Page 118 of The Highlander's Holiday Wife

Braden narrowed his eyes. “Sure of that, are you?”

“Wedoknow you, Braden,” Kade said.

“You can’t hide from us, old son,” Logan gently said. “Even though you’ve been trying your damnedest to do so these last few years.”

“I’ll ignore that assertion for now,” Braden replied. “Look, I understand what you’re saying, and I don’t disagree. Logically speaking, marriage would be the best solution. There’s just one problem.”

“Which is?” Logan asked.

“I sincerely doubt that Samantha would marry me.”

Logan frowned. “Why not?”

“Perhaps because she’s still a grieving widow?” Braden sarcastically replied.

“I have it on good authority that Samantha is quite taken with you.”

“I would suggest that Donella is overstating the case,” Braden said. “Samantha wouldn’t even look at me after that scene with Beath. Does that sound like she’s taken with me?”

“I’m sure that was purely a defensive tactic,” Kade said. “She was struggling to keep control, and talking to you would have been too emotional. Her flood gates would have opened.”

Braden cut him a questioning frown. “Really?”

Kade held up a finger. “I’m the sensitive one in the family, remember? I know these things.”

“Then I suppose I’m the emotional dolt in the family,” Braden ruefully replied.

“No, you’re the scientist,” Logan said, “so you tend to go on observable facts. But you’re also one of the most compassionate people I know. It’s what makes you such a good doctor—you utilize both your brainandyour heart.”

Braden smiled at his brother. “I hope so, but my powers of observation tell me that Lady Samantha still loves her husband and still grieves him.”

“Of course she still loves Penwith,” Logan calmly said. “And that’s not going to change.”

“Then marriage would definitely seem out of the question.”

His older brother tilted his head. “Braden, do you think I stopped loving Marie?”

Logan’s first wife had died shortly after giving birth to Joseph, leaving Logan a grief-stricken widower.

Braden thought about it, and then shook his head. “No.”

“Absolutely not. But that didn’t make me incapable of giving my whole heart to Donella. In fact, doing so healedmyheart. Lad, it’s not about forgetting someone or betraying that person’s love. It’s about mending one’s heart and taking the second chance that’s been offered to you.”

“And I am sincerely glad for you. I’m just not sure it’s the same for me. I mean, Lady Samantha,” Braden hastily added.

“Ah, now we finally get to the nub of it,” Logan said. “It’s about what happened withyourfirst love, and why you’re still so bloody torn up about it.”

Braden mentally grimaced. He didnotwant to talk about that part of his past. Besides, it had nothing to do with Samantha.

Kade suddenly sat upright. “It was in Gottingen, wasn’t it? On one of your visits, while you were studying there.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Braden tersely replied.

Kade ignored that signal. “I wasn’t with you on that second visit, but I do remember a woman from our first time around, in ’twenty-four.” He snapped his fingers. “Her name was Annalise, wasn’t it? Annalise . . .”

“Ritter,” Braden said, forcing the name out.

Kade’s words opened the door to a flood of memories Braden had never wanted to share with anyone. He’d made a terrible mistake back then, one with tragic consequences.

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