Page 56 of Kilty as Sin
“And ye think such a thing detracts from yer beauty?”
Payton swung on his friend, incredulous. Craig just shrugged and grinned, lifting the mug that used to be Payton’s. “It gives ye an air of mystery, friend.”
“It gives me fooking ridiculous headaches, is what it gives me,” Payton growled, and lifted his mug once more.
“It could be the ale.” The other man’s tone was just a bit too helpful.
Payton mimicked the tone when he mocked, “Or it could be the blade which removed my ear, part of my nose, and almost took my eye. Which do ye think ‘tis more likely?”
Instead of being embarrassed, Craig grinned and saluted with the mug. “So nae ladies in yer future?”
Christ, it was difficult to be angry at the lummox. Sighing, Payton clicked his mug against his friend’s. “Nowomen. Too much trouble.”
“No wives,” Craig agreed. “Drum says falling in love is more heartbreak than anything else.”
Love?
Payton snorted and leaned on his elbows to watch the flirting and dancing and general debauchery of court.
When a man looked the way he did, women were just a need to be fulfilled, an itch to be scratched occasionally. There was no need to talk to them, or get his emotions involved.
Love.
He took a long draught of the ale and was pleased to discover hewasfeeling the effects.
Love wasn’t for a Hunter. Especially not a scarred one like him.
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