Seducing the Highlander (3 page)

“Aye, so neither of us has to talk about it. We can just let it be,” Craig interrupted, jumping to his feet.

“Why?” she asked, rising to stand next to him. “We have to talk about it sometime. Our feelings—”

“Haven’t changed,” he said emphatically, grabbing her arms. Sparks ignited between them. He stared down at her, at that tempting mouth, and every muscle in his body tensed. She could make him vulnerable in a way he never dreamed anyone could, and that was a problem. A serious one. But all problems had solutions, and he was a master at finding them. He would resolve this. He would not let their passionate kiss change anything.

He swallowed and let her go. “Aye, the kiss was enjoyable, but it was something you and I will never share again. I
know
you agree with me. We are friends. Good friends, but nothing more. You are not attracted to me and I have no interest in you physically or in any way beyond what I have for . . . your sister. I know your penchant for questioning everything you cannot explain, but do we really need to discuss our relationship at length only to conclude that
nothing
has changed about how we feel about each other?”

Meriel blinked in an effort to keep her eyes from widening in shock. She forced herself to nod. “No, Craig. We don’t need to talk about how we are still only friends.”

Craig visibly relaxed and let go the breath he had been holding. He raked his fingers through his dark hair, which he kept short, as tying it back gave him headaches. “Good. Very good. I was afraid that . . . seeing you here . . . and so soon . . . well . . .”

Meriel held up her hand, stopping him before he said something that would cause her to lose control and break into tears, destroying any bits of pride she still possessed. “I simply wanted to clarify our feelings now rather than avoid each other unnecessarily. That was not an ordinary kiss, and one of us could have construed things differently.”

Sighing, Craig bobbed his head in agreement, faking a chuckle. “Though I doubt I have ever enjoyed a kiss more.” And once again, just thinking about it made his heart race. Swallowing, he added, “And I think it worked. Not a person there or within the range of gossip will pester us again about our friendship.”

“Aye,” Meriel replied, suddenly anxious to escape his disturbing presence. “Even my sister has finally surrendered. And speaking of Raelynd, I need to go and see her about a few things. Talk later?”

“Absolutely!” Craig answered, walking her to the door, almost eager to see her leave.

Meriel leaned forward to receive the bear hug that he always gave her when they separated. Craig hesitated. He could not refuse, but if he held her even slightly close to him, she would know without a doubt that his claim to have no physical interest in her was a falsehood. Out of necessity, he gave her shoulders a squeeze and prayed she would not pursue the change in his behavior.

The moment she was gone, he closed the door and leaned his forehead against it, closing his eyes. His composure had been a fragile shell on the verge of breaking. So he wanted her. What sane man wouldn’t? But desires could be quashed through various means, and love, like any emotion, could be controlled. Unlike his older brothers, sentiments for a woman were not going to dictate his life, let alone his future. Not even for the possibility of experiencing passion unlike anything he had ever, or would ever, know.

His feelings for Meriel would remain what they had always been—brotherly.

Meriel’s heart was pounding in her chest as she left the cottage. Pride had dictated that she agree to Craig’s emphatic decree that nothing had changed between them, but she knew her best friend better than anyone. She knew his looks, his mannerisms, and his reactions to uncomfortable situations. The man had very few fears. Being a disappointment was one, and emotional vulnerability was the other.

Last year, he had finally admitted to himself and to his brother that he held no desire to be a clan chieftain. Commanding soldiers, leading men into battle, these were responsibilities he could confidently and expertly execute. Craig enjoyed entertaining a crowd, but the idea of a person—man or woman—seeking him out for emotional support frightened him. And until he met Meriel, that was a secret he had been able to hide from everyone, including his twin brother. Similarly, he was one of the few who could discern her true hopes and fears.

From almost the beginning of their relationship their friendship had been an anomaly. She had never bared her thoughts and feelings with anyone as she did with Craig—not even with her sister. As a result, she had protected their friendship every bit as vigorously as Craig. But after last night, Meriel no longer felt like she was shielding a cherished relationship; now she was acting out in fear of the future.

It took her hours of pondering, examining their relationship in multiple ways, but the conclusion was always the same—she loved him and he loved her. Rather than the sudden impact of two hearts recognizing each other, resulting in torrents of passion, their love had grown with time. She trusted him with anything and everything about herself, and remembered him once confiding about the incredible peace he felt, knowing that she would never think less of him for unburdening his true thoughts to her. They were friends, and maybe they should remain just friends. But how were they to know, if Craig refused to talk not only about their kiss, but the passion that had been between them. And last night proved beyond any doubt that between them there was not merely passion, but desire and an intense need that continued to burn inside her.

Meriel made her way through the village, becoming angrier with every step.
Friends!
Friends were honest. And she and Craig had been far from honest with each other. What they felt for each other went way beyond friendship, and this morning only confirmed he was fighting the same conclusion.

Unlike Craig, she believed preserving their friendship required them both to be candid about their feelings and decide
together
whether to act on them or not. And though a small, frightened piece of her wanted to capitulate to Craig’s dictates and keep their friendship just as it was, something far more powerful had taken over her heart and she was not sure she could keep things the same. Unfortunately, knowing him as well as she did, Meriel knew only one person could change his mind: Craig. No amount of persuasion, logic, or even passionate assaults would work.
He
had to decide that what was between them was not just friendship, but something much more.

And in this case, that was highly unlikely. That left her with two options. Wait until Craig admitted his true feelings for her, or end her emotional connection with him. The first was unlikely and out of her control; the second, however, was absolutely within her power to make happen. How hard could it be? This whole revelation had come only a few hours ago. In a few days, the memory of their kiss would be forgotten and then their friendship could continue as before.

Now . . . just how did one go about forgetting a man?

Conor smiled inwardly as he watched his wife pack in preparation to leave. On the bed were the various items that Laurel insisted she bring back to McTiernay Castle—too many to keep to their agreement of only two bags. There was no possible way she was going to be able to keep that promise now.

Beside the clothes and items she had brought were a couple of tapestries and a new gown Meriel had made for her. Items Conor specifically encouraged Laurel to accept, knowing what it would mean. All week he had been looking forward to this moment with eager anticipation. It was not often his wife made an error in judgment—especially when it could cost her as much as this one was going to.

“Want me to pack those in my bags? I have room,” he offered congenially, obviously enjoying the idea that she might have to agree.

Laurel shook her head and cringed playfully at the idea. “And have my things reek with the foul odor of your filthy clothes? I think not.”

Conor shrugged, ignoring the lighthearted insult, and leaned against the stone wall near the bed. “Just remember, the limit of two bags was for the
whole
trip.”

Laurel flashed him a smile and carefully began to fold the first tapestry. “I know.”

Conor inhaled deeply and studied the relaxed manner of his wife. After nearly ten years of being together, he still could not tell if she was expertly hiding her anxiety, truly believed that she could accomplish the impossible, or if she already had a plan to circumvent the particulars of their agreement.

He tried to hide a grin at the idea of her persuading him with kisses and lovemaking to release her from her pledge. While he would enjoy letting her try, it would not work. Today she would not escape her fate. For a whole week, she would be unable to argue, confront, disagree, or contradict him. A conciliatory Laurel on all topics. Just the thought sent a shiver through him.

“Conor, would you go and make sure everything is ready for us to leave?”

“No need. Spoke with Crevan earlier and he said that he would have the horses prepared and ready by the time you finished packing.”

“Does that include Merry?” Laurel inquired. Her voice was without even a hint that there was anything unusual about the request.

“Did you say
Merry
?” Conor repeated, hoping he had misunderstood his wife but knowing he had not.

“Aye. It is the least spirited of Laird Schellden’s horses.”

Conor’s brows furrowed. “I’m fully aware of which horse Merry is, as well as just
who
rides her.”

“Oh good,” Laurel said absentmindedly as she unfurled the second tapestry and tried folding it again into a tighter and smaller bundle.

“Are you attempting to tell me in a less than appealing way that Meriel is coming with us?” Conor half bellowed, trying to keep his voice down.

“Whether or not the idea appeals to you, she is coming with us,” answered Laurel, this time looking him directly in the eye.

Conor blinked. Laurel was completely serious. This was not some ploy to get out of their arrangement. He only wished it was.

Conor went to the window and looked below at the courtyard. Three long curtain walls formed a large triangle, making Caireoch Castle one of the more unusual fortified homes in Scotland. And while it was a fortress with strong defense capabilities, the shape made it impossible for anything besides castle activities to be conducted within the walls. As a result, castle life had taken over the inner bailey, making it crowded, loud, and confining. And though he had enjoyed this short visit to his close ally and friend, he also could not wait to leave it all behind and return to his children and his life—which did
not
include Meriel Schellden.

He remembered the havoc she and her sister caused last year when they came to visit. Granted, it was the first time they had ever been allowed to leave the protection of Caireoch and their overindulgent father, but their short stay had been painful. And most of the pain Conor remembered enduring had been a direct result of Meriel’s and his wife’s brilliant idea that
Meriel
should learn about castle duties by assuming them. He was not going to go through that again.
Mo creach!
McTiernay Castle would likely be vacated within hours! Fiona, their cook, would rebel vociferously by refusing to allow any of the staff to prepare meals, and their steward, Fallon . . . his reaction was unpredictable, with the exception that it would be far from good. Did Laurel not realize that?

Conor turned around to argue when his mouth fell open. He pointed to the bags she was using to pack her things. “Those are not the bags you used coming up here.”

Laurel shrugged and gave him a quizzical look before continuing to arrange things in the much larger carriers. “Well, of course not. I could never have packed all of this in the two I brought, so I asked Meriel for some larger ones and she obliged. Our agreement was the
number
of bags, love, not the bags themselves.”