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Lily didn’t knohy she said what she said just then She just knew she had never felt so susceptible to a man, and her panic to protect herself at all costs

"Well, there’s Rowena first off "

"Rowena?" Ewen ’s face got very still, his eyes glinting cold with anger "That cursed lass spills lies like a horse dealer I thought her a mere nuisance, but now it seems she ’s a mind for treachery where John is concerned " He scrubbed his hand over his face "To take the lad off like that If you hadn’t been there, he ’d be, well, " he added quietly, "I ’e clouded his blue eyes "I ’ll discover the truth of her deceit" he pierced Lily with a dark look "and henceforth -- -- you ’ll not speak her name to ht " She forced out a sh to break the tension "She is a horrible creature, huh?"

Confused, he asked, "Well then ould you say such a wicked thing?"

"Well, I guess I meant, you know, ht but conteravelly voice was hushed as he added, "You don ’t know me one bit if you think my head is turned by one such as her "

She felt her heart break to see the hurt written openly on his face "What else have I done to deserve your judgment in this way, Lily?"

The use of her full naotten used to his affectionately referring to her as "Lil’ " She lashed out again "There ’s your son You never give him any attention Do you really love him? You would do well to take a lesson froe that came over him was palpable "Robert? You want me to take a lesson from Robert? Tell me you ’ve not eyes for Robbie I love the lad like he ’s ain your steady heart? Has he risked the welfare of his fa you in? Has he entrusted the care of his only son to you? Has he done everything in his power to ensure your coust on his face Ewen angrily donned his kilt and, shirt in hand, stormed to the door He didn ’t look back at Lily when he spat, "I thought you a wo Robbie instead "

Eas halfway out of the roohtened when finally he turned to look at her, grief etched clearly on his face "As for what you said aboutthere I love him more than life, but I ’ve failed if the lad doesn’t see it clear"

The door clicked quietly shut, and Lily crury than in pain She didn’t knohat she had been thinking to say such things The desire that tore through her at the sight of hi exposed, confused She didn’t kno to handle it and instead railed blindly at hiht Why did she fight the attraction? For that’s what she knew she was feeling and she couldn’t explain it Cerebral, modern, urban Lily, whose eek, heartsick over sorim Scottish warrior who literally had seventeenth -century notions of women’s equality But there it was The relief that washed over her to discover that there was nothing between Ewen and Rowena had rocked her Lily had felt her attraction to hi from the moment she ’d arrived and hadn ’t fully admitted it to herself until

Ewen spoke the words

She didn’t understand how, but she had somehow come to know the stoic laird Known precisely what to say to inflict the h was unforgivable But then to bring up Robert, of all people She especially didn ’t knohere that had come from She was fond of Robert, but he clearly was not ht that she ht be attracted to hihtly on the bed and pulled the heavy quilt up to her ears Warmth still radiated from the deep impression his body left on the h She couldn’t help but inhale his scent The subtle nize as his own filled her senses Her heart sank to realize that she had kicked Ewen out of his own roos, books on the bedside, and clayht how she should scauish, and hurt pride were toohow she would ever be able to face Ewen again

Chapter 22