Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

A lana had previously screamed about a wide variety of issues, including pain, fear, and excitement. But never about an unknown manstaring at her from the bank of the brook. Her hands clasped tighter across her voluptuous breasts before she realized she was only making matters worse.

Nay one must ken that I am here. Dinnae scream, ye fool! she rebuked herself, halting her scream immediately and going out of her irrational fear.

What if he recognizes me? Is he a soldier from the castle? Or even worse, a brigand? Alana thought, alarmed. She hurriedly immersed herself inside the brook, trying to hide her body. She acted instinctively, not knowing whether or not her reaction had cometoo late.

Her mind drifted to the many ways Lachlan would choose to punish her if he found out she was outside of the castle walls and with a man. His mouth was going to spill hurtful words to her until she burst into tears, trying to avoid her rage, which had a habit of getting her into more trouble. But it was Isla who she was most afraid of.

Floating below the water surface, she felt her heart pounding hard in her chest, and in addition, the man couldn't stop his impudent eyes from caressing her body. She felt redness filling her cheeks.

How dare he stare at me? Has he nay honor or respect?

In a bid to preserve her life, she lifted her head back out of the water, covering her mouth. She could feel heat wash over her body. She was angry, frightened, and confused, and couldn't understand why he was still standing there. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a broad chest. His arms were hidden underneath his baggy sleeves, but she knew he was a strong man. These characteristics combined to create her fears that he might harm her.

He slowly moved his arms from his sides and raised them. Peace? Holding his hands up was an indication of seeking acquiescence, but she could not tell if he was being sincere or deceitful. Either way, she knew she had to get away from him that very moment. Her most immediate obstacle, however, was vital.

How dae I get out o' the brook without him seeing me naked?

The man seemed to have no regard for her and still looked at her despite the situation about her with a slight smirk on his lips.

"What kind of man is this?" Alana hummed angrily as her anger started to overcome the initial stupor. Up until that moment, she had been too wary to see the man's face. The shape of his head, she knew from a glance: an oval face that held a blond beard and short hair atop his head.

She took a hand out of the water and placed it over her eyes to block the sun and allow her to see him clearly. When she saw his face, she was captivated. When she saw his eyes, she felt a surge of heat run through her body. In his eyes dwelled a hint of sincerity.

They were deep green and looked at her with keen interest. The thought that he might have seen a bit of her bosom when she had risen from the brook made her face even redder.

Lachlan never looked upon her with such endearment. He was more like a hunter finally reaching his prey. And what was weirder now was that she felt the man's fondness special, as she could not take her eyes off him either. His face was slim, and his gentle lips lay below his moustache.

He is handsome . Her eyes travelled from his head to his boots. If she had been standing next to him, sheshould be no higher than the middle of his chest, given her petite stature.

A mystery steered up in Alana's mind as she wondered what the man would do to her if she had indeed been next to him. While she worried about being alone with him in such a deserted space, she gave herself hope in the fact that he had not attempted to get into the brook with her. He didn't look like a brigand also.

Yet, he is disrespectful, Alana reminded herself, remembering that she was still in the water.

As though in answer to her thought, he started walking towards the brook, still with his hands raised up.

"I dinnae wish tae frighten ye. I came for a swim; I didnae ken anyone was inside the brook," he said in a calm voice that echoed with charm.

A man o' the lasses , she imagined. It explained his tall and confident gait despite raising his hands. His hands were large, and together with his pink lips, they provoked a shiver in her body, unknown to her until now.

Stop it, Alana! she scolded herself quickly, a little worried about her contrasting thoughts.

"Ye have nae manners, lad!" She drew her mouth up from the water. He stoppedin his tracks to listen to her. She noticed a glimpse of a smile on his face, which irritated her. She pondered what she had done to make him smile, believing the handsome and tall man had the audacity to mock her.

"When ye come upon a naked woman in a brook, ye should leave or at least have the decency tae avert yer gaze!" she yelled, knowing this was not appropriate for a woman. Nevertheless, she couldn't hold the words back.

"I apologize," he said immediately and turned his broad back to her. A quick chuckle escaped his lips, negating his apology.

At least he turned around . He reminded her of the men she had grown up with, men who were beautiful to look at and drew women to them. They were frequently arrogant as a result of the attention, but what bothered her the most was her own reaction to his presence. So intense and real.

"Dinnae dare to turn around!" she shouted. She knew her sister would be amused from her unladylike behavior, and this provoked a smile.

"I promise I will nae," he said back, still with a hint of a smile on his lips.

Alana waited, listening to the wind for the sound of a chuckle, but it never came. Building her confidence, she dared to rise from the brook slowly, keeping a keen eye on him, before she turned around as her shoulders became visible. She turned her back fully to him so he would not see her breasts even if he dared shift to her again.

What if he looks? she worried as she turned to him but found him obediently turned away. His neck did not move and neither did he attempt a peep. However, Alana did not move her eyes until she had made it successfully to the bank. She heard him chuckle again as she hurried out and grabbed her clothes quickly.

"What is so funny? Is it me or the situation?" she asked him as she pulled her clothes on.

"Forgive me," he said, confusing Alana yet again with a contrasting behavior, "but ye look too delicate tae be so fearless."

"Looking delicate has naething tae dae with me boldness," she fired back. His only reaction to her words was a slight shrug.

After Alana had crudely dried herself and fitted her clothes back onto her body, she turned back to the tall intruder.

"Ye may turn around now," she said with a scowl on her face.

He did, and his face lit up with a meek smile. He had a different demeanor when he saw her dressed.

"I didnae mean tae make ye afraid. I would nae hurt a woman nae matter what," he assured her.

"What if ye lie?" Alana asked without thinking that this might provoke him in some way. He, however, stayed glued to his place and answered her question calmly.

"I never lie. I find it a trait I dinnae desire to possess, as I resent it in others."

There was an adequate distance between the two of them, but she was wary of him still. Yet, she couldn't deny she was impressed by his answer. He was much stronger than she was and taller, and she realized he would catch her if she ran. But she doubted he would chase after her anyway.

There was meekness in his eyes that calmed her anger towards him the longer she looked at his face.

"I apologize for me behavior, and I would like the opportunity tae make it up tae ye," he continued with a confidence that she had become familiar with in only a short time.

"What is yer name?" he asked.

Alana folded her arms across her chest, refusing to answer.

"What makes ye think I will tell ye somethin' so personal?"

"Are ye from the village?" he asked further, but Alana gave him a cold shoulder without answering.

Standing before her was the man who had ruined her best part of the day. After she left there, she would have to return to the castle, cooped up inside her chambers; however, she wasn't so frustrated anymore. This encounter was the single most interesting thing that had happened to her since she was married, no matter how offensive it was. She looked up at him, and he still held that slight smile that made his face even more handsome. It quelled her appetite for any further quarrel with him.

He looked at her with an alluring gaze that made her wonder.

What part of me body is he staring at now? Me face? Me shoulders?

As she met his gaze, her shoulders pressed closer to her breasts. Her cheeks burned from the realization that his eyes were fixed on her.

Alana could not tell from his look, but it made her warm all over. She wanted to be away from him so she could gather her wits about her again. This was getting out of control. She was getting out of control. She took in a deep breath, steadied her shoulders and look before she spoke.

"I will be leaving now," she stated. "If ye follow after me, I shall scream so loudly that you will be caught by the guards of the castle and thrown in the dungeon before the blink of an eye," she threatened.

The man nodded and backed away from her, making it clear he understood her words perfectly, yet a smile escaped his lips. Alana couldn't imagine what he found so amusing. But she didn't have time to think about it, and turned away from him quickly, storming down the path she had come from. She did not want to look back at him despite the echoes of the thoughts in her head.

And the worst part was that she couldn't decide whether she wanted to hear his footsteps behind her or not.