A Love to Discover (Loving in the Highlands 2)

I have never seen a more handsome man. I feel a wave of attraction towards him and I can look at him forever, but then I realize that it can seem awkward if I just stand there and stare at him. I take a step forward.

'Hello? Can I help you?' I ask, trying to sound natural.

He gives me a small smile, which makes him even more handsome.

'I am Calem McDougald. I am going to Domnhall Castle,' he says in a pleasantly deep voice. 'Can a beautiful lady like you know if that castle is nearby?'

I return the smile. I am glad that I have the answer to his question.

'Yes, I know where it is,' I say. 'It is not far from here. My name is Elsie McLeold, and I live there, by the way,' I add, and he nods, while looking at me with interest.

'Thank you very much for the information. I am going there,' he says. 'Can you accompany me to Domnhall Castle? We can both ride my horse and get there together.'

I hesitate. I know that a lady should not ride a horse with someone that she does not know, but something inside of me makes me agree. I nod and smile.

'Why not? Of course,' I say. He helps me mount the horse in front of him. Thankfully, I know how to ride a horse, and I do not need any support from him. I think he realizes that I am good at horseback riding, so he does not unnecessarily hold me.

I can feel his strong body behind me, as the horse starts moving.

'We must go this way, and then turn to the right,' I say, without turning around.

'Good, thank you,' his deep voice is heard right behind my ear, and his warm breath is felt on my neck.

I manage an unnoticeable smile, as it is pleasant to feel him so close to me. The horse is not in a hurry – it walks slowly, as if thinking that we both like the way we are now. The light breeze plays on my face, gently sweeping my locks back, and I am sure that my locks touch the warrior's face, which he loves, I am sure of it. The tiny smile does not want to leave my lips, as I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The strange sense of security that I have never felt before is still here, and makes me wonder what is in this warrior’s personality that attracts me so much.

Soon the gates to the castle can be seen.

'We are almost there,' I say in half a whisper.

'Good,' he says. Silence continues. I partly do not want to reach the castle fast, as it is so calm and relaxing to be on the horse together with the warrior. But we have reached the castle, and there is nothing else left to do than to enter through the gates.

There are many people in the yard of the castle, and among them are Megan and Sloan. They all are watching me enter the yard, sitting on a horse with a stranger warrior.

Sloan is shielding his eyes with hands from the sun, and for a second he frowns. Then his face breaks into a smile, and he starts coming forward towards us. The horse stops in the middle of the yard, right beside Sloan.

'Good day, my friend,' Sloan says to the warrior, 'how are you, Calem? I am so glad to see you. What is the reason of your arrival?'

I frown. So, Sloan knows Calem's name?

'I am also glad to see you, Sloan,' Calem says, as he dismounts the horse. I also dismount and stand beside them, trying to understand what is going on. 'I was passing by, and decided to see how my old friend is, and I brought this beautiful girl home, as she says she lives here.'

I blush. Now I realize what is going on. He has cheated on me just to talk to me and to make sure I get onto the horse with him. For one dangerous moment, I am almost breaking into a smile, but I am supposed to be angry with him for lying to me, so I turn my face away, so that he will not see me smiling.

'How nice, how nice,' Sloan says. 'This beautiful girl is Elsie, my wife Megan's younger sister. Come into the castle, Calem, I am sure that we will spend some precious time together. I will introduce you to my wonderful wife, too.'

We start walking towards the castle, as the groom takes the horse to the stables. I catch the gaze of my sister. She looks at me questioningly, as she also saw me arriving with the warrior. I wink at her, trying to tell her that we shall talk later about it. She gives me a little nod.