Page 5 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
It wasn’t an official challenge, but they all knew Laird Gunn would treat it as such. He was suspiciously quiet, but even Ciara expressed her objection.
She couldn’t believe she’d ever found the brutish Laird attractive. Was his only solution violence? Had he never heard of a civilized discussion? A peace accord?
His body is definitely built for fightin’.
She silently chastised herself for the direction her thoughts were taking. Fine, she could still admit he was nice to look at. But it seemed that the rumors of his brutality were true, and all the positive stories she’d heard were nothing more than idle gossip.
Laird MacLeon seemed taken aback by everyone’s strong objections to the idea and raised his hands in surrender. “If ye can come up with another way to secure peace, I’d be open to discussing it,” he said.
Ciara fought an eye roll. Why that wasn’t his first idea was beyond her. Must all men solve their arguments by fighting? It was then that she realized all eyes in the room had turned to her and Lana, who was still hiding behind her.
“If a weddin’ could secure peace, I’m willin’ to marry one of yer daughters,” Magnus said.
* * *
“I willnae force me daughter to marry ye,” Laird Gunn snapped, stepping into Magnus’s personal space.
“It’s either that or a duel,” Magnus replied calmly.
He came expecting a fight, but he was actually quite interested in a marriage alliance now that the words had left his mouth. He was… intrigued, to say the least, by the tall goddess that was Laird Gunn’s eldest daughter.
The moment he had walked into Laird Gunn’s study, he had felt drawn to the lass, but he forced himself to assess the entire room, as he was taught to do.
Still, he couldn’t help the way his gaze had caught on the black-haired beauty. And then she’d proven to be even more appealing when she’d shielded her younger sisterandstood up to him.
Looking at the woman once again, he was struck by her beauty. Magnus would not be disappointed to end up with a bride like that. In fact, he could hardly believe it was even an option. Of course, she looked appropriately scandalized by the idea—probably wondering if her father would truly sell her life for his.
Fortunately for her, it seemed Laird Gunn would rather die than give one of his daughters to the murderous Laird.
Interestin’.
Magnus watched as the man stepped between him and his daughters.
What an interestin’ family. So many of them willin’ to sacrifice themselves for each other.
“Let’s go outside and get this duel over with,” Laird Gunn bit out. “Instruct yer people nae to seek revenge, nay matter the outcome, and I’ll do the same.”
Magnus scoffed at that but nodded.
“That is enough,” Lady Gunn snapped.
Magnus watched, fascinated, as the woman hugged her two daughters and whispered something to them. The older one kept stealing glances at Magnus, and he couldn’t help but smirk back. That, of course, caused the woman to scoff and resume ignoring him.
No matter,I’ll get her attention back.
For some reason, he wanted to have her eyes on him again. He felt addicted to her attention. He still didn’t know her name, but the urge to know it was growing with every minute spent in her presence. Instead of dragging her towards him like he wanted, he forced himself to watch the interaction between the three women.
The younger girl was shaking her head vigorously, a vaguely ill look on her face. She stole a glance at where Magnus stood and let out another horrified squeak when she realized he was watching them closely.
That sister willnae do at all.
She could barely look at him without trembling or tearing up. Besides, he had hardly noticed her when her elder sister was in the room. He’d hardly noticed anything. Truly, he even missed the Laird’s son completely upon entering the study, all his attention focused on the statuesque woman.
“Do ye want him to die?” Lady Gunn hissed. She was speaking in a low voice, but it was loud enough for both him and the older Laird to hear.
Laird Gunn rolled his eyes and said, “Thank ye for yer trust, me love.”
The words were said with such affection that Magnus felt a twinge of longing. What it must be like to have a relationship like that? One built on love and joy. This family was turning out to be quite the anomaly. Even at a time like this, they managed to tease each other good-naturedly.
