandfather hanging in the library of their home. Same hair, same eyes, same hard sculpted chin. He was Liam MacBain Macintosh.

Her ancestor.

The man from whom her entire family had sprung.

CHAPTER SIX

Liam brought important news indeed.