The Laird’s Christmas Kiss (The Lairds Most Likely 2)

“More an explanation, than a confession.” Still she didn’t look at him, although she licked her lips, betraying her uncertainty.

He bit back a groan. What he wanted to do was seize her in his arms, and kiss her into a swoon. Then he’d tell her to stop tormenting him and admit she was his.

A week ago, even yesterday, he might have swept aside her hesitation and done just that. But he’d learned a lot about her—and himself—since last night’s row in the library. A show of passion might sway Elspeth into temporary surrender, but if he wanted lasting capitulation, he needed to step back and let her come to him on her own terms.

Brody wasn’t by nature a patient man, but for Elspeth, he could wait. Hell, now she’d given him a glimmer of hope, when all hope had been dead, he’d wait until Doomsday if he had to.

When he didn’t say anything, she went on in a low, steady voice. “It’s about a very silly fifteen-year-old girl, who set her sights on an unattainable young man.”

“Not that unattainable,” he couldn’t help saying.

He received an admonitory glance for his trouble. “Please don’t interrupt.”

Brody hid a smile. Which was surprising, too. When he’d saddled Perseus, he’d been convinced he’d never smile again. “I beg your pardon, my liege.”

“Granted.” Her lips twitched.

“Go on with your story.” He hoped to God that it didn’t end with the silly girl growing up and deciding that her interest in the young man was nothing more than a childish infatuation.

“This silly girl pined in vain, because it was clear that she was never going to attract the young man’s eye.” She gave him another quelling glance when he shifted in protest. “She was shy and bookish and frumpy, and nobody saw her as special, not even her family. The young man never noticed her, or how much she was in love with him.”

The word “love” snagged on his heart like a fish hook. “Elspeth—”

“He wasn’t to blame.” She pressed on before he could set her right on that unflattering description. “The girl was so tongue-tied in his presence, that she could hardly force out a word.”

“She’s fixed that particular problem,” Brody couldn’t help pointing out.

“She has.” She cradled his hand in hers with a tenderness that he prayed wasn’t the prelude to a final farewell. “For five years, the girl yearned after the boy in silence, living for the few occasions when she saw him. While the boy grew handsomer and handsomer and spread his charm far and wide.”

Aye, he’d done that, all right. To his shame. Discomfort made him shift again, but this time, he was smart enough not to speak.

“He spent his time chasing beautiful girls from all over Scotland, and didn’t spare a moment’s attention for the girl who loved him best of all.”

This was sounding better and better. His heart leaped into life.

“Then just before Christmas the year she turned twenty, the girl saw the error of her ways. Her handsome laddie was never going to love her. The truth was inescapable. She could wallow in impossible dreams that made her miserable, or she could be sensible and stop loving him.”

“Blast you, Elspeth,” he growled, ripping his hand from hers and staring at her in consternation. “Are ye putting me through all this just to refuse me again?”

/> At last, she turned to face him, her rich brown eyes searching. “I haven’t reached the end of the story.”

“I’m no’ liking the direction it’s taking.”

“Stay with me, Brody.” Her eyelashes fluttered down again. “From now on, the handsome laird would be nothing more to her than her brother’s friend. She made a vow that she’d no longer yearn from the shadows.”

“Deuced good thing ye did,” he said grumpily. “Talking to me was a great way to catch my notice.”

Wry amusement deepened the corners of her lips. “She’d decided she no longer wanted the young man to notice her. Remember—she’d renounced her love.”

He gave an impatient sigh. “The young man did notice ye.”

“Yes, he did.” She kept staring down into her lap. “But by this stage, the girl looked rather different, thanks to a clever friend. When the young man wanted to flirt with her, she was flattered enough to succumb to a few kisses. Especially now she was immune to any deeper feelings.”

“For pity’s sake, Elspeth…”

At her raised hand, he fell silent once more. “After he’d ignored her all those years, she wanted to see how it felt when a rake pursued her.”

“What was it like?”