Seducing the Highlander (11 page)

One of his men had been asking him to join his family for dinner for several months. The man had never said outright what his true intentions were, but it was not a secret that he was newly married and that he wanted to introduce his younger sister, who was living with him, to any and all available men. Craig had no plans to help the man out with his living situation, but he understood the sister to be pretty and coquettish. So what could it hurt to give the newlyweds a few hours of privacy?

The girl was pretty enough. Her face was a collection of well-defined, reasonably attractive features. But sitting there, eating dinner, he decided her eyes were unusually large and too dark, and her head was overly small for her long, thin neck. She reminded him of a snapping turtle. He tried not to look at her too often, but it was impossible to escape her laughter. He had heard worse, but the timing of her high-pitched giggles made it obvious that nothing he said made any sense to her. She was lucky his brother Conan was not in the vicinity, for Craig doubted his younger brother would have been able to keep himself from verbally slaying her . . . only she would never have known it.

But the goal of the night was not to become smitten but to satisfy certain male urges that he had been repressing for three weeks. Aye, this sudden onslaught of desire he was experiencing started with Meriel but was not
because
of Meriel. It was because of a
kiss
. It could have been with anyone. With moving, setting up a home, and all of his new responsibilities, he had not had time to be with a woman for over a year. So, since it was a kiss that had started this mess, a kiss was going to help end it.

The second he and the girl were alone, she became the aggressor, grabbing his neck and pulling his lips to hers. It took everything he had not to cringe and embarrass them both. So perhaps not just
anyone
could end these lustful thoughts of Meriel he had every night. Maybe he needed to replace those images with someone he already thought was attractive and knew from experience was knowledgeable in pleasuring a man.

Craig had been arriving at these conclusions while he made his way back home through the village, when he had run into Vera, a lively, voluptuous woman whom he had met on his first stay at the Schelldens’ years ago and had visited whenever he returned. Vera had scolded him about living there for nearly a year and failing to seek out her company. She had begun to think it was true that he and Meriel Schellden were in love—that is, until she heard about the kiss.

Needing no more prompting, Craig had immediately swung Vera around to the nearest secluded spot and pulled her into his arms, determined to eliminate any doubt in her or his mind that he was definitely still available.

Her arms stole around his neck and the inside of her mouth was warm and welcoming. She trembled, leaned into him, and kissed him back with growing eagerness. Too much eagerness. Too late did he realize any one of a number of men would have satisfied her at that moment. The thought had repelled him. The fact that he had also been using her made no difference. He had quickly ended the encounter and, without even attempting to make a pitiful excuse, left.

How Meriel had convinced him to kiss her, he would never know, but it had been
her
idea and not his. Damn woman! Who knew a simple, ingenuous kiss would ruin everything? Kissing was enjoyable, mostly because it was
not
emotional. It allowed one to experience the moment and move on.

The idea that his attraction to women now resided with only one—Meriel, the one woman he refused to have—angered him. Alarmed him. Terrified him. Before three weeks ago, he had never visualized being physical with Meriel, having intentionally compartmentalized their relationship in his mind. But now that he had, his thoughts constantly seemed to drift in that direction.

Returning from the gatehouse, Craig held the burning stick away from the cottage door as he opened it. He stepped inside and aimed the light to the floor, verifying that what he had knocked over was a mug and nothing more. He took a deep breath and whispered with soft intensity, “I was simply not in the mood for
anyone
tonight, and that most especially includes a
ceannlaidir
.”

“I agree,” came a deep, penetrating voice from the dark. “Don’t know anyone who would be in the mood for a self-willed, headstrong woman . . . except for maybe a McTiernay.”

Craig swung the temporary torch around to see the large figure in the corner, sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on the chair next to him. Craig had recognized the tone immediately, but it was still several seconds before his brain accepted what his eyes and ears were telling him. That his eldest brother, Conor, was sitting in his home, waiting for him in the dark, and listening to everything he said.

Narrowing his eyes, Craig marched back and yanked the chair right out from under Conor’s feet. “You best be talking about yourself and Laurel.”

“Now, who else would I be talking about?” Conor deflected as he let his legs fall to the floor only to cross them at the ankles.

Craig ignored his brother and started a small fire in the hearth, glad to have something to do. Instincts and Conor’s expression were clear signs that his brother’s unexpected visit had not been to bring Meriel home, nor was it to impart bad news, but rather to make Craig the pawn of some plot. Question was, whose?

“Well, out with it,” Craig muttered with exasperation. “By the look on your face, I’m not going to like whatever it is that drove you to my door.”

Conor stretched his arms and settled them behind his head. “Neither pleasure nor discontent. I have decided not to delay my visit to the Lowlands. With Conan away at some abbey, I’ve come to ask Rae if he can spare his commander so that you can help Laurel with clan matters in my stead.”

Craig stoked the fire and then closed his eyes. The sudden decision and need for Conor to leave his home was not just unexpected, but unorthodox this close to winter. Only a long trip would trigger a need for one of the brothers to go and stay at McTiernay Castle. That Conor had chosen
him
, at the same time Meriel was there visiting, was too much of a coincidence. “I thought you were going to wait to visit Colin in the spring—when it made more sense.”

Conor ignored the barb. Craig was in an unusually foul mood, and since the man would have troubles soon enough, Conor felt no brotherly compulsion to add to them. “I was, but we have not heard about Clyde for a while now, and there is enough time for a short visit if I leave now.”

Craig studied his brother. Conor’s face was grim, and the lines etched along his forehead were slightly deeper. The fierce Highland laird, who used to search for excuses to be away from McTiernay Castle, now rarely ever wanted to leave his family, and he especially did not enjoy leaving his wife. “You’ve changed, Conor,” Craig said with sad resignation.

Conor did not even try to deny the direction and accusations of Craig’s thoughts. “You will too someday . . . if you are lucky.”

Craig issued a small smirk. “I think I am just fine as I am.”

“Makes no difference to me,” Conor countered with a small shrug of his shoulders. “But somehow it does have the women stirred up.”

So it was Laurel who sent you here
, Craig said to himself. She just could not accept him as a bachelor and was determined to have him be in love.
And you, older brother, are probably all too happy to avoid whatever she is planning.
And any other time, Craig would have found himself trying to do the same, rather than eagerly throwing himself into the path of danger. But this opportunity was exactly what he needed.

A break from his daily routine. A safe haven to prove he could be in Meriel’s company just as before. Evidence that he was no more attracted to her than any other beautiful woman. But most of all, in the end, he would be able to
bring Meriel home
. “I take it you’ve spoken with Rae?”

“Aye, I have, and Rae has no qualms with you being gone for a few weeks to help ensure the safety and peace of our clan. Although I’m thinking that his daughter staying at McTiernay Castle had a little bit to do with his willingness to give you up. I do believe the man intends for you to bring his daughter home.”

“When are you leaving?”

“At daybreak, which is why I saw Rae first before coming here. I was not sure where you were sleeping at night these days. Of course, that was before I realized you were seeking out the company of
ceannlaidirs
.”

Craig let his brother have his little laugh. Conor might be leaving in the morning, but Craig had no intention of immediately following suit. The McTiernay clan could wait another day or two before he got there. And so could Laurel’s matchmaking schemes.

He only hoped his sister-in-law was not planning to try to make him jealous. The idea of Meriel in love with another man . . . well, it just was not possible. If she was going to be with anyone, it would be him.

Craig heaved a satisfied sigh and rubbed his full stomach. Tonight’s dinner had been exceptionally good and he had eaten too much. “Nothing beats Fiona’s cooking.”

Meriel nodded in agreement. “Just be glad you never have to deal with her. This good food comes at a serious price,” she stated with a twinkle in her eye. Meriel would never forget the look in the gruff woman’s dark eyes that afternoon when she showed her the gown she had made for Fiona’s daughter’s wedding. Fiona would deny it with her last breath, but Meriel knew she saw a tear fall in appreciation.

“I’m glad we finally had a chance to all eat together,” Laurel said with a sigh as she rose from her chair. “But, I think it best if I go and say good night to my children. All of whom appeared to have an abundant amount of energy this evening.”

Meriel stood up and asked, “Would you like some help?”

Laurel waved her hand dismissively. “No, no. In truth, I like to take advantage of nights like this when Conor is away. They gravitate to him because they can jump all over him and like to believe they can wrestle him down. But I am in the mood for a good tickle fight, and they need to be reminded that I am just as worthy an opponent as their father.”

The remaining people in the small group rose in respect and lethargically began to follow her out of the Great Hall. Craig coughed into his hand and caught Meriel’s attention. “Where are you going?” he asked, attempting to sound only mildly interested in the answer.

Flashing him a brilliant smile, Meriel put her arm in his and pointed him toward the eastern wall where several comfortable chairs were set in a semicircle around the hall’s main canopied fireplace. “Right there and no farther. I knew I should not have had that last helping of mutton,” she said, and let her head fall against his shoulder as they made their way across the room.

“I know!” Craig choked, hoping she did not hear the near crack in his voice. Walking arm in arm from the dinner table was far from unusual, and while he could recall her resting her head against him as she was doing now, he did not remember it disturbing him so much. But since his arrival, every time they touched he felt his pulse race. Then his skin would spark to life, and that in turn would ignite other portions of his body, making it very hard to think, let alone maneuver. But it was not the physical discomfort that truly unsettled him. It was the fact that
he alone
seemed to be bothered by their proximity. How could a few weeks apart do for her what it had not done in the least for him? It was difficult to believe. He was positive that Meriel’s sudden departure from Caireoch had been because she had needed physical distance from him. Now, she treated him as if he were . . . a brother.
Well, if you can disregard the sparks I know are between us, then so can I
, he told himself.

Moving to sit in the chair next to her, he said cheerfully, “I also ate too much, but I couldn’t stop myself. I think I ate that whole loaf of bread.”

“
And
all the honey,” Meriel chided, closing her eyes as she leaned back into the comfortable chair, listening to the bustle as servants cleaned up the dinner and disassembled the trestle tables. Only the high table at the far end of the room would remain when they were done. “So, tell me all that is going on at home. It has been awhile since we have had a chance to talk.”

Awhile?
Craig thought. More like forever. And the last five days had been the worst of them all. Not wanting Laurel to think that he was in any way eager to see Meriel and add fuel to her schemes to get them together, he had delayed his departure for McTiernay Castle by two days. And then after he had arrived, the warm welcome he fully expected to receive from Meriel was nonexistent. He had practically been accosted by the steward with myriad issues to be addressed and had to eat with the soldiers in the Lower Hall as everyone else already had plans with friends.