Page 87 of His Secret Highland Bride

She nodded but remembered the final secret she was still keeping. “I was going to tell you tomorrow—I just wanted to be certain first. But I’m pretty sure I’m with child. I only realized it after I arrived here.”

His eyes glistened, and he kissed her again, long and slow and full of promises she knew he would always keep. “A babe.”

She nodded.

“Is that the final secret between us?” he asked. She made a show of tilting her head as if she was thinking it over, but then she nodded again.

“Good. Will you stay so I can show you how much I’ve missed you?”

She nodded and linked her fingers through his.

…

Shane kissed her, pouring his heart into the press of his lips to hers. He wouldn’t hide anything from her again. He’d make certain she wouldn’t have any reason to doubt his love for her.

He savored every touch and kiss, knowing he would always choose her no matter what was to come. He’d learned much from his loss and would never take love for granted.

“I am meant to be yours. Whether we’d met that day in the woods or later when the contract forced us into marrying, we’d be together,” she said.

He considered her words and nodded.

“Ronan thinks it’s fate and there was no escaping it,” she added.

Shane was surprised not only that his brother had thought of things such as fate and destiny, but that he’d speak to Lindsay on Shane’s behalf. He’d have to find a way to thank him.

“Do you wish to escape?” he asked while kissing a path between her breasts.

“Nay. There’s no use trying to defy fate.” She sighed loudly as his lips passed her navel. “I happily surrender.”

He kissed her most intimate places, and along with his touch, he felt her body respond, tensing tighter and tighter until finally he pushed her over the edge of passion. While she was still catching her breath, he moved above her. Her slim legs wrapped around his hips, pulling him closer. He didn’t try to resist as he thrust inside her, claiming her as his. She was his wife and would be the mother of his child. He’d wanted to avoid the match his father had made for him, but now he’d thank the man if he could.

When she roused late the next morning, he kissed her awake until her lips pulled up against his in a smile. He’d happily wake her up that way for the rest of their lives.

“Mmm… As much as I would like to stay in bed with you all day, we should get ready.”

“Ready for what?” he asked with a groan. He wasn’t in any hurry to get up.

She rolled to her side, and he placed his hand between them on her stomach where their child grew.

“We need to get home, as there is much to be done,” she said with a content smile on her face.

“Home? When we first met, you told me you’d never call my clan home.” He offered her a cocky grin as he recalled their first meeting in the woods after they’d teamed up to take down their enemy. He knew as long as they stood together, they could face whatever came next.

She shrugged and pulled him close. “You’re my home, Shane MacPherson, soldier. Wherever you are, that is where I shall be.”

With Lindsay by his side, he planned to make Cluny a home for his people, his wife, and their family. However large it may become.

Epilogue

After saying their goodbyes to the MacKenzies, with promises between Lindsay and Meaghan to visit after their children were born, Shane sent Alec back to Cluny with the money they’d recovered and news of the laird’s return with his wife.

The money they recovered would keep their clan going through winter and allow a good planting in the spring. Lindsay was happy to see how relaxed Shane was now that there was hope for their clan. At both castles.

Ronan had left earlier that morning to return home. Shane had worried over both his brothers.

“Ronan has seemed haunted by something since the morning we met to leave for France. Whatever it is, he hides it deep,” Shane said as they rode to meet the chief of the Camerons.

“Perhaps you should just ask him.”