Page 59 of Rescued By the Highland Warrior
She was too exposed, too vulnerable—and his tone too harsh.
“Fine,” Roderick said resolutely. “That is yer choice. If ye dinnae find the killer in the next two days, then ye’re free tae leave. I willnae hold ye responsible at all.”
Moira went to speak, and he waited, but nothing came out.
They held each other’s gaze for a second that seemed to last a lifetime. While neither of them spoke, Moira could sense the conflict in his eyes.
There were no circumstances in which she could leave the Triad before her time in service was completed, and so while the pained expression on Roderick’s face broke her heart, it was easier this way.
As her unease spread through her chest, she reminded herself that the mission was the only way she could actually help him.
She broke the tension between them, quickly grabbing and fastening her cloak.
“Fine,” she said, heading for the door. “If ye dinnae want me here, then I’ll be out o’ yer way. All I’ll dae is what ye’ve asked me here tae dae.”
“Moira,” he said, grabbing her again. “Wait.”
She stopped in her tracks, the urgency in his voice freezing her in place. She hadn’t expected him to stop her—not when he’d just cast her aside so coldly.
She didn’t turn around immediately, instead, she chose to let the silence stretch on.
“What?” She huffed.
“Can we talk about this?”
His voice was a plea that tugged at the strings of her heart.
“Roderick,” she whispered, barely audible. “What is it ye want from me?”
He was silent for a long moment. She could feel his fingers tighten around her arm, a fleeting contact that sent another jolt of electricity through her, even as her heart ached.
“Ye ken what I want,” he said, his voice soft. “I told ye tae stay.”
But Moira couldn’t do that. She couldn’t give in to the way he was making her feel, especially not when he had just been so cold. She had to protect herself and she had to move on.
“I already told ye.”
“I ken what ye said.”
She sighed. To let down her walls for him— she had to know. She had to make sense of the way he was behaving. She had thought it had been because of the letters, but she was not sure if that made sense anymore.
If she was going to be honest with him, sheneededhim to be honest with her. What Moira feared the most, more than anything in the world, was losing control.
“Dae ye regret it?” She asked. “Is that why ye act so cold afterwards?”
“What are ye talkin’ about?”
He loosened his hand and dropped it from her arm as she turned to face him
“At first I thought it was the letters,” Moira said, searching his face for a sign that he cared. “But I cannae mak’ sense o’ it. Ye’re askin’ me tae stay, ye are so tender wi’ me but then ye become so cold. I dinnae think I can bear that, Roderick—I cannae dae this when ye’re like this.”
“Moira,” he said, gently stroking his thumb across her face. “I’m sorry.”
“I dinnae want yer apology,” she said, her voice trembling, her body close to tears. “I want ye tae mak’ sense.”
Even though her frustration toward him was fierce, she longed for him still. The concern in his eyes reawakened her desire.
“I’m just tryin’ tae dae the right thing.”
