Page 19 of Don't Give A Damn About My Plaid Reputation
“Robena.” He lowered his voice, although he told himself ‘twas not to protect this ridiculous charade. “Yecannaecome to the Games with us, even if ‘tis only to participate in the piping contests.”
“Why no’?”
“Well, for one thing, ye’re a woman.”
Her chin rose as she pointed at her lip. “Mustache.”
With her hand removed from his, he forced himself to stop touching her bare knee. ‘Twas hard.
Like his—
Nay, stop thinking about yer cock, we’re all tired of hearing about it.
“A lady cannae go gallivanting across the Highlands with only a band of men from a different clan.” He tried to frown. “It just isnae done.”
She became interested in her horse’s mane. “‘Tis done ifIdo it.”
“Think of yer reputation, lass!” he burst out.
“Shhh!” She darted a glance over his shoulder, but his men were laughing loudly about something, clearly in better spirits now they had something in their stomachs. “No’ so loud.”
“They’ll see through yer disguise soon enough.”
She glared at him. “No’ if ye keep yer mouth shut. Call meRobbie, and they’ll follow.”
“It doesnae matter, because ye’re no’ coming with us to the Games.”
When she shifted in her saddle, her horse shied slightly. “What if I told ye I had my father’s permission to be here?”
He narrowed his eyes. Thatwouldchange his opinion. The Oliphant was absent-minded, ‘twas clear, but hehadsaid he wanted to send men to the Games. WasRobenawho he’d meant?
“Do ye? Have yer da’s permission?”
Her chin rose again, her gaze firmly on his chin. “My family kens how important ‘tis to me to prove my talent. They ken where I am.”
“Right now?”
Stiffly, she nodded.
Bah, he’d hurt her so badly she couldn’t even meet his eyes now. He wondered, if she did, would he see anger in there? Or just…more emptiness? She’d seemed tohurtin the secret passageway, and later, when she’d read the King’s decree…but was it possible she’d gotten over him so quickly?
Yer ego can take the blow, ye arse.
Aye. He sighed.
‘Twould be far better if she wasn’t drowning in pain, the way he was. ‘Twould be far better for her to have moved on, to have accepted her future didn’t lie with him.
‘Twould make him happier to ken he was responsible for only his own pain, not hers as well.
“Laird MacBain, I’m going to do this,” she declared intensely. “With or without yer help, I’m going to the piping competition.”
He shook his head. “If this got out, yer reputation would be shattered.”
“My reputation? I’mwearingamustache.”
His lips twitched reluctantly. “Fair point, well made. But….” He winced, knowing what he had to say. “Lass, what we shared…’tis over.”
‘Twas the wrong thing to point out, judging from how her expression clouded. “Of course.” Her brows lowered and she glanced away. “Ye have a wedding to look forward to, and a bride to satisfy.”
