only to keep her happy and quiet. He’d use her advice, and then she would be gone. His life would resume order and peace with a wife who knew her role and responsibilities and no more.
He inwardly smiled. ’Twas a good plan, sure not to fail.
Chapter 9
The following day after lunch, Abby found a secluded, vacant plot of land far enough from the castle so not to be found, and started to practice with the bow and arrow. She didn’t like anything getting the better of her—a trait she’d picked up as a young child—and it seemed archery was proving difficult.
She loaded the arrow into the bow and tried to hit the large oak about fifteen feet away. Again, the arrow refused to behave and sit against the string. She swore, took a deep breath, and tried again.
“Are ye having trouble, lass? Do ye need help?”
Abby turned and narrowed her eyes on the laird, cursing his timing to see how useless she was at this sport. Typical of her luck. He’d probably lord it over her that he could do archery standing on his head. “No. I’m fine thank you. You don’t have to stay.”
He raised his brow, but didn’t turn to go. Her gaze raked his form, his chiselled cheeks and strong jaw drew her eyes to his mouth. She’d be a liar if she said his presence or his body didn’t affect her.
Aedan MacLeod was hot, and probably knew it. He cocked his head to the side and grinned. She glared back. Oh yes, he knew he was good-looking and no doubt thought she’d fall under his spell as well as any other.
Fat chance.
Liar…
“Are ye alright, lass? Ye seem to be staring at me.” He looked himself over, touching his cheeks as if to check for food or something. “Do I have some of me lunch on my face?”
“Not at all. I’m just stunned silent by the honor of your presence.”
He shook his head. “You’re very good at sarcasm, but it still doesn’t help when you’re as good as useless with an arrow.” He walked toward her, reaching for the bow. “Here, let me show ye.”
She sighed as he turned to stand behind her. His arms came around her body, and he helped her hold the bow and arrow in the correct position. Awareness swamped her, his heat and scent washed over her like a rain shower. She ground her teeth and tried to concentrate, but it was almost impossible.
“If ye hold it slightly raised, it’ll be less likely to hit the ground when you fire. And always keep your eye on the target, forget everything about ye, and focus.”
His whispered words grazed her cheek, and her breath stuck in her lungs. He held her outstretched arm, his large hand covered hers, and kept it locked about the wood of the bow. Heat coursed up her neck, and she cursed her inability to stay unflustered by him.
Focus my ass. She’d be lucky not to go cross-eyed with desire.
She wanted to pull away, to step away, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t let him know he affected her. He was just a guy. No different from any of the others she’d met.
What a load of crap. He did affect her and deliciously so. Even now, with his other hand helping her pull the string back, keeping the arrow hard against the bow’s wood, all she could think about was his chest hard up against her spine, the deep timbre of his voice, soothing, coaxing…
“Let go, lass,” he said faintly.
The words sounded like a double entendre but she did as he advised and watched in amazement as the arrow sailed clearly through the air and imbedded itself into the tree. She stepped out of his hold, laughing. “Oh my gosh. I did it.” She turned and smiled. At his intense stare, her smile slipped a little. “Thank you for helping me. You seem to know what you’re doing.”
He shrugged. “I’ve had a lot of years to learn.” He walked over to the tree and collected the arrow. “Try again,” he said, handing it to her. “Let’s see if you can do it on your own.”
Abby followed his previous instruction, and Aedan, true to his word, tweaked her stance, her hold here and there, but allowed her to do it herself. That she missed the tree entirely wasn’t so bad since she hit a small one a little farther away. “Maybe I’ll enter the archery competition and best all