Page 90 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“No,” I said softly, my eyes searching his. “I wouldn’t.”

“I wasn’t leaving you yesterday, Orla. Not really. But Iwasangry. I am a surprisingly patient person, but sometimes I’m pushed to the edge. That was one of those times. I don’t like to take my temper out on people, particularly with someone like you who has had a difficult past. I walked away so I could deal with my emotions. But being angry with you doesn’t mean I’m going to leave you, Orla. You need to know that because it’s going to happen. We’re going to both make each other mad. I can be mad and also still love you. One doesn’t cancel out the other.”

My heart filled, the hope that bloomed spilling over, and all of a sudden the sun didn’t seem so annoying anymore on this beautiful morning.

“I understand why you were upset. It wasn’t fair of me to hide that part of myself from you. I know how much it hurt you when your father did the same. Even though I wasn’t hiding it because I thought I was doing something wrong.”

“So why did you then?” Fin asked, but again, his tone was gentle, unaccusatory.

“I was coming to terms with it myself. I…I don’t know. I guess I was so used to not sharing about myself with people. And something as big and weird as this? Yeah, well, it wasn’t like I was ready to shout it from the rooftops. I’m a witch, Fin. Historically, that hasn’t always gone down well for people. It made me nervous, and I guess I wanted to be surer of myself before I shared it with you.”

“That makes sense. Particularly since I had such a difficult time in the cottage when we first met.”

“Something that you still didn’t share with me,” I pointed out to him, and Fin’s face dropped.

“Well, shite. I didn’t, did I? Now who was keeping secrets from whom? Och, I’m a real arsehole, aren’t I?”

“Nope, not in the slightest. You didn’t know me then. And trust me, after I met Marie, the ghost inside the cottage, I can understand why you didn’t say anything.”

“She was terrifying.”

“She was my family.”

Fin’s fingers gripped mine.

“Is that the truth of it?”

“Aye. My own bloodline. She was put to death for witchcraft.”

“Bloody hell.” Fin looked away, shaking his head.

“Maybe it was instinctual not to say anything.”

“I don’t doubt it. I’m sorry I took off. Truly. And in hopes you’ll know that I’m with you—no matter what—I have a proposal for you.”

“Sure, what’s that?” I tilted my head, waiting for his proposition.

A mile-wide grin split Fin’s face.

“Still not getting it, eh?”

“Getting what?” I looked around and when I looked back, Fin had a gold ring in his hand. My mouth dropped open and my heart hammered in my chest.

“Fin! Like anactualproposal?”

“I believe I was clear.”

“Oh, oh my God. What am I supposed to say to that?” I tapped at my chest until Fin pulled my hand away and slipped the ring on my finger. I looked down to see a wide gold band with a Celtic chain design wrapped around the ring, a small diamond deeply inset in the middle, so it didn’t raise off my hand. It was a perfect ring for a builder.

“When did you have time to make a ring?” I glared at him, suspicious, and he laughed.

“I made this weeks ago, Orla. I told you that I knew you were the one.”

“Oh.” Damn it, but he’d been showing me all along that he wasn’t going anywhere, hadn’t he? I held the ring to the light.

“A chain, as a symbol that I’m, quite literally, chaining my heart to yours. For life, Orla. If you’ll have me?”

Harris turned his head and licked the ring, nudging my hand and making me laugh.

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