Page 84 of Beloved Enemy
“With me?” Reid questioned, heartened and yet keenly aware that she’d made no mention of how he might have redeemed himself to her.
“I saw the fear in your eyes,” she kindly enlightened him. “When you came into the courtyard and you saw me with Fiona, I saw that you were afraid.”
“Aye, I was.” It still didn’t answer his question.
“Yes, I know. You were hurt by Fiona’s betrayal, I could see that. But more than that, you were afraid for me. It was there in your eyes, but it was deeper than any average fear. You were worried you were going to lose me.”
In truth, it had been one of the most frightening moments of his life, a defining moment. Reid cleared his throat. “I’m terrified still, Charlotte. There’s nae a man more terrified than me, lass—I fear I’ve lost ye already, with my distrust and... I’ve nae given ye reason to trust me,” he admitted.
She smiled wanly and tilted her head. “You’ve certainly not made it easy, I’ll give you that.”
She swallowed and looked terribly small and weak, and yet she spoke so bravely.
Lifting her gaze again, she added quietly, “In the end, all anybody really wants is for someone to choose them.” She paused. “I want someone to choose me. Over everyone else. Under any circumstance.”
“Any circumstance,” he mused wretchedly, his heart dropping to his gut. He’d not done that.
“But no, you haven’t lost me,” she said. “You can’t lose me.”
“How can ye say that? How do ye ken that?”
“Because I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you,” she said, taking one step closer to him, “and I think you might love me a little as well. I mean, it might be difficult for an outsider to see it, but I’m pretty sure I have. You chose me, despite all your misgivings and doubt and distrust. You put up a good fight, that’s for sure—and I get that. It’s not easy, with your history, and my dubious circumstance, and everything else going on. But you chose me that night in the tower and you chose me when you dared to confront Lachlan and Fiona. And you chose me, by allowing me space in the last few days.”
An abundance of glorious emotion welled up inside him.
“Pretty sure, are ye?” He questioned, moving forward one step. “And how did ye arrive there, at that conclusion?”
“You wouldn’t have been afraid if you didn’t have feelings for me,” she explained, taking another step in his direction.
Reid inclined his head, allowing for the probability. “I see.” And he moved again, one pace forward until his boots touched the hem of her gown.
“Anyway, I thought then, it must be love,” she suggested beguilingly, lifting her hands to lay them gently on his tunic. “This warm, soothing but terrifying, wonderful yet nerve-wracking feeling. It’s like I'm weightless but grounded at the same time. It's exhilarating and makes my heart race. It’scomforting, but it sets every nerve deliciously on edge. You are super annoying, and imperious, and sometimes I want to punch you right in the face, but then I want to be always at your side, in your company. It’s unexpected but then exactly what I’ve always wanted—scary but perfect.” She met his gaze, a quiet intensity in her expression, having laid her heart bare. “And here you are...”
Reid grinned and dug his fingers into the fabric at her hips and pulled her against him, removing the last bit of space between them. “Well said, lass. Perfectly said, save that I dinna ever want to punch ye.” He kissed her forehead. “I choose ye, Charlotte, and aye, it must be love,” he said as he lowered his mouth to hers.
The End
