Page 12 of The Highlander's Dare
Someone tried to point him in the direction of the list instead of the stands so that he could be a part of the parade, but Graham shook his head and marched his way toward where the ladies were funneling. This was his time to find Clara. He’d not been successful before, and he was determined to be successful now.
He searched the pointed hoods and veils. Followed the sound of feminine laughter, and still, he couldn’t find her. Just when he was about to give up, he heard someone say from behind, “Should you not be over there?”
He recognized her voice instantly. Graham slowly turned around, eyes sweeping over her. Lord help him. Her body was made to be worshipped. Her sky-blue gown that reminded him of summer clung to her curves, and he wanted to run his hands over every slope, followed by his mouth. A coy smile tugged at her pouty lips, and her gaze was teasing. Did she know he’d been looking for her?
Her glossy chestnut hair curled around her shoulders, and the hood she wore was elegant, but not ostentatious. She was beautiful. And he was reminded once more of the prize the woman offered to Baston not only in coin but in body.
Graham’s body tightened as he looked at her, desiring to take her into his arms. The way her eyes widened slightly, he feared he showed every bit of desire on his face and quickly shuttered those emotions.
“My lady,” he said, flashing her a winning smile and bowing.
“You need not be so chivalrous with me, Sir Graham. I…” Her voice trailed off, the tip of her pink tongue coming between her teeth. “We are friends, are we not?”
Friends.
That was not a word Graham had ever expected to feel a sting from. Why did it do so now? Oh, he knew why, because he did not want to be friends with Lady Clara—he wanted to be so much more than that.
“Aye, my lady. Friends.” Friends did not think of kissing each other, did they? Graham cleared his throat.
“Were you looking for me?” she asked. There was a little light of hope in her eyes he tried not to read too much into.
“Aye, in fact, I was. Our conversation last night was cut off abruptly.”
Her lip twitched, but she kept herself from laughing. “That is a very mild way of saying what happened.”
Graham chuckled. “If I were to explain it exactly, I’d say a wild boar barreled into us and sent you flying.”
Now she laughed, and a few heads turned in their direction.
“Will you be marching in the parade?” she asked.
“I would rather no’. Are ye going to be watching?”
“I would rather not,” she echoed his sentiment. “And if you would not mind, sir, there are plans that I need to make if you would be so kind as to help.”
Be so kind. He’d thought she’d never ask. “’Twould be my honor.”
“Then we must sneak away before anyone notices our absence.”
“Or sees us leave together,” he said. “Follow me, else anyone who is watching and takes an interest might think I am following ye and have unfriendly tendencies toward ye.”
“Do you have unfriendly tendencies toward me, Sir Graham?”
The way she said it, her eyes dancing with playful merriment as if she knew exactly what she was asking, and it had nothing to do with danger, but everything to do with desire. She had discerned his earlier expression then, and she still wanted to spend time with him.
The lass was a flirt, to be sure, and he was delighted.
Graham winked. “My lady, I canna say that your betrothed would approve at all of our conversation.”
Her grin widened. “Then, our plan is working. For the dance made him jealous, but it did not push him away.”
“My lady, we are pecking away a little piece of him at a time.”
“I like it.”
Oh, he hoped to make her like so much more than that. “I am leaving now.”
“I am following.”
