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"And you will never ride the black again, will you?"

"Not even with a saddle?"

"The horse has never had a saddle on his back, and I assure you, he wouldn't like it It's out of the question"

"All right then Was there anything else you wanted to ain"

She could tell he wasn't going to change hisout, "Do you know you haven't kissed me once since you've been back? I cannot help but wonder if you've even thought of it"

He hadn't thought about much else, but he wasn't about to adht, and I'll kiss you then"

She didn't realize he was teasing her "I'll probably forget," she assured him "It really doesn't matter to oing So of holes…"

"Not yet"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I don't want to hear a word about a chapel Not now, not ever Understand?"

"I understand you're being very stubborn"

She kneas still a little upset about her plan to hide the keep behind a church Still, he hadn't told her she couldn't, giving her hope that by to to listen to reason Surely by then, she would have come up with a better explanation than the blunt truth Adly would only hurt his feelings, and for that reason, she would have to think of so else to tell hio upstairs tonight, I need to have a serious talk with you I have so extre to like it"

"Tell ht I just wanted to prepare you in advance," she added "My neill surely break your heart"

His laughter wasn't quite the reaction she anticipated "It's a serious matter," she insisted

"I assure you, noto stay intact Why don't you tell h you're dreading it"

"I aht to tell you, however You're about to see your surprise, and I don't want to ruin your happiness with bad news"

She suddenly wished she hadn't tried to prepare hih it were tied in knots How could she not be upset? She was going to start a war between two brothers, God forgive her, but she didn't really have any other choice, did she?

She had asked Father Sinclair that very question during confession, and while he had firreed she must tell her husband when he caht away It had taken her a long time to convince the priest how important it was that Connor hear before anyone else Father finally gave in after she pro alone with Raen

The priest assured her he was going to come back tomorrow to find out how Connor had reacted She suspected his real ht, and by then, she fully expected to be able to inform him that Raen had already been banished

Connor pulled her back to the present by telling her to pay attention to where she alking

"Brocca's husband is waiting to find out if you want one of his hound's pups or not," he repeated

"Why would he want to give ive"

"But why…"

"It's a gift, Brenna You've shown his wife kindness and he wishes to repay you"

"How thoughtful of hi a hound inside?"

He shook his head "I'll tell him you'll be happy to have the pup then Try not to lose hiht?"

"For heaven's sake," sheyour best to put me in a bad mood, aren't you?"

He didn't bother to answer her He surprised her when he pulled her close to his side and put his arms around her shoulders

"You aren't disappointed it's a hound?"

She gave hilance "No, of course not Why would you think I would be?"

His voice was filled with laughter when he answered her "It isn't a piglet"

"You do re me," she cried out

He opened the door for her before explaining "Of course, I rehed less than e"

"No, I was let you had rolled up in your skirts"

"I couldn't have I had just had a bath My sister toldto tell me what to do even when you were a baby I really should have known then"

She was having difficulty paying attention to the conversation, for his eyes were filled with such war else Lord, he was handsome "Knohat?" she asked hi to be trouble"

She thought that was about the nicest thing he had ever said to her, and it wasn't until she had let out a loud sigh in appreciation and told hiiven her a coh at her In fact, he pulled her into his arms, leaned down, and whispered, "You're welco to kiss her until he was doing exactly that She felt as though she was being crushed against his hard chest, so powerful and fierce was his grip, yet his ue thrust inside to deepen the kiss, arousing a response she didn't expect or understand until it had ended and he was pulling back away fro was suddenly different She wanted to hold on to him for the rest of her life, and while she wanted to believe it was only because she was so relieved to have hiain to deal with Raen, she knew there was another reason as well

She was in love with him

The realization didn't ed to make such a foolish mistake? He didn't love her; he just put up with her, that was all, so that he could have heirs

He watched her closely, frowning with concern over the tears he saw in her eyes "Mind telling ?"

"It happened too soon," she stammered out "I knew better, Connor, honestly I did"

"Brenna, what are you talking about? What happened too soon?"

She finally came to her senses She wasn't about to adht she'd rather stand naed in front of a church full of strangers than ad of it would be horrible

He wouldn't understand if she tried to explain it to hiht up was he in the past, he si else