Ransom

me.'

'Suggestion?' he scoffed. 'Gillian, I don't make suggestions. I give orders. See the difference?'

She refused to waste time trying to appease him. 'This isn't the time for diplomacy,' she said. 'I have to make you understand that you don't have to be noble. It's all my fault, really it is. I realize that now. I shouldn't have asked you to come with me to Ramsey's home. I backed you into a corner, and that was wrong of me.'

'No one's ever backed me into a corner,' he said, highly insulted by her remark. 'I did what I wanted to do and what I felt was necessary.'

'You aren't responsible for me.'

He pulled her along to a secluded spot in the woods as she rambled on and on about his reasons for doing what he had done. She had obviously thought it over and worked it all out in her mind. She had it all wrong, of course, but he decided to wait until she was finished explaining his motives to him before he set her straight.

When they reached an open circle of trees, he let go of her hand, leaned back against a fat tree trunk, folded his arms across his chest, and waited for her to finish lecturing him.

He tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but he became distracted. She was such a sight with her cheeks flushed and her golden brown hair curling about her shoulders. He knew she didn't have any idea how beautiful she was. Appearances weren't important to her, and he thought that a refreshing difference between her and other women he'd known. Her eyes had turned a deep emerald color. There was definitely passion simmering below the surface, and he had a sudden, almost overwhelming need to take her into his arms and never let go.

'Now do you understand?'

What the hell was she talking about now? 'Understand what?' he asked, realizing then he hadn't heard a word she'd said.

'Haven't you been listening?' she cried out in frustration.

'No.'

Her shoulders slumped. 'Brodick, I'm not going to marry you.' She shook her head. 'I won't let you be noble.'

'Gillian?'

'Yes?'

'Do you like being with me?'

She pretended not to understand because it was safer than allowing him to push her into admitting all those feelings she was desperately trying to keep hidden.

'Do you mean… now?'

'You know exactly what I mean.'

'Brodick-'

'Answer me.'

She bowed her head. 'Yes, I do like being with you… very much,' she admitted. 'But that doesn't matter,' she added in a rush. 'We've known each other a very short time, and you have to go home. I'm sure you have many pressing duties waiting for you. You are the Buchanan laird, after all.'

'I know what the hell I am,' he snapped.

She snapped back, giving him a dose of his own tactics. 'Don't you dare take that tone with me. I won't put up with it.'

When he suddenly broke into a grin, her temper flared. 'Do you find my criticism amusing?'

'I find you utterly refreshing.'

She had trouble catching her breath. 'You do?'

'Yes, I do. Not many women would speak to me the way you do. 'Tis the truth you're the first,' he added a bit sheepishly. 'I shouldn't allow such insolence,' he added.

'I don't believe I was being insolent, and I'm not usually critical of others, but you make me lose my senses.'

'That's good to know.'

Exasperated, she took a step toward him and shook her head. 'I wish you would stop trying to confuse me by changing the subject. You're making this very difficult for me. I'm simply trying to-'

'Let me off the hook?'

She sighed. 'Yes.'

He reached for her, but she backed away and put her hand out as a command for him to stay where he was. 'Don't.'

'Don't what?'

'Kiss me. That's what you were going to do, isn't it?'

He leaned back against the tree again. 'Do you want me to?'

She threaded her fingers through her hair in agitation. 'Yes… I mean, no. Oh, stop asking me questions,' she cried out. 'You're making me daft. I can't marry you. I have to find my sister and that cursed box and go back to England. If I married you, you'd end up alone.'

'Have you so little faith in me? Don't you think I can protect you?'

She didn't hesitate. 'Of course I have faith in you. I know you can protect me, but this isn't your battle. It's mine, and I will not put you in the middle of it. If anything happened to you, I don't think I could bear it.'

A sudden thought struck him and shook him to the core. 'Is there a man in England waiting for you?'

For the first time since they had begun the heated discussion, he sounded unsure of himself. His vulnerability was endearing. Though she knew she could lie and end the discussion now and forever, she felt compelled and honor-bound to tell him the truth.

'No, there isn't any other man. I'm going home to my Uncle Morgan… but no other.'

'Has your uncle chosen a husband for you?'

'No.'

He tilted his head as he studied her, and then quietly said, 'He would find me acceptable.'

She didn't argue with him. 'Yes, he would.'

'Would it please him to know you married a laird?'

Brodick's armor was fully back in place, and any uncertainty she had glimpsed in him had completely vanished. The arrogant warrior faced her now, cocky and full of himself.

'It would please my uncle to know you had attained such an important position in your clan, but that isn't why he would find you acceptable.'

'Why then?' he asked curiously.

'Because he would easily see through your gruff exterior. You're hot-tempered and passionate in your beliefs, and you're extremely loyal to those you love. You're an honorable man, Brodick, and you couldn't fool my uncle. He would know what's in your heart.' what about you, Gillian? Do you know what's in my heart?'

His voice was whisper soft, and a jolt of longing rushed all the way down to her toes. In the sunlight filtering through the branches of the trees surrounding them, Brodick's body had taken on an iridescent glow. His skin glistened and his long golden hair shimmered. Looking at such a fit man made her mouth dry and her stomach churn. Her fantasies heated her face, and when she realized she was staring at his mouth, she forced herself to look at the ground until she could get her errant thoughts under control. She had never thought much about mating with a man until she had met Brodick, and thanks to him, she knew she was going to have to spend a good deal of time in the confessional, telling a priest how depraved she had become.

'Have you been with many women?' She couldn't believe she had the nerve to ask him such an intimate question, and more than anything she wished she could take the words back. 'Don't answer,' she blurted out. 'I shouldn't have asked.'

'You can ask me anything,' he said. 'And yes, I've been with women,' he answered very matter-of-factly. 'Would you like me to speculate on the number?'

'No, I would not,' she answered. She continued to stare at the ground when she asked, 'Is there a woman waiting for you?'

'I imagine there are several waiting for me.'

Her gaze flew to his. 'You cannot marry several women, Brodick. Only one.'

Her cheeks were flushed. It took all he had not to laugh. 'There are always women waiting and willing to share my bed,' he explained. 'None of them have the expectation of marriage.'