He snatched up a piece himself, blew on it, then bit into it. His eyes widened, and with the meat still in his mouth, uttered, “St. Elzear’s sacred kneecaps, lass!”
Giggling, she took another bite, then another, and had to agree with him. ‘Twas saint-invokingly good!
“Mm!” he declared, popping one finger into his mouth to suck off the last of the flavor. Her eyes were riveted to that fingertip and those lips. When he pulled it out with an audible pop, she shivered.
“Ye like it?” she asked shyly, trying to keep her attention on her own chicken strip.
“I love it. I think ‘tis amazing like this, but imagine the possibilities!”
“What—what possibilities?” She risked a glance up and found him grinning.
He shrugged. “I imagine this travels fairly well, aye? We could pack it with us and take it on journeys to eat cold! We could smash it between two pieces of bread to keep our hands clean!”
Caught up in his excitement, she chuckled. “With a pickle? Mayhap some sauce of some sort?”
“We could call it a…a chicken sandwi— Nay, ‘tis a ridiculous word. Mayhap…a chicken-smashed-between-two-pieces-of-bread!” he declared triumphantly.
Giggling, she picked up another piece. “That sounds delicious. We’ve created a brand-new kind of cuisine, for certes”
“Nay, Lara, ye did.” His voice—and expression—turned soft. “I was just lucky to be here when it happened.”
The admiration in his tone warmed her as much as his gaze did. Instead of flushing in pleasure, however, she lifted her chin and accepted his praise. She knew she was a good cook, and she liked experimenting. Now he knew it too, and he liked it as well.
Which was, all things considered, absolutely wonderful.
“So, do ye think yer da will like it?”
“I think Da will love it. However…” Alistair frowned down at the remaining pieces between them.
“Aye?”
“I dinnae ken if, logistically, we can afford to slaughter enough pullets to feed the entire clan this amazing treat.”
He had a point, though it was one she’d already considered. The young chicken she’d culled from the flock this morning would serve to feed the two of them, plus the kitchen staff later today. But ‘twould take many dozens of chickens to serve the whole clan at the celebration, and these were not seasoned egg-layers, but pullets who had not yet served their purpose.
It would be considered wasteful and would likely ruin the festive tone of the event.
So the smile she offered was a little hesitant. “Well, between the two of us, I’m sure we’ll come up with a solution. Working together, I mean.”
“Aye.” His lips tugged up on one side in that adorably wry smile she hadn’t seen in so long. “Together.”
Blessed Virgin, but ‘twas nice to see him this way: teasing, happy, and so relaxed.
And all it had taken was a morning ride and a piece of fried chicken.
Nay, lass, all it took was ye teaching him to give up some of the control.
“How about yer mother?” he suddenly asked, reaching for his third piece of meat. “Will she approve of yer new recipe?”
Lara chuckled. “Have ye noticed Mam is a bit on the plump side? She’s been impressed with my recipes ever since I was a wee lassie and was trying new things here beside Cook.”
He grinned. “Aye, I have noticed. But she’s no’ exactly rotund, just nicely curved.” His gaze dropped to her breasts, then lower, and Lara didn’t even mind. “I’m no’ the only one who’s noticed.”
Well, that was confusing. “What?” Had he been referring to her mother, or someone else noticing Lara?
His gaze snapped back up to hers, and to her surprise, he flushed slightly. His attention dropped to the piece of chicken in his hands, and he pretended fascination with it when he blurted, “Yer mother, I mean.”
“What about my mother?” He’d been admiring her mother’s curves?
“Moira’s a fine-looking woman, and I’m just saying—”
Lara slammed the remains of her chicken to the plate. “Ye have been admiring Mam’s bits? Aye, her tits are bigger than most, but she practically raised ye and—”
She noticed the look on his face appeared horrified and it caused her to snap her lips closed, biting down on her reprimand.
“Moira? Me? Nay!” Frantically, he shook his head. “Da is the one admiring her!”
‘Twas time for Lara’s eyes to flash wide. “What?”
“Ye havenae noticed?” Alistair blew out a breath, which was accompanied with a half laugh, half relieved sigh, and he shook his head. “Sometimes, when Da thinks we’re no’ watching, he and Moira share a little smile. And when she’s bustling around, keeping everyone happy at dinner time, ye watch him. He’s watching her.”
Was it true? “Mam’s…a fine-looking woman.”
His grin flashed quickly, teasingly. “Aye, she is. But she’s no’ the one I’m noticing.”
This time, Lara didn’t blush, even though she knew exactly who he was speaking of this time. Nay, this wasn’t the moment to blush, this was the moment to celebrate.
She’d spent years lusting after this man, caring for him, worrying about him, all from afar. She’d even spied on him when he didn’t know it. But now, finally, he was noticing her.
So her heart was even lighter now, when she picked up her piece of chicken once more and smiled in what she hoped was a coy manner, and not a I have something stuck in my eyelash way.
“ ’Tis an interesting proposition that yer father might be noticing my mam.”
“I’m full of interesting propositions.”
“Oh, aye?” She was smirking as she swallowed her bite of the delicious new recipe. “Like what?”
“Like how the sun is stuck up there in the sky. And the best way to rotate crops. And what causes thunder.”
Chuckling, she leaned forward. “I want to hear them all.”
‘Twas the best morning she could ever recall.
Chapter 5
“And where are ye running off to this fine morning?”
The
