Page 17 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

“For what?”

“For protecting my sister.”

“Your sister is my wife. Had ye expected I’d not keep her safe?”

Kenna smiled. “Nay. I ken you have a good heart. It’s just nice to see there’s a chance for more.”

Cam wished he hadn’t just taken a sip of ale, because his surprise had him spitting it out across the table. “More?” he choked. “What do you mean by more? Surely you don’t mean love, Kenna MacKinlay.”

“You’d be surprised how love can sneak up on people.”

“It can’t sneak up on me. I’m watchful and have a large sword.”

Kenna only laughed louder. “We’ll see.”

“No, we won’t see. I don’t want it. I can’t do it. You know why it’s not for men such as me. I’ve spoken to you about these things in the past.”

“You mean the part about how war chiefs don’t deserve love?”

“I dinna say they didn’t deserve it. I said it was too risky. Both parties could be hurt.”

“We all carry scars from our upbringing. I still worry I’ll never be good enough.” When Cam snorted his disbelief, she shrugged. “It’s hard to convince someone of something they’ve been told for a long time. For you, it’s clear you don’t want to leave a family behind as your da left you and your mother, but are ye willing to give up on happiness on merely the chance it could happen to you the same way?”

“A chance? I’d say it’s more than a chance, given my duty. And I’d rather not have to think about the people I could leave behind when I draw my sword in battle.”

“That’s ridiculous. You think of all of us when you go to battle. Otherwise, why would you bother? The people you love in this castle are the reason you are able to fight. Knowing we need you makes you fight harder. It makes you stronger.”

“Mayhap. But it’s different, I think, with a family. I fear I’d be distracted with making sure I didn’t get hurt so not to leave them.”

“Cameron Michael Callum MacKinlay, you’d best always make sure you don’t get hurt, no matter if ye have a family of your own or not. There are many people here who would miss ye if you didn’t come back.”

“Aye. I do make sure.” It wasn’t something he could explain to Kenna. She wasn’t a husband. She didn’t know the responsibilities a man faced.

He could provide for Mari without engaging his heart. He wasn’t in love.

And he’d make sure he stayed that way.

…

Marian had made it to the stables and was trying to reason with the surliest groom she’d ever met over a horse when Lachlan stepped in.

“What’s going on here?” he asked. His voice—dripping with authority—gave her a chill.

She might have tried to steer the story from the truth if the curmudgeon holding the reins hadn’t spoken up first.

“She asked for a horse, my laird, but couldn’t say that she’d be able to bring it back.”

“And what need do you have for a horse, sister?”

Sister? She laughed at his feeble attempt to win her over. Straightening her spine, she looked at a spot over his left shoulder. Making eye contact with men had become impossible in recent years. Except for Cameron. Even in this short time, she felt safe enough to look into her husband’s honey-brown eyes. The way they seemed to warm over when he smiled gave her courage.

It was yet another reason she should go. She was too comfortable with him. She couldn’t let down her guard. Men watched for such things and struck when a woman was unprepared.

She’d been wrong to come here. It was wonderful to see Kenna again and know her younger sister held no ill will. But this wasn’t her home.

A pull of sadness twisted in her stomach. She had wanted Dunardry to be her home and her refuge. And she wished she had time to get to know Cameron better. For she had liked the feel of his arms around her last night. But it was best to deal with things at once and get on her way.

“I understand you wish I wasn’t here. So I planned to take a horse and go.”