Page 61 of The Groom Wore Plaid
“How dare ye refer to our private business in public,” she practically hissed.
He liked her on fire. “Your brother can see that angry expression of yours. Is that what you want him to think, that you’re unhappy?” The moment he said those words, he realized he was still concerned about her brother’s intentions.
But Maggie was swept away before she could answer.
A minute later, the dance brought her back. “He’ll ken the truth when I don’t marry ye, after all.”
“But you would restart a feud tonight?”
She exhaled loudly, then pasted a false smile on her face. “Nay, not tonight, not ever. I’ve told ye that.”
“Find a better expression, because that looks positively gloomy.”
“Gloomy!” she said, her new expression affronted.
“That’s better.”
Taking her by the waist, he whirled her around. He didn’t bother saying anything more—he’d made his point. When the dance had finished, he didn’t return her to her brother, but took her with him back to the dais, where he offered her wine. She took the goblet and sipped.
“Shall we discuss Dorothy and Helen?” he said.
“Are they not lovely lasses?” she asked sweetly.
“Quite lovely. You warned me you’d bring them and I’ll tell you right now that you wasted your time. I’m uninterested.”
“You aren’t very interested in me but for warming your bed,” she shot back.
“You know that’s not true. I have the kind of discussions with you that I could never have with your much younger, innocent cousins.”
“Are ye saying I’m old?” she demanded.
He cocked his head. “You chose to have them sent for. Do you believe you’re too old?”
“Ye know I don’t.” She took a deliberate sip of wine. “But are ye saying I’m not innocent?”
He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Oh, you’re an innocent. I think I gave you the first pleasure of your life. And I’ll give you even more, even better, every night of our lives. And don’t go all stiff on me. Your brother is watching.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth and released her. “Go on, be with him. You’ve missed your family, I know.”
MAGGIEwanted to run to her room. Her emotions were roiling inside her, confusion, anger, despair—desire. Owen did all that to her, and more. He was too devilishly appealing to her poor,innocentcousins. Watching him with other women had been a startling pain in the center of her chest, and that had made her afraid. She couldn’t grow to depend on him, to want him—to love him. Every deeper emotion she felt for him would only be worse if this terrible dream came true—but she wasn’t going to allow that to happen. If she had tender feelings, then very well, she would use them as even more motivation to save his wretched life.
But there was her brother, his heavy brow low and dark. He was alone, for his wife was standing with their mother and Lady Aberfoyle some distance away. Taking a fortifying breath, Maggie went to him.
One eyebrow lifted as he regarded her. “What is going on with ye, Maggie McCallum?”
He only used their surname when he was upset.
“I—what do ye mean?” she asked lightly.
“Och, ye’re terrible liar, always have been.”
“That’s not true. Trust me, I’m far too good at it now.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why do ye think I got between ye and Father so often? Your expressive face revealed everything ye were thinking, and got us into even more trouble.”
She put a gentle hand on his arm. “Ye mean I gotyouinto more trouble,” she said quietly.
He shrugged that off.
“Don’t be like that, Hugh McCallum.” She tossed the surname back at him. “Ye may be chief now, all bluster and command, but I’m dealing with another man like that, and believe me, it’s helped me see through ye. Ye rescued me, protected me, comforted me when I was a frightened little girl. I’ll never forget it, and I’ll love ye until I die.”
