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When a Laird Loves a Lady (Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Book 1)

Page 34

by Julie Johnstone


  She laid her ear against his heart and traced a finger over his ribs. “I can hear your heart beating.”

  “I imagine it’s loud,” he said with a chuckle.

  She tilted her head back and looked at him. “Why would you imagine that?”

  A wistful smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “Because ye’ve made my heart grow, Marion. I thought I could never open it up again but ye helped me to do so, and with as much as I love ye, it must be a verra big thing beating in my chest now. I am verra fortunate.”

  Marion laid her palm over his heart. “I’m the fortunate one. You’ve given me what I always wanted—to be loved and to feel like I’m part of a family.”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “We are both fortunate, aye?”

  She pressed her lips to his. “Aye,” she replied, mimicking his burr.

  “Ye’re no longer a Sassenach at all,” he said with a chuckle.

  “Nay,” she replied, grinning. “I’m a MacLeod.”

  Epilogue

  Two months later

  After supper had ended and the entertainment had begun, Marion sat beside Iain on the dais and watched Cameron, Graham, and Lachlan each dance a jig for the honor of being declared the champion, allowing them to pick the maiden he wished to dance with for the rest of the night. Cheers erupted after each man finished his jig, and when the competition came to an end, everyone in the great hall looked to Iain to announce the winner.

  He held up a hand for patience and turned to Marion. “Who should I choose?” he whispered in her ear.

  She cast a surreptitious glance from under her lashes at each brother and then to Bridgette, who sat at the table just below Marion. Bridgette stared at Lachlan with thinly veiled longing. When Graham turned to give Bridgette a wink, she ripped her gaze off Lachlan and blushed furiously at Graham. Marion sighed. Graham would think the blush was for him, but Marion knew Bridgette’s pink cheeks were from having been caught gaping at Lachlan, who had seemed to have done his best to avoid Bridgette altogether upon their return from England, which told Marion he felt something for Bridgette.

  “Marion,” Iain urged softly.

  She sighed again and pressed her mouth close to his ear. “I think Bridgette likes Lachlan but feels she owes Graham since he almost died to save her.”

  “Aye, and Graham has eyes only for Bridgette. What shall we do?” he asked in a low voice.

  “Pick Cameron.”

  “But was it nae plain to see that he was the worst at the jig?”

  Marion giggled. “Undoubtedly, but we can tell them our secret to distract anyone who may wish to object.”

  Iain cocked an eyebrow at her. “We’ve a secret?”

  “Aye, laird,” she purred, fairly bursting with joy. “We’ve a bairn on the way.”

  Iain’s jaw dropped open, and then he grinned and gathered her into his arms to give her a passionate kiss.

  Cheers erupted in the hall once again.

  “Who’s the winner?” Graham demanded.

  “Aye,” Lachlan added. “Which of us has triumphed?”

  “I’m certain I’m the winner,” Cameron said, crowing with laughter.

  “Nay, I’m the winner,” Iain announced. “I’ve a bairn on the way!”

  With that, Iain leaped over the table and attempted to dance a jig, the likes of which Marion had never seen.

  She laughed as she watched her husband, secretly thinking that she was the biggest winner of them all.

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