have to think up another one.
Chapter 7
Kenzie sat beside Gwen in the library, Braxton standing behind them, while Ben stood before the fire, hips spread, and arms folded over a muscular chest, barely hidden by the shirt that he wore.
She swallowed. Was he doing some kind of exercise regime that she didn’t know about? Maybe he’d been helping with the chores about the estate and had buffed up that way, but wow, he was big.
And looking pretty nice to the eye. Too nice in fact. Kenzie caught Ben’s gaze and her stomach tightened at the raw hunger she read in his eyes. How was it he could look at a woman in such a way and think no one would notice? She cast Gwen a glance and was met with a raised brow. Kenzie sat up, clasping her hands in her lap, and fought to control her wayward mind.
“Are ye going to ask me what it is ye want? As much as I love standing before ye all and being the object of Kenzie’s interest, I do wish to go for a ride.”
“I beg your pardon,” Kenzie said, her face flaming.
“What?” Ben asked, a devilish grin lifting his lips, which only reminded Kenzie how damn gorgeous he was. “You weren’t looking at me?”
“No, I was not,” she stated, beyond mortified at being called out.
Braxton cleared his throat. “Since you’re still not well enough to travel back to Castle Ross, we thought ye may wish to bring Alasdair here, to stay with us while you recuperate from ye illness.”
Ben ran a hand through his hair, leaving it on end. “Oh aye, is that all? I thought ye were about to berate me for kissing Kenzie last eve.”
“You kissed Kenzie?” Braxton rounded the settee, and Gwen stood quickly, clasping her husband’s arm.
“It was hardly a kiss, Ben. More like a chaste peck,” Kenzie said, shaking her head.
“I’m inclined to think of it as a taste of better things to come.”
“’Tis nothing to worry about, Braxton. Do not forget that Kenzie is an adult and able to make her own choices, even if ye may not agree with them.”
Braxton glowered at Ben, who merely grinned in return. “I don’t agree with that choice.”
Kenzie didn’t miss the flicker of pain that crossed Ben’s visage, before he laughed it off. “Dinna get bothered by it, Braxton, my old friend. It was only a little kiss and nothing remarkable. I’ll not be pursuing Kenzie if that is ye concern. I’m merely teasing.”
Kenzie stood there, stunned into silence. Had he really just said her kiss was unremarkable? What the hell! “Well, I wasn’t going to be sharing any more kisses anyway, so it doesn’t bother me at all, should you not pursue anything further with me.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed on her, his gaze dipping to her lips. She glared back, ridiculously affronted. Not that she cared one bit that he didn’t like her in that way. Even if his kiss teased at something so much better… Actually, really great if she was being honest, but she wouldn’t give him the pleasure of seeing how annoyed his rebuttal made her.
“So, will ye bring Alasdair back here? We’d so love to meet your boy.” Gwen let go of Braxton and joined Ben at the hearth, taking his hand. “It’ll be good for him to be here, to be around a clan that will love him as much as his own.”
Ben’s features softened at Gwen’s words and an odd unnerving feeling settled in the pit of Kenzie’s stomach. Was she jealous of Gwen? Just the thought of such a thing was unreasonable. Gwen was happily married to Braxton and that was an end to it. She was merely being kind and persuasive to an old friend. And Kenzie was being an idiot.
“It’s settled then,” Braxton said, walking over to the desk and pulling out a piece of parchment and laying it on the dark wooden surface. “Write to ye clan and have the boy sent here immediately. We’ll hold a feast, celebrating the birth of the future Laird of Ross.” Braxton turned to Gwen. “Mayhap ye brother would wish to attend. I’m sure Abby would welcome a visit to see the new estate and with Kenzie being here, ’tis an extra boon.”
Gwen clapped her hands, her face wreathed in smiles. “Och, it sounds a fabulous idea, Braxton. We should have thought of it sooner.”
Kenzie smiled at their joy and stole a look at Ben who also seemed pleased by the idea