Highland Outlaw (Campbell Trilogy #2)(111)

Her eyes searched his, probing. “What changed your mind?”

“I realized that if you were half as miserable as I was, there was no way you would find happiness with someone else.” His heart pounded with dread, with fear. “Was I wrong?”

Tears blurred her eyes. And his chest squeezed with hope.

“How could you leave me like that? After what we'd shared?” The tiny fist of her hand slammed against his chest with surprising force. “You wanted me to believe that you didn't care about me.”

He pulled her into his arms and smoothed his hand over her silky head. “I'm so sorry, love. My only defense is that I love you so much, I only wanted what was best for you.”

She whacked him again.

“Ow,” he said, rubbing the spot. His wee kitten had a bit of a vicious streak.

“You're what's best for me, you overbearing oaf.”

Sweeter words had never been spoken, though he would have to work on her vocabulary. He pulled her into his arms again and squeezed her tightly. “Does that mean you won't be marrying someone else?”

Lizzie pulled back to look into his eyes, a mischievous twist to her sensuous lips. “Don't you want to ask who it is that I'm marrying?”

He frowned. “I assumed it was Robert Campbell.”

She shook her head.

His face hardened. “Then who is it? Tell me so I can kill him.”

“Another ‘random’ attack on the road, perhaps? Thank you, but there will be no more severed limbs in my name.”

He lifted a brow. She'd figured it out, had she? Since he had none, he didn't bother feigning remorse. “The bastard is lucky I didn't know the extent of his blackguard behavior. Now tell me.”

“I don't know,” she hedged. “I haven't decided whether to forgive you or not.”

His lips covered hers in a soft, coaxing kiss, his heart soaring with happiness when he felt her sweet response. He pulled his mouth away and gazed into her eyes. “Name your price, my love. I will do whatever it takes to win you back, even if it means getting down on my knees and begging.”

Her nose wrinkled, as if she were seriously considering it. “Sounds intriguing. I recall the last time you were on your knees.” He met her amused gaze and a bolt of hot lust went straight through him. “But I don't think that will be necessary. I'm thinking that what Caitrina threatened my brother with will be enough.”

He hated to ask. “And what's that?”

Lizzie moved his hand to cover her stomach. “She swore she would bear him only girls.”

His heart plummeted, the blood in his face draining at her words. He suddenly felt unsteady on his feet and had to brace himself against the wooden table beside them. “A babe?”

She nodded.

He sat on the nearest bench and sank his head into his hands, emotion overtaking him, overwhelmed by all that he could have lost. She sat beside him, and when he looked up, his eyes burned. “God, Lizzie, I'm sorry.”

Her eyes shone with tears. “I take it you are happy?”

The lump in his chest was hot and thick as he gathered her into his arms. “I didn't think I could ever feel this happy.”

He'd sought Lizzie for her land, but never could he have realized all that she would bring him. With her he would have a home—a family. And the love and happiness he'd known so long ago.

He kissed her again. Softly. Tenderly. With a poignancy that would mark this moment forever.

All of a sudden, he pulled back as the truth finally dawned on him. “There was never anyone else you were intending to marry. It was me.”

Lizzie broke into a wide smile. She pressed her cheek against his chest and sighed. “It's only ever been you.”

The heart he didn't realize he had seemed to become too big for his chest.

And this time when he kissed her, he didn't stop.