An easygoing smile surfaced across his face. “Your honesty is one of the things I love about you.”
“Do you love that I ran from you when you declared that you loved me?”
His smile turned to a chuckle. “I could be insulted, but I’m not.”
“Why? It wasn’t very nice of me. I should have flung myself in your arms, especially since you didn’t care if you made a complete fool of yourself in front of everyone.” She giggled at the memory.
“Someone reminded me that love makes fools of us all, so I decided to let love have its way with me.”
“Why, then, did I run?” she asked with a confused shake of her head.
“Because you’re afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of us being in love,” he said.
“But that’s a wonderful thing.”
“Yes,” he agreed nodding and approached her slowly. “But it also means that now you can marry me for we marry for love.”
She gasped and jumped back. “That’s it. As soon as you declared your love I knew my fate was sealed.”
“You make it sound like a death sentence,” he chortled.
“No, no,” she hastened to explain. “I have thought often of how right it feels calling you my husband.”
“That is good,” he said with a pleased grin. “For it feels right calling you wife.”
“I only wish to know that you can accept me for who I am, what I do, and the passion with which I live.”
Artair reached out again and gently guided her into his arms. “That woman you describe is the woman I love, and I wouldn’t have her any other way.”
She brushed her lips over his. “It is you who are the witch, for you cast a spell over me from when we first met.”
“Damn, I was hoping you didn’t notice, but since you did—I intend to keep you under my spell forever and always.”
Zia poked him in the chest playfully. “You might have to refresh that spell every now and again.”
He kissed her softly, though lusciously. “I do, every time we make love.”
She sighed. “That you do. I have never known such magic.”
“We make magic together and always will,” he said, and kissed her quick. “We will marry immediately.”
“No!”
Artair shook his head. “Why not?”
“I want my grandmother to be here when we exchange our vows.”
He nodded with a smile. “You’re right. Bethane should be here to share in the celebration.”
“Your family will not think it odd that we wish to wed again?”
“I will explain that we wish to refresh our vows in front of both our families. They will be pleased and ready to celebrate.”
Zia cuddled in the warmth of his arms, pleased that this was settled and she would wed for love, as she’d always wanted to. “This is good; I am happy.”
He hugged her tightly. “I will try to always make you happy.”
She ran a tender finger over his lips. “You don’t have to try. I am happy just seeing your face when I wake in the morning, or when you wait for me to finish my work, or when you argue with me over a point which we both know I’m right about.” She laughed joyously then sighed. “You are happiness to me.”
“Damn, but I love you, Zia.”
“And that makes me the happiest of all, hearing you say you love me. I will never grow tired of hearing it.”
“Good, for I will never grow tired of telling you.”
“We are made for each other. A perfect fit.”
They kissed on the windy moor, impervious to the chill and the fine mist that began to fall. They were in love, and lost in that love. Nothing else mattered, nothing would.
Artair stopped with Zia at James’s cottage. He was doing better, not a complaint from him. The only thing he talked about was Mave’s impending arrival. He had received a message from her expressing her concern and letting him know she would take good care of him.
Zia examined his wound, which was healing much better than she’d expected. “You are moving it like I told you?”
“I better,” James said quietly. “If I don’t, Addie’s in here making me work it even harder, and Neddie’s been stopping by as well, not to mention all the other women who remind me while dropping off food. Everyone is surprised I still have the arm or that I’m still alive. I think most thought I’d never make it.” He shook his head. “For a while there I didn’t think I would either.”
“Nonsense,” Zia scolded gently. “You’re a strong, determined man and you fought to live.” She walked over to the fireplace to prepare a brew for him.