hissed back and then laughed at her own silliness. Down the rest of the way she went, pushing open the wide oak doors to the courtyard in time to see the men riding through the gate.
Two
“Who is this playing mistress of Cullidunloch?” Graham teased from atop his horse before swinging down.
Annie descended the front stairs of the castle, her shoes crunching on the courtyard gravel, and rolled her eyes. “Would it hurt ye greatly to give a lass a compliment?”
“Nay, of course no’. But I see no lass here, only a sprite.” He smiled ruefully, and it was all she could do not to pinch the back of his arm when she embraced him.
“Brother!” Logan rushed from the stables where he’d been helping make room for the extra horses. His gait was a wee bit wobbly now but strong all the same. Annie felt a surge of pride at his progress.
Annie watched their reunion briefly before her gaze slid to the man who’d been riding at Graham’s side. She recognized Craig MacLean from the campaign, though she’d often been too busy to say much to him. Any time she’d approached to speak with her brother, MacLean had turned around and gone the other way. She could only assume he either found her displeasing in some way or didn’t like her being on the battlefield. Whatever his reasoning, she found his behavior unnecessarily rude.
The soldier swung his leg over the back of his horse in one fluid movement that left her momentarily stunned. His plaid rose up just the barest amount, but enough for her to view several inches of the back of one well-toned thigh. Quickly she averted her gaze, instead taking in Logan’s excitement; no doubt he was overjoyed finally to be in the company of his compatriots again.
“My lady.”
A low, rumbling voice jerked her attention back to their new guest. When had he approached her? And why? He was nearly half a foot or more taller than she was and broader by two. He bowed swiftly, a movement so quick she barely had time to take in that it was happening. When he straightened, he reached for her hand. She’d been too stunned in the moment to offer it but quickly righted the situation.
He assessed her with cool eyes the color of emeralds ringed in sapphire. Ginger hair curled out from under his cap. He brushed his lips over the air half an inch above her hand, never quite touching her skin, more a perfunctory obligation than a sincere greeting. It marked her all the same. Lord, but he was even more handsome up close. He had a strong jawline, high cheekbones, and a broad forehead. There was a smattering of freckles across his brow and cheeks that gave him an impish look. If not for the cool way in which he regarded her, she might have expected to see his eyes dancing with mirth.
“Jasmine?” he asked, a slight twinkle in his eyes. “Reminds me of spring.”
Why was he so solicitous now when he normally ignored her? Was it to show off in front of her brother? Annie snatched her hand back, trying as hard as she could not to frown in his direction. How dare he comment on her perfume? “That is the idea,” she retorted.
“Lieutenant MacLean, my lady, at your service. I thank ye for allowing us into your home.”
Annie frowned. “We are no’ strangers, sir.” Did he not remember seeing her—and avoiding her—for the past several months?
His eyebrows rose. “We are all strangers, my lady. For who can truly say they know another person well?”
Annie resisted the urge to roll her eyes and knock on the side of his head to see if there was any brain left inside all that brawn. And how did she say to him, That’s a load of horse—
Annie shook those words from her head. “I’ve been on campaign with all of ye the last several months. And though it is true we’ve no’ been formally introduced, we have sat in the same circles and eaten the same fare. I’ve even mended a few of your men.”
The lieutenant did not look shocked at all at her reminder. In fact, was that a smirk? His gaze swept over her appreciatively, sending an unwanted shiver of pleasure along her spine. “I know who ye are. And there’ve been more than a few of my men at your mercy. Ye clean up nicely, my lady.”
Oh, the insolence! “Aye, well, I’ve had a bath,