Page 43 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
He ran those words over in his mind. She was nervous… around him? Some crucial links were missing in his understanding.
“Ye are nervous around me?” he echoed.
“Aye,” she said with another giggle.
“But why?”
Exasperated, Ciara threw up her hands. “Because! Ye are this massive Laird, and ye kiss likethat,and I have no idea what I’m doin’!”
He took a step closer to her, backing her up against the wall. “I kiss like what, lass?”
“Like ye were born to do it,” she whispered.
“Only ye. I’ve only kissedyelike that,” he swore.
The distance between them was so small now that he could close the gap easily and show her again exactly how he kissed her and her alone. But they were getting married tomorrow, and she had only just confirmed she wasn’t terrified of being in the same room as him.
They needed the night not to have any additional complications, nothing that would send her running from him tomorrow.
So, despite every inch of him screaming to do otherwise, he backed away from her, until there a reasonable distance between them again.
“I’m glad we talked. I dinnae want us to be uncomfortable around one another for the rest of our lives. If we are to be wed tomorrow, perhaps we can try bein’ friends first?” he suggested, with a hopeful smile.
17
Friends, friends, friends.
The word rang in Ciara’s head on repeat the next morning as she dressed for her wedding. Magnus wanted to try being friends, and it was critical that she remind herself of that today. It would be so easy to get swept up in the excitement of the day and forget that this wasn’treal.
Susanna was styling her hair in a tight braid down her back, pulling on the plaits harshly. Also in the room were Lady Gunn and Lana, oohing and aahing over her dress and her hair and the fact that she was gettingmarried.
Ciara’s nerves had eased a little after her conversation with the Laird yesterday, comfortable with the fact that they would at least be friends. Now that they were clear on the fact that Ciara was definitelynot, and never had been, scared of Magnus, everything seemed a lot easier.
Although, what they had felt like more than just a friendship again last night, before he’d pulled away. Her traitorous mind was stuck on the fact that he’d said they should try being friendsfirst. Well, with the way her heart was pounding in her chest, she felt very ready for whatever was second.
“Ye look beautiful, Ci,” Lady Gunn complimented, tears welling up in her eyes. “I cannae believe ye will be wed today.”
“I cannae believe it either,” Ciara replied with an almost sincere smile.
“Ye ken ye dinnae have to do this…” Lady Gunn said quietly, resting a hand on Ciara’s shoulder.
But the words rang false. Her mother wanted to give her an escape, but she knew as well as Ciara did that backing out now would have consequences neither of them could fully predict.
“I will go through with it,” Ciara assured. “Magnus and I have come to an agreement… to be friends.”
Lana and her mother shared a look while Susanna snorted and pulled a little tighter on her hair.
“Ow!” Ciara yelped, shooting the maid a dark look.
“Apologies, Me Lady, but ye shouldnae make me laugh while I’m doin’ yer hair. Friends! Pah!” Susanna said with another laugh.
Ciara grumbled but didn’t push the issue. Whatever the old womanthoughtshe knew, she could keep to herself, especially in front of Lady Gunn.
It was impossible to miss the loaded look Lana shot their mother, though. They could speculate all they wanted, Ciara and Magnus were just friends…
At least for now.
It was impossible for Ciara not to hope, at least just a little, that their wedding today would push them towards something more.
