Michele Sinclair - [McTiernays 05] Read online

  Meriel eased her tongue out of his mouth and closed her lips. With extreme willpower, she pulled back slightly. She took in a deep breath and then let it go, before giving him one of her most brilliant smiles, hoping it looked genuine. “Fine,” she said huskily. “I admit it. I did want you to kiss me again.”

  Craig swallowed, unable to speak. Every nerve in his body was screaming for release, while his mind was attempting to digest the idea that Meriel, not he, had ended their embrace.

  Going back on her tiptoes, Meriel laid a hand on his chest for balance as she placed a soft, warm kiss on his temple. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “That was wonderful. You really are good.”

  Moving leisurely around him, she walked over to her sewing basket and picked it up. After making sure all the pieces she had pinned would not fall out, Meriel turned around to leave.

  Craig had watched, incredulous at her relaxed demeanor while his own emotions were an insane mix of confusion, turmoil, and dazed pleasure. “That’s it?” he asked. “You just wanted a kiss?”

  Meriel walked up to him and reached up to quickly brush her lips with his. “Why not?” she answered. “Our friendship survived the first one, and I have complete confidence that it will survive this kiss as well. Perhaps several more if we are in the mood.”

  Craig stared at her. Never before had Meriel seen the amount of intensity he was channeling through his eyes. It made her heart race in both fear and anticipation. She had to leave, and based on the flurry of emotions flickering in the various muscles of Craig’s face, she was not sure he was going to let her.

  Licking her lips, Meriel pointed to the hearth chair with her chin. Then, in what she hoped to be a singsong voice, said, “Don’t forget to bring down your brother’s beloved chair,” and turned to leave. She made it out the door and to the stairwell before she began to visibly shake. Taking one step at a time, Meriel told herself that it was over. She had done the impossible. She had succeeded.

  Craig could no longer deny he wanted her.

  Now she only needed to get him to admit that he loved her.

  Chapter 7

  “I must admit that you were right. This view of the water may have taken a long time to get to, but it was definitely worth it,” Meriel said, sighing.

  Hamish swallowed a snappy reply as he set the heavy basket of food on the ground. The reason it had taken so long was her absolute refusal to get on a horse. Nothing he promised would convince her to ride, and he finally conceded to her demands that they walk. And despite his initial trepidation, the journey had not been as onerous as he had expected. With the exception of hauling what felt like a ton of food, Hamish had actually preferred it to riding because they had been able to converse more easily.

  His typical dialogue with a woman was primarily filled with flirtatious comments. The concept of expressing his opinions, likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams was inconceivable—he did not even discuss these things with his friends, let alone a woman. He pondered them often, but revealing his innermost thoughts was not something he had believed possible. And yet he had done just that. Somehow, when Meriel asked a question, he knew she truly was interested in the answer. Not in changing it or judging it, but just learning what he felt or believed. As a result, he found himself answering her questions one after the other without realizing he was doing so.

  “What all did you put in this thing?” he asked, gesturing toward the basket. “I cannot believe that food for two people can weigh this much.”

  Meriel laughed. “I doubt the food is what is making it so heavy. I brought plates, and mugs for the ale.”

  Shock lit Hamish’s dark green eyes. “Ale?” he breathed, and bent down to look inside. Sure enough, there was a jug. When he had thought about eating out by the loch, he was thinking that they would dine like they did on the trail. He had no idea Meriel would prepare an actual meal. He was glad, for he was ravenous after the walk and lugging the hefty basket, but unfortunately, it also meant that he would be carrying the thing back nearly as weighty as it was now.

  “Next time I’ll pack dinner,” Hamish groused, closing the lid and crossing his arms. Huge, tall, and very muscular, standing with his feet shoulder-width apart, he looked quite imposing. It was not a conscious action to stand in such a way to illicit an apology, but that was what he was expecting nonetheless.

  Meriel, however, just shrugged, refusing to feel guilty. “It wasn’t that heavy,” she remarked. Hamish made a low sound in his throat, but Meriel refused to offer him any of the sympathy he was indirectly demanding. “If it truly was that burdensome, then perhaps all those muscles of yours are getting soft. Maybe you should carry a heavy basket around with you more often,” she suggested.

  Hamish rolled his eyes, giving up. “And to think I once thought you a sweet little angel that could not speak or do anything that might offend a soul. I could not have been more wrong.”

  Meriel laughed out loud, kneeling down beside the basket. “You thought I was an angel?”

  “Aye. Innocent and agreeable, always seeking to accommodate and please others,” he answered, sitting down and then stretching out on his side.

  Meriel opened the basket and pulled out a bag of almonds. She ate one and tossed another at Hamish’s open mouth, missing her target by several inches. “Good Lord, you make me sound incredibly boring.”

  Hamish did not say anything and popped the wayward nut into his mouth. In truth, he had thought she was boring. Never again would he be so quick to judge a person.

  “I’m actually far naughtier than my sister,” Meriel continued, with an impish smile. “I was the instigator in most of our antics, and though I rarely admit it aloud, I can be the most stubborn of my family.”

  That fact Hamish would not argue. A few weeks ago, he might not have believed such a trait could reside in someone who came across as so nice and sweet, but he now knew differently. Never had he met anyone like Meriel and she was becoming incredibly alluring.

  Meriel put the bag of almonds down, stood up, and walked to the loch’s shoreline. Crouching, she selected a small round pebble. The afternoon sun was setting and Hamish wondered if the moonlight would create the same mesmerizing glow on Meriel’s hair. Tied in a loose twist that hung over her shoulder, several strands had come loose and were now dancing in the light breeze coming off the loch. Her blue gown was one she had worn several times, and yet it wasn’t until now that he realized how incredibly flattering it was on her.

  Unaware of the direction of Hamish’s thoughts, Meriel glanced back and gave him a mischievous wink. Then she fingered the rock she had picked up and slung it into the water. It sank on impact. This time she looked back and glared at him as if it were his fault.

  Hamish grinned. “You cannot seriously blame me for that dismal performance.”

  Meriel tilted her chin at him. “I can never get one to bounce along the water like my sister, Raelynd, can. I once saw her skip a rock six times.”

  Hamish laughed, hauling himself back up to his feet. “Six? That’s no accomplishment. You, my lady, are looking at one of the most skilled Highlanders in the art of stone skipping.”

  Meriel arched a brow and crossed her arms, not even trying to hide her doubt. “Easily said, and I quite look forward to the reason you will invent when your pebble fails to live up to your boast.”

  Hamish’s eyes twinkled as he narrowed them in mock wounded pride. “Prepare yourself, my lady, to grovel for mercy.”

  Walking up to where she stood, he knelt down and selected a handful of smooth rocks. Then, palming one in his hand, he turned it over several times before giving her a speculative, sidelong glance. Then he slowly reached back and, swinging his arm low and near his hip, he let the rock fly. It bounced once, twice, and then it hit the water rapidly so many times Meriel could not count the number of skips it made before sinking. Then Hamish let another fly, and then another. Each did the impossible, skipping numerous times far out into the loch before finally disappearing
.

  Hamish slapped his hands against each other, wiping off the dirt. A boyish look of satisfaction beamed from both cheeks. “What say you now?”

  Meriel laughed. “I would say that you had too much free time in your youth.”

  “Aye, perhaps I did,” Hamish admitted, scuffling his feet, knowing that other women found him to be quite irresistible when he acted thus. “And yet I detect a note of jealousy in your voice.”

  “Maybe a little, but then I have always been slightly envious of those who could do things like that. I never can seem to get my body to do what I want it to—including throwing rocks!”

  Hamish knew she was being overly dramatic, but he had also personally witnessed her lack of physical prowess. Meriel had skills with a needle, and she was creative, but she was not at all athletic. Still, just because she wasn’t naturally gifted did not mean she was completely incapable. “Come here, and I’ll teach you how to throw a rock.”

  Meriel shook her head. “There is no way that I can do what you just did.”

  “Of course you could if you practiced for five or so years, but with a few minor adjustments, you could beat your sister.”

  Meriel’s hazel eyes widened, totally inspired by the idea. Raelynd had always been superior in everything they did outside—riding, swimming, running, the list was never ending. Her sister had even once ridiculed her inability to throw a simple rock. Being able to best Raelynd at skipping stones was a minor thing, but it would be incredibly cathartic.

  Seeing her interest, Hamish began. “There are four things about skipping rocks you must remember—the rock, speed, spin, and release.”

  Meriel swallowed. Even skipping stones sounded too complicated for her uncoordinated body. “I just realized teaching me how to throw things is probably not a good idea. Trust me, after a few minutes you will be pulling out your hair and cursing at me inside your head. Let’s stop while we are still friends.”

  “I am no coward and neither are you. Now, come here,” Hamish said and squatted, pointing to a group of rocks. When Meriel finally acquiesced and came over to join him, he continued. “The pebble you chose was not only too small, it had the wrong shape. For it to bounce, it needs to be fairly flat, like this one.”

  Meriel inspected the palm-sized rock. It was flat, but it also looked heavy and even more inclined to fall to the loch’s bottom when thrown. “What about this one?” she asked, selecting a rock similar to the one he was holding.

  “Aye!” Hamish responded eagerly. “Now, find several more and I’ll tell you about the next three secrets.”

  Meriel chuckled to herself and did as instructed. She could not believe she was searching for rocks, but Hamish was so excited at the prospect, she was beginning to feed off of his enthusiasm. Standing up, she said, “What next?”

  “That would be speed, which you have. Most people think that a stone has to be moving really fast to skip along the water—”

  “It doesn’t?”

  “Nay. It requires some, but the throw you gave a few minutes ago was more than strong enough. But instead of throwing over your shoulder, throw at your side, like this.” Again Hamish whirled a rock at the water, and this time she tried hard to count the number of times it bounced before disappearing and decided it was close to two dozen.

  Meriel reached back, trying to swing her arm low by her hip, and hurled the stone. It bounced twice. She spun around to face him, beaming with pride. “Did you see that? It skipped! I actually got it to skip!”

  Her smile was a force Hamish was not prepared for, and it utterly disarmed him. For several seconds, he feared to move. “Aye,” he managed to finally say, coughing into his hand in an effort to regain some of his composure. “Now with a little spin and just the right release, you will think yourself quite the accomplished rock thrower.”

  Meriel licked her lips and placed her hand, which was holding her next rock, in his. “Show me.”

  Hamish swallowed, taking the stone from her fingers and stepping back. Focusing on the rock, he twirled it in his palm, gripping it so that one finger was on its side. “The stone does not have to spin much, but it helps. Just hold it like this when you throw, but the real trick is the release.” He held the rock parallel to the ground and then angled it slightly upward. “To get the stone to bounce, it must hit the water at an angle like this. Too flat, it immediately sinks. Slant it too high and it will skip but not far. Try it.”

  Meriel retrieved the rock and rolled it in her hands as she had watched Hamish do. Then with a deep breath, she pulled back her arm and let it fly. It skipped once. She bent down, got another rock, and was about to try again when Hamish walked up behind her, nestling her back against his chest. Aligning his arm along hers, he cupped her hand and guided it into several practice swings.

  Meriel instantly felt smothered and fought the instinct to push him off her, knowing the moment she did, Hamish would retreat and the evening would be ruined. Keeping her mind focused on throwing the stone, she forced her body to relax and accept what Hamish was showing her.

  He stepped aside. “Try it now.”

  Meriel pulled her arm back and, trying to keep the same arc Hamish had been showing her, released it. The stone skipped five times. Uncontainable excitement radiated from her. She spun around, jumped up, and threw her arms around his neck, giving him a quick, enthusiastic hug. “I did it!” she exclaimed and immediately crouched down to scoop up several more smooth rocks so that she could try again and again.

  Hamish was glad Meriel was so engrossed. His body was betraying him and before she noticed, he had to get it back under control. Meriel was not his to desire, and yet, when he had come into contact with her backside, all he could think about was how nice she felt against him. If such an innocent touch could be so arousing, what would it be like if he turned her around and pulled her close?

  Hamish shook his head and went to lie back down on the blanket, suddenly glad she had made him carry a jug of ale. He would need to down it all to redirect his thoughts.

  “Eight times! Did you see that, Hamish? Me, Meriel Schellden, skipped a stone eight times!”

  Hamish waved her over to come and eat. He had grabbed one of the plates and filled it with meat, bread, and cheese and was piling up the second one. Meriel took the offered plate and sat down on the grassy spot next to Hamish.

  “This was a good idea,” she said, and sighed. “Much better than eating in the Great Hall. I’m glad you asked to have dinner together, and I’m even more thankful that you made me accept.”

  “Why were you so hard to persuade?” Hamish asked, using his teeth to rip a piece of meat free from the leg bone.

  “Because I should be the one thanking you for enduring all the unnecessary fittings. I only accepted your offer when I figured out what you were really trying to do. Genius idea, us having dinner together in order to make Craig and Wyenda jealous.”

  Hamish felt his lips twitch. Of course Meriel thought jealousy would be the reason for his asking her to eat with him. This entire farce had been based on his suggestion of how she should go about winning Craig’s heart. Never had he anticipated that he might fall prey himself. “Genius idea, perhaps, but it was not mine. I confess I overheard Laurel talking to her friend Aileen about her doing something like this as a sign of appreciation.”

  Meriel masked a smile. So that was how Laurel planted the idea in Hamish’s mind. “Then you still get credit. Good ideas should be stolen and replicated. Don’t you think?”

  Hamish put his hand beneath his head and stared up at the darkening sky, thinking about how Meriel naturally tried to make those around her feel good. “It is pretty out here.”

  “Quiet too,” Meriel added, continuing to eat the food on her plate. She had been so busy helping Fiona get ready for the outing, she had missed the noon meal.

  “This is probably my favorite spot on these lands, but not everyone can appreciate it.”

  “Wyenda would not like it here?”

  Ham
ish shook his head. “I mentioned coming out here once and got a lecture on how long walks ruin gowns.”

  Meriel ripped a section of bread in two and offered a piece to him, choosing to remain silent.

  Hamish shook his head no to the offer and then, as if he could somehow discern her critical thoughts, said, “You need to understand Wyenda. She is not like you.” That caused Meriel’s eyes to pop open, but Hamish, who had turned his gaze upward, was unaware. “She believes her beauty is all that makes her attractive.”

  Meriel disagreed. In her opinion, a hateful disposition could keep anyone—man or woman—from being appealing, regardless of how many striking features they might possess. But she kept her expression neutral and instead replied, “I guess it is a good thing she has someone who understands her so well.”

  Hamish took a deep breath and let it go. He had been expecting a discourse on Wyenda’s distasteful qualities, all of which he knew about long before the dinner party. But what he had not expected was Wyenda’s almost outright admission that she was there to meet someone else. When he had confronted Wyenda after they left, she had looked at him with shock, but not with shame. In her mind, he should have known that she only came with him in hopes of meeting someone else. With those words, he had finally understood Craig’s warning from months prior. He indeed had received a nasty scar to remind him about the folly of falling for beauty alone, but at least he was now free. “I’m not sure she ever had me, or I her, but . . . we do not anymore.” Then he readied himself for what was coming.

  Meriel sat in shock. She knew he was waiting for her to say something but was not sure exactly how to respond. So she spoke from her heart. “I am sorry.”