Page 61 of The Laird's Vengeful Desire
“Well,” she said, the sudden coldness in her tone taking him by surprise. “I suppose that settles it then. Even the wildlife kens I dinnae belong here.”
With that, she nudged her horse and, in total silence, she directed it towards the castle. He followed as they slowly approached the gates, where the stable boys helped them dismount and took the animals. Ian’s mind was still reeling, and he was at a total loss of what to say.
What the hell just happened?
“Rhona, what–”
“How convenient fer ye,” she continued with a brightness that set his teeth on edge, “that ye think I can be so easily placated by an offer of partnership and respect.”
The sarcasm hit him like a slap to the face. Ian felt his jaw tighten as he watched the walls slam back into place behind her eyes, all the warmth and consideration from their ride evaporating like morning mist.
“Say it, Rhona. What exactly is it ye think I should be offerin’?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it again, clearly struggling for words, the silence charged with tension and unspoken desires.
“I dinnae… ‘tis nae…” She turned away, pressing her hands to her temples. “Ian, ye dinnae understand. Marriage means somethin’ different tae me than it daes tae ye.”
“Then enlighten me.” His voice was rougher than he’d intended, frustration bleeding through his careful control. “Because from where I stand, I’m offerin’ ye partnership, respect, a chance to save both our clans – and maybe tae build something meaningful from all of it. What more could ye possibly want?”
Rhona spun back to face him, her eyes blazing. “Love! I want love!”
The statement hung in the air between them like a gauntlet thrown down in battle. Ian felt his heart stutter at the raw honesty in her voice.
There it is. The truth she’s been hidin’ from.
“Rhona…” he started, but she held up a hand to stop him.
“Nae, let me finish.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “Ye’re a good man, Ian Wallace. Better than I gave ye credit fer at first. But good isnae the same as… as what I need.”
Ian felt something cold settle in her chest.
“And what is it that ye need?”
“Someone who makes me heart race by just lookin’ at me. Someone who understands me without needin’ me tae say the words. Someone who…” she gestured helplessly. “Someone who truly suits me.”
The words hit their mark, but what was worse was the way she said them – with such certainty, as if she’d already tried and found him wanting.
After everything they’d shared, after everything that had happened, she saw him as… what? A convenient protector? Someone adding to her problems instead of being a solution?
“I see,” Ian said quietly, his voice carefully controlled. “And this mythical man – tell me, where exactly dae ye plan tae find him? Dae ye really want a man who’ll never challenge ye, never ask ye tae grow beyond what’s comfortable?”
The question had clearly struck a nerve. Rhona’s cheeks flushed furiously, but whether from anger or embarrassment, he couldn’t tell.
“That’s nae fair–”
Ian stepped closer, his green eyes intense. “Ye speak of passion like it’s somethin’ separate from respect, as if a man cannae have both fire and honor. But the truth of it, is that ye’re afraid of what ye might feel if ye let yerself truly see me.”
Rhona opened her mouth to protest, but Ian cut her off before she could speak. “I’m dyin’ tae hear what exactly ye think suits ye, lass?” he said slowly, his voice dangerously quiet.
Rhona’s chin lifted with that same familiar stubborn tilt. “Someone passionate. Someone who fights fer what he believes in with fire in his belly, nae cold calculation.”
“Cold calculation?” Ian’s temper finally snapped. “Is that what ye truly think of me?”
“Ye’re measured. Controlled. Ye think through every decision like a chess master plannin’ his next move.” She wrapped her arms around herself defensively. “There’s naethin’ wrong with that, but it’s nae what sets me heart aflame.”
Ian stared at her, disbelief warring with growing anger.
This woman sets me blood on fire, I burn fer her, yet she claims I’m too cold tae stir her heart.
