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Isla sat next to the fire in the Great Hall, staring at the dancing orange flames
Douglas was right With funds running low, there were few options left open If Lachlan illing to rent the mine, then she would just have to s her pride and let him Nikolai had told her never to allow anyone access to the tunnel No one must enter the mine If he returned, surely he would understand that their dire circuainst his wishes
Hearing voices echoing beyond the door, she checked the ht Lachlan was never late When Lachlan made a promise, he kept it
Isla inhaled deeply To spend an hour alone in his co strapped to the rack for a week To hear him speak fondly of his time in E
dinburgh would be as painful as a spear piercing her heart
She heard the oak door creak open, heard Douglas’ muttered words But she did not look up until the clip of booted footsteps echoed through the room
“Miss Maclean” Lachlan’s rich drawl caused her stoe of flips and somersaults
“There’s no need for forripped the araze “We’ve been friends all our lives after all” Trying to disguise her treers, she waved at the chair opposite “Won’t you sit?”
Offering a curt nod, he waited for her to take a seat before dropping into the chair with languid grace As she suspected, his long s made the space between therateful he’d not worn a kilt The sight of his sinewy li
“I’y” Despite her best effort, she could not help but convey an air of hauteur in her tone
His bright blue eyes narrowed as he studied her face “You owe ive one”
Her traitorous gaze dropped to the full lips responsible for for the words She remembered how soft they were; she remembered the earthy aroht” She shook her head and blinked away the oaded you, prodded and poked until you had no choice but to retaliate All the strange talk in the village had set e But that is no excuse to be rude to a friend I have not seen for three years”
The corners of his mouth curled up into a sinful sh fawned over him
“Then I accept your apology”
An unco her to speak “So, I hear you’ve not colas had told her of his plans to return to Edinburgh, of his desire toyou back to the city”