a little eccentric.”
“What about a husband or lover? Did ye have one of those in yer time? Please tell me my interfering sister didn’t pull ye away from yer family.”
Abigail laughed. “No, I have no husband.” Was that relief she noticed on Aedan’s face. Abby wondered at it before she said, “I did have a serious boyfriend, and before he was killed we spoke of marriage. But that’s over now, obviously.”
“I’m sorry for yer loss, lass. I’m sure, to have captured yer heart, he was a good man.”
Abigail met his gaze and read the sincerity behind his eyes. “He was a good guy.” But even after all the time she’d known David, never had her body reacted as it did right now, standing next to Aedan. Abby didn’t want to delve into what that meant, and she stopped as they came before the castle outer wall. “We’re back,” she said to change the subject.
“Aye, and if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do before the evening meal. I thank ye for our chat today, lass. ’Tis always good to learn a little bit about people.”
“Very true.” Abby gestured for him to go, and unable to help herself, focused on his ass as he walked away. Yowzers, they don’t make men like that anymore, and if they did I’ve never seen one. How sad she had to travel back four hundred years to view a guy with such sensual attributes.
Abigail stood between Gwen and Aedan at the front of Castle Druiminn, as clan after clan arrived for the Highland Games. Each day there was a new arrival, and each introduction and explanation of who, what, where, when, and how she’d come to be here had taken a toll. Before the games had even begun, she was exhausted.
Her answers had become curt, with little embellishment to smooth over inquisitive noses. Aedan had pulled her aside and reminded her of their deal. It had annoyed her a little, but a deal was a deal. And she wasn’t one who went back on her word. Not to mention the fact that, as the days passed and a truce formed between them, her stomach had an unfortunate consequence of somersaulting whenever they spoke.
But he’d become a Scottish Neanderthal again in front of his Highland lairds, and all the softening emotions she had developed disappeared. At times, he tarnished her ideals of what all Scottish men of this era were like. Never again would she read a romance novel and think Scottish lairds were swoon-worthy men she’d love to sneak into her bed.
“We’re heading down to the field where the men are practicing the different events for the competition. If you would accompany me, I’m in need of your advice.”
Abby sighed. Not in the mood to help him pick his bride, especially one from Clan Grant, who were at the field already, going through their own preparations for the competition. “Can’t we talk at dinner? I’ve about had enough of listening to all the clans boast about who’s the strongest and who’s sure to win.”
He took her arm and placed it around his, and she ignored the thrum of awareness that coursed through her veins. Surely it was only because he was so vexing at times that she reacted to him. It couldn’t possibly be that she found him attractive. His mouth, which was smiling down at her, may be smooth and nice looking for a guy, but as soon as he opened it, she had a totally different reaction.
“You promised, and I’m going to hold ye to that promise. Now come,” he said, pulling her along.
Abby followed. They walked down a grassy bank, little stone steps buried into the side of the small hill that led to a large field. It looked like the Murray and Scott clans had also come down to practice, the men busy with whatever they thought would give them an advantage.
There was one consolation. The lack of clothing the men had on certainly made delectable viewing. Large shoulders rippled, their backs glossy from sweat, glistened in the sun. Well-built sword-wielding arms clapped each other on the shoulders in welcome, their smiling features making her wonder if she’d been too quick to dismiss all Highlanders as Neanderthals.
“Enjoying yourself?”
His hardened tone snapped her out of her perv fest, and she looked up at him. He was frowning down at her, the line between his brows quite severe. “Actually, I was. You didn’t tell me they were going to practice with