At first, she did not notice anything that would prove Maggie’s words right. Calm and collected, he spoke to Garrett, completely unaffected by the vibrant words that flew from his friend’s mouth. Emma was about to abandon her observations when a muscle in his jaw twitched and his chest rose and fell with an utterly slow breath as though he was steeling himself for something.
Emma’s eyes went wide and her gaze was drawn to the entrance where Moira just now stepped across the threshold. Tall and fair, she bore a striking contrast to Cormag’s shadow-like appearance. Where he easily melted into the background, Moira stood out, drawing all eyes to her. And yet, while Cormag was always met with respect, the golden-haired outsider from Clan Brunwood was only ever shown distrust wherever she went. Emma wondered what was behind the whispers that circulated around Moira’s banishment from her own clan.
Neither one of them looked at the other, and yet, it seemed utterly clear that they were very much aware of one another. Emma stared with wide eyes as Cormag continued his conversation with Garrett while Moira offered her help to Maggie. Both hid behind an outward appearance of disinterest whereas a dedicated observer could neither miss the fleeting looks cast in the other’s direction nor the subtle ways they moved to keep each other in sight.
Shaking her head in utter disbelief, Emma stared at Cormag who drew in a sharp breath, all muscles in his body tensing, when Maggie accidentally knocked over a candle and it fell on Moira’s sleeve. The young woman quickly pulled her arm back before its flame could touch the fabric of her dress and set it on fire.
Maggie apologised profusely while Moira kindly waved away her concern. A moment later, all was right again, and yet, Cormag still watched Moira like a hawk as though he feared for her even now.
Sinking down onto one of the benches near the hearth, Emma sighed, wondering if there was anyone in this world who was as aware of her as Cormag and Moira were of each other. Did Finn notice her the moment she walked into a room? Did his eyes linger when she was not looking? Was that what Maggie had been talking about? Was it truly something she, Emma, could not see because her own heart was involved?
Oh, if only she could be as certain about Finn as she now felt about Cormag and Moira.
After leaving Emma in the corridor, Finn went outside and wandered around in the cold, hoping the fresh air would clear his mind. Still, when he returned to the great hall an hour later, his body still felt as tense as a spring. While his heart ached to find Emma and continue what they had started, his mind wondered how she felt about it. Had he been the only one affected by their kiss? Had it been merely a pleasurable encounter for her? Or had it been as life-changing for her as it had been for him?
Walking around a corner, Finn bumped into Garrett, who had a pleased smile on his face and a bounce in his step. Lately, Garrett seemed utterly happy, and Finn could not deny that he envied him.
“Ye look awful,” Garrett commented as his narrowed gaze swept over Finn. “I thought ye wanted to talk to the lass.” His gaze darkened, and he pulled Finn to the side. “Did it not go well?”
Finn sighed, “I dunno know. I…We…”
“Out with it!”
Chuckling, Finn shook his head, feeling suddenly very self-conscious with his friend’s watchful eyes on him. “I kissed her.”
Garrett’s face split into a large grin, and he clasped a companionable hand on Finn’s shoulder. “About time!”
Finn’s shoulders slumped as he began to pace. “But what now? We didn’t have a chance to speak. I dunno know how she felt about it.” Turning on his heel, he looked at Garrett. “All these past few years, we’ve,” he scoffed, “all but hated each other. How are we−?”
“Nah!” Garrett boomed, a chuckle rumbling in his throat. “Ye didna hate each other. Ye’ve been in love all these years but managed to misunderstand each other.”
The air rushed from Finn’s lungs in one sharp whoosh as he heard Garrett utter these few simple words.
Garrett chuckled once more, “Ye didna know then?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with merriment as though Finn’s torments were utterly laughable. “’Twas rather obvious.”
“Was it?” Finn croaked, unable to deny the truth of Garrett’s words. However, neither could he deny that it frightened him nearly witless. It was as though the world had turned upside down within a day, within a matter of moments. All he thought he knew was suddenly no more.
“Aye,” Garrett confirmed, a hint of impatience coming to his gaze. “And now ye need to decide what ye want. ‘Tis a once in a lifetime chance at love, and ye’d be a fool to let it slip through yer fingers.” He shrugged, a grin on his face. “But that’s only my humble opinion.”
Rubbing his hands over his face, Finn groaned. “I know. I know. ‘Tis only that…that I keep wondering if ‘tis truly love.” Looking at Garrett, he sighed. “What if ‘tis simply attraction? What if she doesna…?” Gritting his teeth, Finn cursed, wishing life could for once be simple and straightforward.
“She cares for ye,” Garrett stated as though it were a fact. “She cares for ye as much as ye care for her.”
Staring at his friend, Finn shrugged. “How do ye know?”
Exasperated, Garrett sighed. “Because ye dunno hate people ye’re only mildly attracted to, ye hear me? Ye glared at her the way ye did because ye felt betrayed and ye canna feel betrayed if ye didna have hopes for
