Page 16 of The Iron Highlander
Kate looked up and realized that she was right in front of Reuben, and he had a somber expression on his face. For a moment, she saw the lights of the candles spread out in his eyes, and the rage in his eyes told her that they were directed at her.
Mylo reached for Kate from behind, but Reuben pulled her towards him, out of reach of Mylo and turned to him, “I need to borrow her for a wee bit.”
Mylo barely had a chance to respond as Reuben whisked her away from him. For a moment, Reuben tried dancing, but he was simply unable to. Kate looked up at him, frowning as well, “Why would ye do that? Do ye nae ken I was dancin’ with someone?”
“I do, but I daenae like it.”
A loud crash beside them drew their attention, and Kate saw that the man who had been making fun of his friend for being drunkhad fallen over, drunk. She laughed, swaying back and forth with the music again. Reuben grabbed her, pulling her close. For a moment, she struggled, trying to get out of his grasp, but he held her tight, not letting go of her. Kate started to verbally object, looking up at his face. As their eyes met, Kate was shocked by just how close their faces were. She stared at him, her eyes threatening to drift towards his lips.
Reuben stared back, his anger melting away as he realized just how close they were. He could perceive her lavender perfume, and it felt intoxicating to him. He stared down at her lips, daring him to kiss them. He wanted to, he wanted her, but he knew she did not feel the same way, and seeing her with Mylo had made him incredibly upset. Holding on to each other, they moved back and forth slowly, as though dancing to the music, but with as little effort as possible. Kate swallowed before she spoke.
“Why are ye holding me? Let me go.”
“So ye can go back to him?”
“What is it to ye?” Kate asked. “Ye cannae handle me dancin’ with someone else?”
“That’s not it,” Reuben replied, unable to hide his lie.
Kate raised an eyebrow and looked him right in the eye, causing him to look away for a moment. “Laird McDonald, dare I ask if ye’re jealous?”
“Of what? Mylo? Nae!”
“So why are you bothered that I was dancin’ with him?”
“Because he’s not fit for ye,” Reuben replied, trying his best to swing Kate around. She grabbed his arms and led him as they continued to dance, letting him move his arms and legs as she directed.
“So ye care about me?” Kate asked with a wink.
Realizing what she was about to do, Reuben shook his head. “Nae, nae. That’s nae what this is about and ye ken.”
Seeing the reaction it had on him, Kate decided to push it as far as she could. She did not like the man, but he seemed to be bumbling just as any other man in his position would, and if there was one thing Kate knew how to do, it was getting the truth out of people.
“So ye daenae care about me then,” said Kate.
“That’s nae what I said.”
Kate let go of him and moved towards the table, causing Reuben to go after her. As he walked up next to her, she stopped and began dancing again. Reuben was forced to get back into it again, and Kate chuckled, enjoying the fact that she had the controlling foot. She could make the Laird do what she wanted atthat point, as long as she took the lead, he was going to follow, as he wanted to look good in front of the guests.
“What is it then? Am I lackin’ somethin’?
“If there be anyone lackin’, it’d be Mylo.”
Kate laughed, throwing her head backwards so he would catch her. Reuben did, and just in the nick of time as well. He pulled her in, and Kate looked him in the eyes again, hitting the Laird with the scent of lavender. “Yer just jealous cause he is a better dancer than ye. That’s got to be it. Or because everyone liked seeing us both together.”
“Kate, that is not it. He is just no good for ye, trust me on this one.”
“Don’t call me Kate.” Kate replied.
“Nae? Thought ye didn’t want Katherine, now ye don’t want Kate?” Reuben asked, puzzled.
“Lilias, the name ye maither introduced me by. Call me that.”
Reuben shook his head, not caring much about that. He was more interested in the conversation which Mylo had Kate. “I saw ye laughing at something he said. What did he say to ye?”
Kate raised an eyebrow, “If ye say ye aren’t jealous, yer doing a real bad job at hiding it.”
“He’s just a bad fit for ye, I said this before.” Reuben replied.
