Scot to the Touch (The Hots for Scots #7) - Caroline Lee Page 0,22

him react. “What are ye doing here?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he winced. Without giving her time to respond, he hurried to apologize. “Och, nay, where is my diplomatic tongue? I didnae mean to make it sound as if ye have nae right to visit our village. ‘Tis a fine little village, is it no’?”

He waved his arm in a sweeping gesture, and the suspicion in her eyes slowly turned to wariness as she looked about.

“Aye,” she finally said hesitantly, “ ’tis lovely. Yer sister-in-law told me today was market day and thought I might enjoy a visit.”

Smiling as charmingly as he could manage, Kiergan offered her his arm. She hesitated just a moment before placing her hand on his forearm, and he noticed she shuddered slightly at the contact.

Which was aright, because he was suddenly quite warm himself.

He cleared his throat as he began to stroll toward the center square. “And the first place ye visited was the butcher’s shop?”

When he glanced at her, he noticed the way one side of her lips had curled upward. “Of course,” she said softly, then flashed an impish, multi-colored look his way. “I had to meet the Hero Pig of the Oliphants, did I no’?”

Kiergan burst into chuckles, remembering the outrageous stories he’d told her last night at supper. “Did ye now? And what are yer thoughts after meeting our hero?”

“Well, I agree with yer assessment ‘tis a verra valuable pig. Although I did notice it was missing an ear, as well as a haunch, as ye told me.”

“Och, well, the pig is verra valuable. John the butcher likely received the cost of the whole pig just selling his ear.”

This time it was Katlyn who chuckled and even slapped at his arm. “Stop! Ye’re terrible. ‘Tis a fine pig.” She shot him another teasing grin. “And I’m certain, quite delicious as well.”

Her teasing made him smile. Not his usual charming smile, but a genuine I’m-happy-to-be-here smile, which tended to only come out around his family. “So where are ye headed now, lass? Can I escort ye anywhere?”

She turned shy again, her attention on the ground. “Evelinde told me I needed to visit the cheese shop.”

“Och, nay! Dinnae take the risk, lass!” At his exaggerated response, she halted, pulling him to a stop as well. He kept up the charade. “Melba is a prickly old woman, who’ll likely chew up a lass as sweet as yerself and spit her back out again.”

Katlyn blinked, her attention suddenly, sharply, focused on him. “Ye think I’m sweet?”

Ah. Was that the concern then? With her eyes—and the curse of the devil he’d been hearing whispers about—she’d likely not had many compliments over the years. So he turned to her and took both hands in his, ignoring the warm shiver which passed up his arms.

“Katlyn—I hope ye dinnae mind me calling ye that—ye’re sweet, aye, but ye’re also witty and fun to be around. And lovely as well.”

Her eyes had gone wide during his explanation, the blue one on the right as bright as a cloudless Highland sky and the other a pure topaz. But as he finished, her expression shuttered again.

“I’d think more of ye if ye did no’ see a need to lie to me, milord.”

When she tried to pull away, he tightened his hold, uncertain why it mattered to him so much that she believed him.

“I see nae need to lie to ye, lass,” he murmured. “And call me Kiergan please. We are friends, are we no’?”

Her gaze was suspicious as she studied his face. Then, slowly, as if considering each word before she uttered it, she said, “I dinnae have many friends, Kiergan, but I think I would like to be yer friend. Verra much.”

The statement was so simple, so heart-achingly wonderful, it made his chest tighten. Katlyn was a lovely human being and had been hurt enough in the past to be hesitant.

He wanted to be the one who protected her from any further hurts. He wanted to be her friend.

He tried for a charming grin but knew he must’ve failed. Instead, he squeezed her hands.

“I’d like that, lass,” he managed to choke out.

But he wasn’t the kind of man who got too maudlin or allowed himself to wallow in emotion. So he took a deep breath and nodded once. “Aye, we’re to be friends, I ken it.” After all, she was not being offered in marriage, and he was considering marrying her sister. There was naught