“I’m tired,” she said on a yawn.
“So am I”—he grinned—“but it’s a sweet exhaustion that I savor.”
She smiled. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
“We should sleep more,” he said with a yawn.
“Again I agree,” she said, as her eyes closed.
The final time they woke it was to be startled out of sleep by a vicious pounding on the door.
“Ronan, get out here,” Cavan yelled from outside the door.
Carissa had no intention of letting Ronan face his brother alone. She was just as guilty as he, though Cavan probably thought her more guilty. He probably assumed she had seduced Ronan.
“What are you doing?” Ronan asked as he wrapped his plaid across his chest to tuck in at his waist.
She tucked her blouse in her skirt and stuck her chin up. “I will face your brother with you.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” he ordered. “This is between Cavan and me.”
She stopped herself from protesting, realizing that it was as Ronan said, something that could only be solved between brothers.
“You’re right,” she said. “I will wait here for you.”
“Thank you,” he said, and kissed her, then smiled. “You have to admit. I do have stamina.”
She chuckled. “And glad I am for it, Highlander.”
“Ronan, get out here, or I’m coming in,” Cavan shouted.
“I’m coming,” he yelled back.
“You will not fight your brother, will you?” she asked, worried.
He laughed. “It may be what we need.” He kissed her then, and said, “Make me some apple buns while I see to my brother?”
She nodded. “I’ll have them waiting.”
As soon as Ronan walked out the door, she hurried to the window and peered out. She was disappointed to see that they took their argument to the keep. With nothing left for her to do but wait, she hurriedly washed her face with water she heated at the hearth and tied her hair back with a strip of cloth.
She then got busy with the apple buns and just as she set them to cool a knock sounded at the door, and she sighed with relief, though she wondered why Ronan didn’t just enter.
But it wasn’t Ronan at the door. It was Dykar.
“Don’t tell me, more bad news,” she said after closing the door behind him.
“Septimus received a message that Cregan wishes to speak with you.”
“Well that sounds promising,” she said. “I can tell him face-to-face that I have no intentions of honoring any agreements my father made with him.”
“I hope it’s that simple.”
“Is there some reason you don’t believe it will be?” she asked.
Dykar shrugged. “Why didn’t he come for you right after your father died? Why did he wait?”
“I’ll find out,” she said. “When does he wish to meet?”
“He won’t be here for at least a week, and he asks that you choose where and when.”
“He seems to be accommodating.”
“Too accommodating,” Dykar complained. “And I still think it would be wise to inform the Sinclares about his approach.”
“If I can handle this without them knowing anything about it, it just might be better for all.”
“And what if they find out about his approach and think you have planned something with him?” Dykar asked.
“You do have a point,” she said. “No doubt they will discover his approach when he draws near enough.”
“And then it will be too late, and you will appear guilty.”
“You’ve always looked out for me when possible,” she said with a smile
“That’s especially important now since you’ve gone and fallen in love,” he said, grinning wide.
“I have, Dykar,” she said joyfully. “I have truly fallen in love.”
Just as they threw their arms around each other and hugged tight, the door flew open and in walked Ronan.
Chapter 32
Ronan stood frozen in the doorway, never expecting to see the woman he loved in another man’s arms. They broke apart, and Carissa hurried over to him, greeting him with a blissful smile and a kiss, but still, he did not like the scene he had burst in on.
“Dykar has come to visit,” she said. “He can join us for the morning meal.”
Ronan nodded, though reluctant, preferring time alone with her. He closed the door behind him. “The twins asked for more apple buns.”
“Would you like to take some to them?” she asked, walking over to scoop out a couple.
“You take them,” he said, sitting at the table. “It will give Dykar and me a chance to get better acquainted.”