He hugged her close and tweaked her nose with his. “Anything for you, love.”
“My apologies,” her father said, looking directly at her. “But you must understand that through the years you’ve stubbornly seen to getting things your way, one way or another. So it was easy to believe the fool when he suggested your marriage was a ruse.”
“You could have spoken to us first,” Cullen said.
McHern shook his head. “Harken convinced me that Sara was using you to get her way.”
Cullen burst out laughing, and when he calmed, asked, “You believe I’m fool enough to be deceived by your daughter?”
Sara wasn’t certain if she should be insulted or proud and chose to accept the latter. She was proud of the husband she had chosen for he was truly no one’s fool.
“My husband has a good point, Father.”
“You’re right—”
Sara stepped away from Cullen. “What did you say?”
McHern grinned. “Don’t think I’ll repeat it just to please you. It’s about time you did something right for the clan and for your father.” He mounted his horse. “I’ll see you back at the keep.”
Cullen stepped up beside her. “My time grows limited here. One more week at most and then we best begin to show strain on our marriage or your father will surely question my disappearance.”
Her heart thudded in her chest, though she outwardly remained calm. “When do you plan on leaving?”
“We talked about two months but I think six weeks would be a safer departure time. I don’t want to give Balford too much time to find me.”
Sara had to agree with his sound reasoning. The longer he waited, the more dangerous it became for him and Alexander, and she didn’t wish to place them in any more jeopardy than they were already in.
In less than four weeks he’d be gone, out of her life forever, never to see him or his son again. The pain stabbed at her and wrenched her insides. She would miss him. Lord, how she would miss him.
She did what she did best to hide her pain; she masked it with a smile. “By then I’ll be tucked safely and soundly in my cottage.”
Cullen went to reach for her and she moved away and hurried toward her mare. “Let’s get back to the keep. I’m tired and need a bathe.”
“I thought we’d linger here awhile, by ourselves,” he called out.
Sara shook her head, refusing to turn and glance at him, fearing she might just do something she’d regret, like jump all over him and beg him to make love to her every night left to them.
“No, it’s best we get back to the keep.”
“Afraid, Sara?”
She turned swiftly, sending a cloud of dust swirling around her. “Not of you.”
“Of who then? Yourself?”
Sara stared at him, so strong and handsome and defying her to deny him. They both knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Did he believe she would argue the point?
“I want you,” she said bluntly. “Does that make you feel better? Does that make the situation any different?”
“Let me love you,” he urged.
“We’ve been through this before. You don’t love me, whereas I believe myself falling in love with you. Do you want to complicate this situation even more?”
He rubbed his chin, giving pause to her question, and she watched the way his long fingers stroked his flesh, and damn, if she didn’t want him to stroke her naked flesh as well.
“It’s a chance I’d take,” he admitted with a nod.
She recalled her sister’s words—that she had leapt and landed where God wanted her to be. The rest was up to her.
“What will it be?” Cullen asked.
She stared a moment before answering, “I’m going to take a dip in the stream. Then I’ll meet you in the cottage.”
Chapter 28
Sara lingered at the stream as long at she could. She had scrubbed herself from head to toe, her pale skin sparkling pink. She had made a commitment. Actually, she had surrendered. Was she giving into her own desires or surrendering to love?
She wasn’t sure and didn’t know if she wanted to look any deeper into her decision to finally make love with Cullen.
A cloud drifted overhead, causing the sunny, warm day to suddenly turn gray and chilled. Early spring weather was often unpredictable, though she couldn’t help but wonder if the sudden change had something to do with her decision.
She shook her head at the nonsensical thought and marched to the cottage, determined not to hesitate or show trepidation. This was her choice and she would see it through no matter how apprehensive she felt.
Sara reached out for the door latch and hesitated. Would he be in bed naked, waiting for her? Would she need to disrobe in front of him? What did he expect of her? She shook off her concerns and silently scolded herself.