Amanda Forester by The Highland Bride's Choice Page A

rushing, caressing down his naked body. He shook his head, water flinging in every direction, one drop actually hitting her in the face.
    “Oh!” she exclaimed.
    He turned, but she ducked back behind the building before he could see her and took off running, her shaking hands barely able to hold up her skirts, which held the fruit. She ran back around the buildings, past the plaid, past the smithy, into the great hall, and she didn’t stop until she arrived breathless in the tower room, with much less fruit to show for her excursion than when she started.
    Several agonizing minutes later, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She grabbed a hazelnut and focused on cracking it with the flat of the knife. Her back was to the door and nothing could persuade her to turn around.
    “Good day to ye,” said Tavish.
    “Good day to ye,” answered Elyne without looking up.
    He stepped closer, but still she would not look at him. She had looked enough, more the shame to her.
    “I see ye’ve been busy,” commented Tavish.
    “Aye. I’ve found food for us. It is simple fare but we winna starve.” She appreciated keeping the conversation on foraging for food. Nothing inappropriate ever arose from a conversation of kale.
    “I hope ye enjoyed yerself today.” His voice was silky.
    Heat rushed down her neck. Had he seen her? “Aye, I have been in the garden. I have found quite a bit of food for us.” Focus on the kale.
    “I see that.” He laid an armful of berries, nuts, and kale on the bench beside her. “I followed the trail ye so kindly left me.”

Seven
    So she had peeked at him washing. It could have been an accident. Though how she missed the big red plaid he laid out so she would know not to come farther or why she was walking all the way around to the back of the building, he could not fathom. Still, she had been foraging for food, so perhaps it had been an honest mistake.
    There was just one thing he wanted to know. Did she like what she saw?
    Tavish shook his head and went back to work forming a sentry. If their ruse was to make a castle look inhabited but ill, they needed sentries. He pulled some rough cloth he found over a stuffing of grasses and propped a helmet on top and a spear by his side. The fake sentry would stand guard on the battlements high above anyone coming to visit, and hopefully fool them into leaving him and Elyne alone.
    Alone together.
    He shook his head and went back to work. He needed a clear mind, something that was challenging since he had been awake all night. He needed to finish his work but he craved sweet sleep.
    In a bed. A bed with…
    Work! Must focus on his work.
    “What are ye doing?” Elyne walked toward him on the battlements. Her green silk gown flowed and danced, caught by the wind. Sometimes the wind blew against her, revealing the form of her shapely legs. Sometimes it caught the embroidered hem and gave him a peek at her ankle.
    “Making sentries.” He focused on his work. He must not wish for the wind to blow her skirts up farther. No, he would not think it. Not even once.
    “Do ye think they will fool the English?” she asked doubtfully.
    “I hope so. Remember they will only see the silhouette.”
    “Did ye find all these weapons?” She fingered a pile of weapons, everything from swords to spears to bows.
    “I found some things, mostly broken. I repaired what I could and made new ones from scrap metal I found in the smithy.”
    “Ye are a verra useful sort of man.”
    The compliment curled up warm and happy in his gut. “I thank ye.”
    She turned away, toward the open valley and forest before her. “I want to apologize for invading yer privacy. I had no right, and if there is anything I can do to make right my wrong, please let me know.” She spoke in a rush, her cheeks flushing a charming pink.
    “Mayhap ye can reciprocate and even the score.” The words escaped his lips before he could catch them and stuff them back.
    She turned to him, her blue eyes